The Science and Practice of Self-Compassion
This site carries most of the course's readings — the modules — plus reading guides for every assigned journal article, written instructions for every practice, the experiential-project handbook, and the exam study guides. The schedule below is authoritative; when it and the paper syllabus disagree, believe this page.
The backdraft protocol (know it cold)
Sometimes kindness turned inward makes you feel worse before you feel better — old pain surfacing as the heart's door opens. Nothing is broken. Three steps, in order: 1. Name it — "Oh, this is backdraft." 2. Anchor — feet on the floor, sounds in the room, one slow breath. 3. Step back to daily life — if it stays hot, stop the inner practice entirely and be kind to yourself behaviorally: shower, walk, playlist, call a friend. Ordinary self-care is self-compassion. If what comes up is persistent, interfering, or frightening, that's bigger than a course assignment: the SJNY Counseling & Wellness Center is free and confidential, and using it is a self-compassionate act.
Schedule
| # | Wk | Session | Practice | Read / due before class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1a | Welcome: what is self-compassion? | Self-Compassion Break | — |
| 2 | 1b | Buddhist psychology I | Soles of the Feet | Roots 1 module · Neff ch. 1 |
| 3 | 2a | From monastery to laboratory | Affectionate Breathing | Roots 2 module |
| 4 | 2b | Neff's model + the SCS · M1 baseline | Soothing Touch | Neff (2003b) + guide |
| 5 | 3a | Self-compassion vs. self-esteem | Affectionate Breathing (12 min) | Neff & Vonk (2009) + SE chapter |
| 6 | 3b | Mindfulness & backdraft | Five Senses · Anchoring | Mindfulness & Backdraft module |
| 7 | 4a | Myths & motivation | SC Break (self-guided) | Breines & Chen · Neff et al. (2005) |
| 8 | 4b | Loving-kindness · M2 plan due | LKM · Finding Your Phrases | LKM module · Handout 3 |
| 9 | 5a | The inner critic & compassionate voice | Motivating with Compassion | Leary et al. (2007) + guide |
| 10 | 5b | The body: threat & soothing systems | Soothing Rhythm · Touch | Physiology module |
| 11 | 6a | Core values | Garden · Vow | Motivation ch. · Handout 5 |
| 12 | 6b | The SCS on trial | brief settle | Measurement module (case file) |
| 13 | 7a | EXAM 1 (Units I–III) | optional settle | Study guide |
| 14 | 7b | Do interventions work? · M3 due | your choice | Neff & Germer (2012) + module |
| 15 | 8a | Difficult emotions | Soften–Soothe–Allow | Difficult Emotions module |
| 16 | 8b | Shame (flagged-sensitive) | gentle practices, full opt-outs | Shame module (light) |
| 17 | 9a | Clinical I: depression, anxiety, PTSD | student-led | Clinical I module |
| 18 | 9b | Clinical II: eating, body image, CFT | student-led | Clinical II module |
| 19 | 10a | Relationships | Compassionate Friend · 1-min tool | Sbarra (2012) + module |
| 20 | 10b | Caregiving & burnout | Equanimity phrases | Neff & Pommier (2013) + module |
| 21 | 11a | Gender & masculinity | fierce SC | Wasylkiw & Clairo + module |
| 22 | 11b | Culture & religion — full circle | Metta revisited | Neff et al. (2008) + module |
| 23 | 12a | Savoring & gratitude + talk workshop | Ten Fingers · Self-Appreciation | Final chapters · Handout 8 |
| 24 | 12b | EXAM 2 (Units IV–VI) | optional settle | Study guide |
| 25 | 13a | Catch day (announced wk 12) | — | — |
| 26 | 13b | Presentations, day 1 | — | Memo due at your talk |
| 27 | Finals | Presentations, day 2 + closing (2.5 hrs) | Closing ceremony | — |
Milestones: M1 baseline SCS (in class, session 4) · M2 project plan (session 8) · M3 midpoint reflection + SCS retest (session 14) · final SCS at home before your talk. Synthesis memo due in hand at your presentation. Full details on the Project page.
Modules (course readings)
How this course works, how to journal, and the rules that keep it safe.
Dukkha, the two arrows, mindfulness, and the Four Immeasurables.
From monastery to laboratory: MBSR, Neff, Germer, MSC.
The wandering mind, the resistance equation, and the safety protocol.
Metta, why affirmations backfire, and phrase design.
Gilbert's three circles, touch, HRV, and pain.
The SCS on trial: both cases, state vs. trait.
The MSC RCT, brief doses, and the meta-analytic view.
Five stages, three handles, soften–soothe–allow.
Guilt vs. shame, the three paradoxes, the antidote.
Depression, anxiety, PTSD — and the evidence ladder.
Eating, body image, and compassion-focused therapy.
Breakups, partners, the one-minute tool — and optional anger work.
Empathy vs. compassion, burnout, equanimity.
The d=.18 surprise, norms, fierce self-compassion.
Three countries, many faiths, the translation audited.
Reading guides (assigned articles)
Every assigned journal article has a guide: what to extract, what to let wash over you, and the traps. Read the guide first, then the paper, then the guide's questions.
The founding construct paper — week 2
Self-compassion vs. self-esteem — week 3
The motivation experiments — week 4
Achievement goals & academic failure — week 4
Everyday unpleasant events — week 5
The MSC randomized controlled trial — week 7
Self-compassionate writing about shame — week 8
Observer-rated SC and divorce recovery — week 10
Self- vs. other-compassion — week 10
Masculinity and help-seeking — week 11
Three-country comparison — week 11
Quick links
All practices, written out · The experiential project · Exam study guides