Workshops & Groups

Making Friends with Yourself (MFY), an 8-week empirically supported mindful self-compassion program for middle and high school students of all genders.  The class meets for 2 hours each week beginning February 24th and integrates mindfulness and self-compassion meditations and practices, art activities, audio-visual resources and mindful movement to help students develop the life skill of mindful self-compassion (MSC).  Classes include several valuable components, including teaching students how to do the following:

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• Calm their minds

• Identify and reduce stress in their bodies

• Increase mindful awareness of their thoughts, emotions & physical sensations, so they can choose to respond rather than simply react to life

• Cultivate greater confidence in their ability to respond to uncomfortable emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them

• Recognize and respond to their inner critics

• Recognize and engage in less social comparison

• Feel more connected and less isolated by becoming more aware of our common humanity

• Treat themselves with the same kindness and compassion they would show a good friend

• Practice gratitude

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Research has found that participants report decreases in stress, anxiety and depression as well as increases in resilience, life satisfaction and more positive moods.  In fact, participants reported a 32% decrease in symptoms of depression in one preliminary study.  The program also includes a 2-hour parent workshop to support and empower parents.

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*Led by MFY Teacher Kristie Engel PhD

  Co-Led by Kelly Alford M.Ed