Fierce Self-Compassion: A course for empowered care
19 September at 09:30 to 12:00
Fierce self-compassion means taking empowered action to protect, provide for, and motivate ourselves to alleviate suffering and thrive. This new and unique eight-week course explores the more action-oriented side of self-compassion, supporting you to do the inner work needed to speak up, set boundaries, change habits, claim your power and feel fulfilled.
Overview
Self-compassion is often associated with gentleness and comfort, yet it also encompasses a more dynamic, brave dimension. This aspect of care is expressed through strength, courage and determination — qualities that are essential for protecting, motivating and providing for ourselves and others.
In taking this course you will develop the capacity to:
- Motivate yourself using encouragement rather than self-criticism.
- Identify and overcome obstacles that prevent you from setting effective boundaries.
- Learn to harness anger as a constructive force for protection and growth.
- Recognise and honour your personal needs.
- Understand the contribution of fierce self-compassion to social change.
Who is this course for?
This course is intended for the general public and Mindful Self-Compassion teachers. It is a prerequisite for the Fierce Self-Compassion Practicum training programme.
This may be of particular interest to anyone who needs to draw on strong energy to care for themselves and the world, such as those in family care roles, healthcare workers, therapists, teachers, coaches and activists, charity workers as well as mindfulness, meditation and yoga practitioners and teachers.
When?
There will be an orientation session on Saturday 5 September, from 9.30 to 11.00. The eight-week course starts 19 September and runs until 7 November 2026 without a break, Saturday mornings from 09.30 to 12 midday.
Where?
Online. You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed.
The format of the course?
The course is delivered over eight weekly sessions, each lasting two and a half hours, with a 10 min break in the middle. Each session builds on what’s been introduced before, so it’s important to attend all the sessions if possible. (If you know you’re going to miss a session please let your teacher know)
You’ll be in a group of up to 14 people, led by one of our experienced mindful self-compassion teachers. Each session starts with a guided meditation. You will be invited to practice the meditations in any posture that best supports your focus and comfort, including lying down, sitting, walking, or other forms of movement. Following this, we’ll discuss the previous week’s home practice experiences and then introduce the weekly theme. This theme is explored through further meditations, small and large group discussions, and self-reflection exercises. These exercises are designed to help participants connect personally with the curriculum material and see how it applies practically to their own lives.
The encouraged home practice includes formal meditations and informal practice in daily life from 10 to 20 minutes a day. You may find the practices bring up strong emotions at times, which is all part of the process, and we will explore this further in the weekly sessions.
Each week there will be optional reading suggested of a chapter in Kristin Neff’s book ‘Fierce Self-Compassion.’ Audio recordings for continued home practice, weekly notes, and supplementary resources for further exploration will be shared via email.
Some experience of mindfulness or mindful self-compassion is helpful but not essential before taking this course.
Facilitator
Zoe Shobbrook-Fisher
Zoe has been a Mindful Self-Compassion teacher trainer since 2019. For the last 16 years, after a decade working as a student/staff counsellor and group facilitator in higher education, she set up her own company in southwest London, offering beginner and deepening practice Mindful Based Stress Reduction and MSC courses, residential retreats and self-compassion informed therapy. She is a director at The Mindfulness Project and co-founded the thriving In Good Company practice community. She delivers programmes to a wide range of groups, reflecting her commitment to making these approaches accessible to diverse populations; in the workplace, charity and clinical settings. A lifelong yoga and meditation practitioner she has always been dedicated to paths of the heart and authenticity. Her practice includes her love of singing and conscious dance.
How to book
Please note, we ask all those who book a place on this course to fill in an application form here that will be sent to the facilitator. If you haven’t already, please head here to the fill in the form.
The cost of the eight-week course is £300. We also offer a choice of two other options:
- £325 – Supporting rate. You can support other participants to attend who are on a low income.
- £275 – Supported rate, if you are on a low income and can’t afford the general admission price.
As part of our equity, diversity and inclusion policy, we also have a limited number of concessionary tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis. These are for people who are facing acute financial hardship and who would otherwise not be able to attend. To request a concession ticket please email spft.smc@nhs.net.
We are striving to make our courses accessible for all. If you have additional needs or learning styles, please let us know so we can support you.
You can book your place below
