Many people feel grateful for the profound effect of Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) in their lives and wish to share it with others.
The foundation for teaching MSC to others is to embody the qualities of mindfulness and self-compassion and to have a daily, personal practice. Prospective teachers are supported by CMSC through every step in the journey to becoming a trained or certified teacher of MSC or MFY (the teen adaptation of MSC). MSC teachers are often deeply moved by the transformation of their participants and honored to share in this transformation. Some say teaching self-compassion makes their personal practice even deeper and more meaningful, and feels like a natural extension of self-compassion into the world.
There are 3 designations of MSC teachers:
The first step toward becoming a Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Teacher is to take a 6-day MSC Teacher Training program (TT). If you are training to teach teens, you will take the 6-day MFY Teacher Training. After the TT, participants are known as Teachers-in-Training.
Prerequisites for attending a MSC Teacher Training are:
The process of becoming a fully trained MSC teacher in conjunction with the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion encompasses all of the pre-requisites for attending the MSC Teacher Training (TT), as well as the following additional requirements:
Upon completion of these requirements, the teacher trainee can apply for a Certificate of Training from the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion. This certificate indicates that he or she has fulfilled the necessary requirements and is now trained to teach or co-teach MSC, and can apply for teacher certification. The bearer can now advertise him or herself as a “Trained Teacher of Mindful Self-Compassion”. The Center for Mindful Self-Compassion reserves the right not to grant a Certificate of Training if it is determined that the teacher trainee has not successfully completed the requirements and/or needs further consultation or remediation.
Trained teachers can be listed on the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion website along with their MSC programs (see www.CenterForMSC.org). In the future MSC teachers will be expected to engage in continuing education in order to maintain their affiliation with CMSC (not yet available).
Certification is verification of a teacher’s competence whereas the designation of Trained MSC teacher simply recognizes that a person has completed the requisite training activities. This level of training and verification is highly recommended for those who continue to teach the program, and offers a number of opportunities and advantages as well. The designation of Certification indicates that the individual has been individually mentored by an expert MSC teacher, has received specialized advanced training in teaching the program, has taught a significant number of MSC courses and had his or her teaching reviewed by an expert MSC teacher for competence.
Advantages of becoming a Certified MSC Teacher include:
Furthermore, all CMSC Teacher Trainers, Mentors and Teacher Training Consultants are required to be Certified as well. Thus, those who hope to potentially serve in those roles must obtain certification in order to be considered for these positions.