Self-Empathy Circles

A Weekly Practice Group for Greater Self-Compassion, Emotional Awareness, and Choice

Scheduling - this workshop will be held on 3 consecutive Thursdays.

About the Practice Group

How do you respond when life doesn't go as planned?

When you make a mistake...
When you're overwhelmed...
When anxiety, frustration, shame, or self-doubt arise...

And just as importantly - how do you respond when things go well?

When you make progress towards a goal or learn something new ...
When you feel joy, pride, or gratitude...
When something meaningful or nourishing happens in your life...

Many of us have developed a habit of responding to challenges with self-criticism, judgment, or avoidance. We may overlook, minimize, or rush past positive experiences. While these patterns are common, they can lead to disconnection from what’s most important in our lives.

Self-Empathy Circles are an opportunity to practice a different way of relating to yourself.

Through guided practices, brief teachings, structured conversations, and supportive group reflection, you'll learn practical skills for understanding your experiences with greater curiosity, compassion, and clarity both in difficult moments and in moments of ease, joy, and growth.

In this group you’ll have the opportunity to apply the practices to what’s happening in your life. Our goal is not to solve or fix anything - it’s not a support group. Our intention is to practice Self-Empathy together to develop our skills to relate to ourselves for everything that life offers.

What You'll Practice

Each session explores a practical aspect of Self-Empathy, including:

• Becoming more aware of your emotions, thoughts, and bodily experiences
• Befriending and responding to your Inner Critic
• Understanding the messages within difficult emotions
• Recognizing, savoring, and celebrating positive experiences
• Developing greater emotional resilience
• Practicing mindfulness and self-awareness
• Responding to yourself with compassion rather than judgment
• Discovering greater flexibility and choice
• Appreciating your strengths, efforts, and what’s going well

What to Expect

Each weekly gathering includes:

• A brief offering related to self-empathy skill
• A guided practice
• Structured conversations
• Whole-group discussion and reflection
• Home practices to continue developing your skills during the week

All levels of experience with Compassionate Communication (Nonviolent Communication or NVC) are welcome.

Who Is This For?

Self-Empathy Circles are for anyone who would like to:

• Be less self-critical
• Develop greater emotional awareness
• Respond more skillfully to emotions
• Build self-compassion
• Feel less overwhelmed by life's challenges
• Develop practical mindfulness skills
• Grow in emotional resilience
• More fully recognize and appreciate what is going well in their lives

Whether you're completely new to these practices or have years of experience, you'll find opportunities to learn, practice, and deepen your understanding.

Let’s Practice

Developing Self-Empathy isn't about eliminating difficult emotions or always feeling calm.

It's about learning to recognize everything that’s happening within you to relate to your experiences with greater kindness and flexibility. Like any skill, Self-Empathy grows through practice. Each week offers another opportunity to strengthen that practice within a welcoming community of fellow learners.

I’d love to have you join us.