Steven Hickman
on Cultivating Mindful Self-Compassion
Listen:
Show Notes:
Episode Description
How do you treat a good friend when they fail or fall short? How do you treat yourself under the same circumstances? Most of us are much harder on ourselves, and lack of self-compassion hinders our ability to persist through challenges, to build resilience, and to make lasting changes. So, how do we learn to meet ourselves with the same kindness we naturally extend to others?
Dr. Steven Hickman is the Executive Director of the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion and co-creator of Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Teacher Training. A Licensed Clinical Psychologist, he formerly served as Associate Clinical Professor in the UC San Diego Department of Family Medicine & Public Health, and as the Founding Director of the UCSD Center for Mindfulness. Dr. Hickman has over 19 years' experience teaching Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). He leads MSC intensives and workshops around the world.
In this episode, Dr. Hickman introduces MSC, explaining how his early work with chronic pain patients inspired his career. He addresses misconceptions about self-compassion, describing how the practice is used by first responders, health professionals and other special populations. Listen for Dr. Hickman’s insights on combining mindfulness with self-compassion, and learn how you can use MSC to navigate societal crises and to help fuel real change.
Key Takeaways
- MSC is defined as treating yourself the way you would treat a good friend
- Despite misconceptions, self-compassion is not self-indulgent or weak
- Mindfulness can be key in enabling us to change how we treat ourselves
- Dr. Hickman’s work with chronic pain patients inspired his professional career in mindfulness
- MSC helps the difficult work of special populations like the Coast Guard
- The three components of MSC are:
- Mindfulness
- Awareness of common humanity
- Self-kindness
- The "backdraft" phenomenon in MSC practice
- MSC is therapeutic but not therapy
- Practicing mindfulness without the benefit of self-compassion can make the self-critic appear louder
- MSC can be an invaluable tool in addressing social & racial injustice and fuel real change
Connect with Dr. Hickman
Other Resources Mentioned
- UCSD Center for Mindfulness
- Anna Friis’ Research on MSC & Diabetes
- Making Friends with Yourself: MSC for Teens
- MSC for Healthcare Professionals
- Steve’s Article on Creating a Brave Space
- Dr. Fadel Zeidan
- Mindful Schools
Disclaimer: Please note that the information shared in this podcast is strictly for educational purposes only, and is not intended as psychological treatment or consultation of any kind.
Recent Past Episodes:
Hosts:
Katherine King, PsyD
Katherine King, PsyD is a clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychology at William James College. She was trained in evidence-based treatments within the Veterans’ Administration and has a private practice specializing in geropsychology. She is also a member of the Boston Shambhala Center Board of Directors, a vajrayana student of Buddhism, and has practiced meditation for over 20 years. Learn more about Kate at www.drkateking.com.
Alex Gokce, MSW
Alex Gokce, MSW has a master’s degree in social work from Salem State University and an undergraduate degree in Comparative Government from Harvard University. He has led psychotherapy groups on topics including mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and mind-body approaches to pain management. He has co-led programs at the Boston Shambhala Center on the topics of trauma and self-compassion. His personal and professional interests center around the individual, societal and intergenerational impacts of trauma, as well as the sociocultural roots of interpersonal harm.
Visit Our Friends At...
The Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and training of mental health professionals in the integration of mindfulness meditation and psychotherapy.
