Train to Teach: Mindfulness and Self-Compassion for Children and Caregivers (MSC-CC) Program
Welcome to the Journey of becoming a Mindfulness and Self-Compassion for Children and Caregivers (MSC-CC) Teacher! This journey requires a big heart and a passion for children’s well-being. MSC-CC teachers also understand that children’s acquisition of self-compassion is intricately linked to the resilience and self-compassion levels of their caregivers. To teach MSC-CC you need your own personal mindfulness and self-compassion practice, an authentic presence, and a curious and playful energy to bring to your interactions with children.
MSC-CC Teacher Training provides a foundation for teaching the MSC-CC program to children and caregivers (or groups of children). This teacher training pathway is designed for those who wish to teach the full 6-week MSC-CC course, as well as those who would like to integrate mindfulness and self-compassion into their ongoing professional activities with children (psychotherapy, coaching, teaching, etc.), and individuals who have a professional interest in the field (i.e., researchers, administrators, etc.).
“The Mindfulness and Self-Compassion for Children and Caregivers program is a powerful way to help kids learn how to be kind to themselves. It takes the core of the Mindful Self-compassion for adults and transforms it into something that is fun and accessible to children and their caregivers. I’d highly recommend MSC-CC for anyone who wants their child to grow up with skills of emotional resilience and self-acceptance.” -Kristin Neff, PhD, Co-developer of the adult Mindful Self-Compassion training
Here are the steps to becoming a trained MSC-CC teacher
There are a couple of prerequisites to meet before being accepted into the teacher training program, and you are encouraged to carefully consider whether you meet these prerequisites before you apply. Once accepted into the teacher training program, there are a couple of steps you will need to take in order to become a trained MSC-CC teacher.
Step 1:
Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Lessons for Kids Training
Complete the Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Lessons for Kids – Level 1 & Level 2 training
Step 2:
Deepen Your Knowledge and Practice
Complete Mindful Self-Compassion training and the Compassionate Parenting course.
Note: Graduates of Compassionate Parenting can view recordings of the 6-Week Parent-Child Self-Compassion class for no additional cost.
Step 3:
Live-Online Teacher Training
3 live-online MSC-CC practice teaching and training sessions (2 hours per session)
Note: Teachers-in-Training will need to allocate an additional 2 hours of independent MSC-CC curriculum study before sessions.
Step 4:
Consultation Sessions
Register for and attend 3 online group consultation Zoom sessions while teaching your first MSC-CC course.
Step 1: Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Lessons for Kids Certificate Training (Level 1 & Level 2)
Your journey begins with learning to teach Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Lessons to children. The two-tiered Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Lessons for Kids Certificate Training will introduce you to the playful framework and animals that are used to teach children mindful self-compassion skills.
Note: The order of Step 1 & Step 2 is interchangeable.
Step 2: Fullfilling the Required Adult Prerequisites – Deepen Your Knowledge and Practice
There are 2 adult courses individuals must complete before for applying to MSC-CC teacher training:
- FIRST PREREQUISITE: Previous participation in an 8-week Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) course, 5-day Mindful Self-Compassion Intensive or 10-week Live Online MSC (LOMSC). MSC training can be taken with Jamie Lynn Tatera, or with another trained Mindful Self-Compassion instructor through the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion.
- SECOND PREREQUISITE: After taking the full Mindful Self-Compassion training, your next step is to take Compassionate Parenting (CP): Help Children Grow Self-Compassion. This course provides a foundation in the development of children’s self-compassion within the context of the caregiver-child relationship, and will enable effective facilitation of an optimal parent-child dynamic during MSC-CC classes. Graduates of Compassionate Parenting will also have the opportunity to view six parent-child self-compassion class videos.
- MSC-CC applicants must also have a personal mindfulness and self-compassion practice and experience working with children.
Step 2: MSC-CC Live-Online Practice & Teacher Training
Cost: $595
A limited number of partial scholarships are available for participants with financial need.
After completing the two prerequisite courses (MSC and CP), you can register and apply for MSC-CC Teacher Training. Your application will be reviewed and upon approval, you will be accepted into the program. Scroll down to see upcoming live-online MSC-CC TT dates.
The MSC-CC teacher training consists of 3 live-online teacher training sessions and independent curriculum study.
Note: Teachers-in-Training will need to allocate an additional 2 hours of independent MSC-CC curriculum study per week during their four weeks of practice teaching.
Participants in the MSC-CC teacher training course will receive:
- Teacher training including both online and live-online instruction in the MSC-CC curriculum and practice teaching components of the program
- The MSC-CC teacher guide for teaching the six-session Mindfulness and Self-Compassion for Children and Caregivers class
- Video and audio resources for teaching the Mindfulness and Self-Compassion for Children and Caregivers program
- Visual resources to share with students
Participant Requirements
The prerequisites for taking MSC-CC Teacher Training include:
- Daily mindfulness and self-compassion practice
- Experience working with children, preferably in groups
- Previous participation in an 8-week Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) course, 5-day Mindful Self-Compassion Intensive or 10-week Live Online MSC (LOMSC)
- Previous participation in Compassionate Parenting (CP): Help Children Grow Self-Compassion
Training Objectives
At the completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Identify the core themes and practices presented in each of the six sessions of MSC-CC
- Understand the rationale for the modifications made from the adult MSC program
- Describe different ways of involving parents so that they can appropriately engage and support their children in their practice
- Identify obstacles for children learning mindfulness and self-compassion and strategies for overcoming these obstacles
- Identify obstacles to mindfulness and self-compassion practice and strategies to overcome them
- Deepen one’s understanding of key elements in teaching mindfulness and self-compassion practice to children and caregivers
Step 3: Consultation Sessions
Cost: $295 ($245 for low-income countries)
After completing the asynchronous and live-online sessions of the MSC-CC TT, your next step on the teacher training pathway is to teach the MSC-CC class to parent-child pairs (or groups of children only if you only intend to be a Self-Compassion for Children teacher) and enroll in and complete three consultation sessions. To become a fully trained MSC-CC teacher, teachers-in-training must enroll in a series of three consultation sessions while teaching the MSC-CC program. During each of your consultation sessions, you will discuss your experience teaching (or preparing to teach) the MSC-CC program as well as any questions that you have. Consultation sessions may be private or small group.
To be eligible to apply for Trained Teacher status after completing your consultation sessions, the following is required:
- Your MSC-CC course must have at least 4 parent-child pairs (or six children)
- Your course must follow the MSC-CC curriculum and not be a modification or adaptation of the curriculum
Teacher Trainer and MSC-CC Program Developer Jamie Lynn Tatera
Jamie Lynn Tatera is a Certified Mindful Self-Compassion instructor, a Mindful Self-Compassion for Teens instructor and teacher trainer, MSC-CC program developer, teacher and teacher trainer as well as an elementary school teacher.
Jamie Lynn brings a wealth of experience, skill and passion to her MSC-CC classes and teacher trainings.
Upcoming MSC-CC Teacher Training Courses
Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Lessons for Kids - Level 1 Training
Online teacher training for individuals who would like to teach Mindfulness and Self-Compassion lessons to children in an educational, clinical, or community settings begins June 21, 2025.
Live-Online MSC-CC Teacher Training Dates
Dates and Times of 3 Live-Online Teacher Training Sessions (2 hours per week):
- Our next teacher training will occur in March of 2026
- Prerequisite courses must be completed by February 2026 to attend the March 2026 training.
“This is an exquisite adaptation of the empirically-supported Mindful Self-Compassion program that somehow manages to preserve the essence of MSC and still make it entirely accessible and engaging for a much younger audience and their parents. Skillfully constructed, thoroughly tested and thoughtfully presented, the MSC-CC program will make a big impact in the world in kids and parents who need it most.” -Steve Hickman, Executive Director of the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion
The Mindful Self-Compassion for Children and Caregivers (MSC-CC) teacher training has been created to align with the adult Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) and Mindful Self-Compassion-Teens (MSC-T) teacher training processes offered through the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion.