Self-Compassion for Shame: Meeting Shame with Kindness and Compassion
An 8-Week Online Course in Mindfulness and Self-Compassion for Working with Shame
What is this course about?
Shame is a painful and often hidden emotion that can disconnect us from others, from joy, and from a sense of confidence in ourselves. In this course, you will learn a new, kinder, and more compassionate way of relating to shame.
Building on the well-established Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program, we combine mindfulness, self-compassion, and current psychological insights to understand how shame affects us and how we can transform our relationship with it. You will discover how self-compassion can help you remain on your own side, even in difficult moments.
What to expect
- Understanding shame – how it develops, how it affects us, and how it shapes our behavior
- Compassion practices – practical exercises for relating to yourself with greater kindness
- Working with the inner critic – learning how to respond differently to inner voices that hurt or diminish us
- Mindfulness & compassionate presence – staying present when difficult emotions arise
- Sharing in a safe group setting – discovering that you are not alone in your experience of shame
- Practice suggestions & guided audio recordings – to support your practice between sessions
Who is this course for?
This course may be for you if you…
- …often feel blocked, diminished, or isolated by feelings of shame
- …would like to learn how to support yourself with kindness, especially during difficult moments
- …are curious about how mindfulness and self-compassion can help loosen old patterns
- …are looking for a supportive space in which to explore this sensitive topic
Although shame can be a sensitive subject, we approach it within a mindful, trauma-sensitive, and supportive environment.
Dates, Format & Fee
| Course begins | Schedule | Format | Fee |
| February 4, 2026 | 8 weekly sessions, 2.5 hours each | Live online via Zoom | from €440 |
All sessions will be recorded, allowing for some flexibility if you are unable to attend live.
Registration & Contact
📩 For registration or questions: office@dennis-johnson.com
What Participants Say
💬 “I hadn’t noticed how much shame was showing up in my everyday life. The course helped me see it more clearly—and learn to be much kinder to myself when it does. That was a real relief.”
💬 “What really touched me was seeing that there’s nothing wrong with wanting to belong. Something softened in me when I understood that, and it changed the way I respond to my own shame.”
💬 “I’m much less hard on myself now. Self-criticism used to be my automatic response, but I’m learning to meet myself with compassion when things get difficult. I feel much more grounded in myself as a result.”
💬 “The course showed me that I’m not alone in feeling this way. The practices around self-forgiveness and the inner critic were especially helpful—they’ve helped me see myself with more kindness and clarity.”
💬 “I feel like the practice has really started to sink in. Even in difficult social situations, I’m more able to stay connected to myself instead of slipping straight into shame and pulling away.”
Course Details – Self-Compassion for Shame
ℹ️ Background
Shame is a universal human experience—often hidden, yet deeply influential. It can arise when we feel judged by others or when we judge ourselves, whether we have actually done something “wrong” or are entirely innocent.
Shame often operates silently: it makes us withdraw, fall silent, and want to disappear.
The problem is not shame itself, but that there is often no one “at home” inside who can meet our shame with care.
Self-compassion is one of the most powerful antidotes to shame. It allows us to remain present and compassionate toward ourselves even in moments of shame—and to regain our capacity to respond rather than simply react.
📝 Learning Objectives
During the course, you will learn to:
- Understand key theory and research on shame and self-compassion
- Describe self-compassion as an effective antidote to shame
- Recognize the personal and cultural roots of shame
- Use self-compassion practices to ease the burden of shame
- Work with body shame by cultivating forgiveness and compassion toward the body
- Bring self-compassion to hidden or disowned parts of yourself
- Loosen patterns of self-criticism and develop a more supportive relationship with yourself
- Take concrete steps toward living with greater freedom from shame in everyday life
🔎 Course Content
Session 1: Introduction to Self-Compassion for Shame
Session 2: The Wish to Be Loved
Session 3: The Origins of Shame
Session 4: The Compassionate Self
Session 5: Self-Forgiveness
Session 6: Compassion for Our Bodies
Session 7: Compassion for Our Parts
Session 8: Coming Home to Ourselves
Each session includes:
- Theoretical input and research findings
- Guided self-compassion practices
- Sharing and reflection in a safe and supportive environment
- Guidance for home practice
📌 Prerequisites
- Completion of an 8-week Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) course or a comparable program
- Openness to exploring personal experiences through the lens of self-compassion
- The course is also suitable for professionals working in psychotherapy, education, mindfulness, and related fields
📅 Format & Schedule
- Location: Online via Zoom
- Dates: Wednesdays, February 4 – March 25, 2026, 6:30–9:00 pm CET
- Info session: Wednesday, January 28, 6:30–8:00 pm CET
- Course fee:€490 | 💸 €440 early-bird rate (until January 9, 2026)
- Registration:office@dennis-johnson.com
Course Overview
🔶 Week 1 – Introduction to Self-Compassion for Shame
Like any worthwhile journey, we begin by exploring the terrain. In this introduction to shame, we explore its theory, research, and significance, as well as the role of self-compassion. Our exploration is complemented by readings from Chris Germer’s work on self-compassion as an antidote to shame.
🔷 Week 2 – The Wish to Be Loved
Any threat to our natural wish to be loved can evoke feelings of shame. Self-compassion can therefore become a powerful ally in working with shame. We explore the three paradoxes of shame and learn new self-compassion practices that can lessen the burden and influence of shame in our lives.
🔶 Week 3 – The Origins of Shame
Our shame did not simply appear out of nowhere. Some of it was acquired through painful experiences in our lives. In this part of the course, we explore personal experiences of disconnection in childhood as well as cultural influences that may have contributed to the shame we experience today. By acknowledging these experiences, we can begin to rediscover our agency and freedom in the present moment.
🔷 Week 4 – The Compassionate Self (Shame and Self-Criticism)
Shame can give rise to a painful—and sometimes paralyzing—self-critical voice. This voice can distort our perception of who we are and restrict the way we live our lives. You will learn to approach self-criticism from the perspective of your compassionate self, discovering how self-compassion can help soothe the critical voice while also listening for what it may be trying to communicate—in ways that are helpful rather than harmful.
🔶 Week 5 – Self-Forgiveness
We all make mistakes from time to time; it is part of being human. In this part of the course, we explore the lingering shame we may carry because of things we regret from the past, whether our actions harmed ourselves or others. We learn both tender and fierce self-compassion practices to reclaim the strength that shame has taken from us and to find the courage needed to forgive ourselves.
🔷 Week 6 – Compassion for Our Bodies
For many of us, the body has become a source of shame as a result of cultural, personal, and historical influences. In this part of the course, we learn to relate to our bodies with greater wisdom and kindness. Through specific self-compassion practices, we learn to truly feel, appreciate, and honor our bodies.
🔶 Week 7 – Compassion for Our Parts
Over time, we may exile, reject, or hide certain parts of ourselves in an effort to protect ourselves. In this part of the course, we learn to approach these hidden parts with curiosity and care, offering them self-compassion and inviting them back into our circle of compassion so that we can move toward a more integrated sense of wholeness.
🔷 Week 8 – Coming Home to Ourselves
What matters most to you—and does shame prevent you, in some way, from living in accordance with what you value? In this final part of the course, we consider positive steps we can take, both for ourselves and in relation to others, to live our lives more fully and in greater alignment with our values.