Self-Compassion Pathway Session a Success

The feedback was positive after our February 18, 2026 Pathway Session on Self-Compassion with Zoe Leary, DSW. The session included a few practice exercises, one on identifying the inner critic and another on self-kindness.

Zoe Leary, Staff Clinician at the Center for Motivation & Change, started off by defining both Compassion and Self-Compassion. In simple terms Self-Compassion is the practice of extending warmth, kindness and understanding towards oneself during times of failure, inadequacy or suffering. That sounds easy, but most of us don’t treat ourselves as we treat others.

For most of us, the inner critic is the judgemental voice which is tough on ourselves, and when that voice persists we can ruminate on the pain rather than let it subside. The signs that our inner critic is not dominating is when we: 1) treat ourselves with the same care that we’d offer a good friend; 2) acknowledging mistakes without letting them define us; and 3) responding to personal failures with encouragement rather than shame.

Self-compassion matters during the recovery process, for both family members and the loved ones who struggled. It reduces shame and breaks the cycles of self-blame, which are known to be triggers for relapse. Self-compassion builds resilience and reduces stress, allowing individuals to recover from setbacks and mistakes instead of giving up.

Two daily practices that I believe are helpful for Self-compassion are 1) setting boundaries–saying know to things that drain us; and 2) practicing mindful meditation. Yet, there are dozens. It’s just a matter of picking some that work for you.

At the end of the session, Zoe noted that CMC will be offering a more extensive Self-Compassion Workshop, with 6 or more modules. She also recommended the trainings and books of Kristin Neff, a true pioneer and champion of the Self-Compassion movement. Specifically, Kristin has published a workbook entitled the Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook.

There is no recording of this session. To view Zoe’s slide deck, CLICK HERE.