Compassion is the ability to show empathy, love, and concern to people who are in difficulty. Many people are able to extend compassion toward others but find it difficult to extend the same compassion toward themselves. Self-compassion is about turning the kindness and care you show to others inwards.

It is common that we can be self-critical when we fail, make mistakes or feel inadequate, but giving ourselves the same kindness and compassion we would give a good friend can improve our mental and physical wellbeing and make us more resilient.

Using Self Compassion to Improve Wellbeing and Support Growth has been produced as a workbook you can use to understand and practice self-compassion. It has information and practical exercises and tools you can use to help you practice self-compassion.

Ceara Clarke is a consultant clinical psychologist working in the Northern Health and social Care Trust and Ed Sipler is a Health Development Specialist working in the South Eastern Health and social Care Trust. They have created the series of video clips below and you can view these alongside using the workbook.

Above are 3 introduction clips to help you get started and 8 self-compassion exercises. We hope you find these helpful. When you have watched the videos it would be great if you can complete a short survey to tell us how useful you found it .

Belfast

S. Eastern

Western

Southern