Mindful Self-Compassion Fundamental Concepts and Skills

Description

So many clinicians give care to others while neglecting the critical skill of caring for themselves. Without mindful self-compassion, emotional exhaustion, compassion fatigue, and burnout can silently build—impacting clinical presence and personal well-being.

This course offers a clear path forward by helping behavioral health professionals reconnect with the core of compassionate care—starting with themselves. Through science-based insights and practical strategies, you'll learn how to strengthen your inner resilience, especially when facing the emotional demands of your work.

Vira Salzburn, M.S., is a dynamic educator and global voice in resilience-building and upstream suicide prevention. A Mindful Self-Compassion Trained Teacher with a deep understanding of trauma, mindfulness, and compassionate leadership, Vira has helped thousands navigate emotional hardship with skill and courage. Her work uniquely blends evidence-based practices with cultural humility and a heartfelt commitment to well-being—making her an ideal guide for this journey.

Vira’s approach is both experiential and reflective. She gently integrates scientific findings with somatic exercises and mindfulness-based practices that help participants embody self-compassion rather than merely understand it cognitively. Her trauma-informed teaching style offers a safe and grounded experience for all participants.

This course explores the foundational concepts of mindful self-compassion, the physiological and psychological effects of self-criticism, and how to shift toward nurturing internal responses. It examines how to distinguish mindfulness from over-identification, self-kindness from self-judgment, and common humanity from isolation. The course introduces tools such as the P.A.R.K. method, self-compassion breaks, loving-kindness meditations, and exercises for identifying core values. Participants will also learn how to recognize emotional backdraft, integrate compassion-based movement, and apply daily mindfulness practices to manage difficult emotions.

Key Takeaways:

• Clarity on self-compassion: Understand what mindful self-compassion is and how it differs from pity, indulgence, or weakness.

• Practical integration tools: Learn specific methods for bringing mindfulness and compassion into daily clinical and personal life.

• Emotional resilience strategies: Gain resources to better navigate difficult emotions and support long-term wellness.

Why this course?

• A trusted provider: Telehealth Certification Institute is known for delivering high-quality, research-based continuing education that clinicians can trust.

• An exceptional instructor: Vira Salzburn’s personal and professional experience adds depth, relevance, and cultural insight to this work.

• More than a concept—an experience: This course offers tangible, actionable strategies you can begin using immediately in both your personal life and clinical work.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe mindful self-compassion and its elements

• Explain the benefits of self-compassion

• Integrate mindfulness and self-compassion into daily life

• Use self-compassion to handle difficult emotions with greater ease

Mindful self-compassion is more than just a wellness trend—it’s a clinically supported, life-enhancing skill that can transform how you show up for yourself and others. If you're ready to approach your professional and personal challenges with more courage, kindness, and balance, this course is a meaningful step forward.

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Format and Access

This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Instruction consists of 6 hours of video instruction and a post-test.

Course Details

Availability: 

From the time of registration, you have six months to access the coursework.

Who Should Attend: 

This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.

Teaching Methods: 

This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Teaching methods for this course include recorded lectures, videos, a post-test, and a course evaluation.

How to Attend: 

Course access and completion instructions.

Instructor and Disclosures

Instructor

About Vira Salzburn, M.S.

Vira Salzburn is the Program Director for Safety and Resilience programs at Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council. She earned a Master of Science degree in Management, Organizational Behavior & Leadership from Troy University and a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in Humanities from Auburn University at Montgomery. Vira also holds a graduate certificate in Topics in Human Behavior from Harvard University.

Vira is a Mindful Self-Compassion Trained Teacher, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Master Trainer, and Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Instructor. She is a Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® Teacher, and is also trained in the Search Inside Yourself program of Google Leadership Institute, Trauma Informed Coaching, and Compassionate Leadership, the program of the Task Force for Global Health.

Vira is the developer of the community-based upstream suicide prevention approach that uses evidence-based Mindful-Self Compassion programming. She is a public speaker on suicide prevention, resilience, mindfulness, and self-compassion, and has been selected for the 2022 Savannah TEDx.

As a Ukrainian-American, Vira recognizes the importance of overcoming cultural barriers and connecting with others for making a meaningful difference on personal, organizational, and community levels. Since moving to the U.S. in 2007, Vira has had the privilege of volunteering as an interpreter and a liaison between Ukrainian orphaned children and American adoptive families, which has greatly impacted her perception of compassion and servanthood and helped her better understand the true meaning behind the idea of “changing the world one life at a time”.

Vira Salzburn's instructor information.

Disclosure Statement: 

The instructor for this course receive compensation for their services. There are no reported conflicts of interest to disclose.

CE Hours

Credit Hours:

This course consists of 6 continuing education hours of credit.

Counselors:

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No, 6693.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. #MHC-0048.

Marriage and Family Therapists: 

Many MFT licensing boards accept our courses or one of the approvals which we have from professional associations.  You can check with your board to determine if your licensing board would accept this course.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0135, effective May 8, 2025.

Social Workers:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, #1609, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 05/02/2024 – 05/02/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 6 clinical continuing education credits.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Social Workers #SW-0435.

Addiction Professionals:

This course has been approved by Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits, effective 4/3/2023. NAADAC Provider #193104, Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is responsible for all aspects of the programming.

Psychologists:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychologists #PSY-0128.

Art Therapists: 

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Creative Arts Therapists #CAT-0093.

Other Professionals:

This course qualifies for 360 minutes of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations.  Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.

This is a non-interactive, self-study course.

Accommodations and Policies

Close Captioning is available for live webinars and recorded video presentations.

You can click on the following links to view our policies:

• Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities.
• Cancellation Policy
• Grievance Policy
• Support Options
• Disclosure Statement