Click “Book Now” below to pay your €100 Deposit.
When it has been received you will receive a confirmation and some forms that you will need to read and return to Josephine.
Self-compassion can help us in many ways, including in our relationships with others. Instead of so often attacking ourselves, “what’s wrong with me, I am not as good as I should be” and so on, self-compassion helps us to become a friend to ourselves and more understanding of others in a very fundamental way. This allows us to relate with more honesty, courage and warmth.
On the course we practice skills to enable us to move in this direction. We are living in a highly competitive society and we are not immune to the stresses and pressures this exposes us to.
There is a lot of research that demonstrates that self -compassion is not only good for our physical health and immune system, but also makes us more generous and sensitive to the suffering of others.
This course is based on the work of Christopher Germer and Kristen Neff. We will be asking you to buy the book “ The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook” by Neff and Germer, published by the Guildford Press
There is a limited number of spaces to make this experience meaningful.
“The MSC course was the first time I’d ever taken a course through Zoom, and I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to engage with and feel connected to people despite the distance and everything happening through my phone screen. Barry and Josephine were excellently prepared regarding both the material taught and the online format. They were also very patient and understanding of anyone who had internet connection issues, which made me less anxious about doing this course completely online. I especially liked the breakout rooms, as it was so interesting, useful to hear others’ perspectives while contributing my own. I would highly recommend this course to anyone.” – Sorcha Szczerbiak
“I recently completed the MSC 8 week programme. Honestly, it was the most transformative activity (of the many!) I have undertaken. Any initial concern about the online aspect was quickly dispelled, both by the warm and engaging manner in which the programme was facilitated and the formal and informal interaction within the group. In particular, I found the feedback process following each session to be very comprehensive and helpful. Highly recommended, it has been a gentle, life-changing event for me – happy to answer any questions.” – John Cassidy
“I undertook the MSC course online during a very difficult time for me. Those few hours on Wednesday evenings that I spent in the company of my course-mates under the gentle guidance of Barry and Josephine became a focal point in my week. They gave me a chance to find my feet again and, as a group, we created a safe and welcoming space that I looked forward to visiting each week. The experience of taking the course online made it really accessible and, to my surprise, still allowed us to feel a deep sense of community and support for one another as the course unfolded.” – Clare Spain
“The 8 week mindful self compassion course, with Josephine and Barry was of real benefit. We were skilfully guided in a variety of practices, and introduced to a kind way of working with whatever arises. I was surprised how well the online format worked: the group was very engaging and despite my misgivings, the online platform proved very supportive. Highly recommended” – Dee Kerins
“The course has taught me it’s ok to be kind to myself when things are difficult and how much that can help rather than constantly listening to my inner critic. Overall I found the online experience was very positive. I was surprised how well everyone in the group got on and openly shared individual stories. I looked forward each week to meeting the people in my group.The experience was enhanced by the course facilitators Josephine and Barry who created a warm welcoming and relaxed atmosphere which supported the group to come together so well. I found the course materials both the practices and written information very useful and I continue to refer to them. I highly recommend this course with Josephine and Barry. “– Olivia Quill
M.A. in Teaching Mindfulness-Based Approaches, Bangor University, Wales
Josephine Lynch, M.A. Mindfulness-based Approaches (Bangor University), Lic. Ac., Dip. Herbal Medicine, has also gained the Certificate of Competence to Teach Mindfulness-Based Courses from the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice at Bangor University. She completed a two year programme with the Bodhi College in early Buddhist Psychology and its influence on contemporary practice. She is also a qualified to offer supervision to mindfulness teachers.
Josephine was among the first people to bring the teaching of mindfulness in the tradition of Jon Kabat-Zinn to Ireland and has been teaching MBSR/MBCT since 2005. She also teaches Mindful Self-Compassion and, having undergone a period of intensive supervision, and has completed all requirements to become a fully certified teacher of the Mindful Self-Compassion program as outlined by the Center for Mindful Self Compassion. Josephine was part of the team that brought the world renowned Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh to Ireland in 2012.
Josephine is one of the core team of teachers on the M.Sc. in Mindfulness-Based Interventions in UCD and had been involved in programme development and delivery since its inception in 2014.
Josephine’s background is in Mind / Body Medicine and she has worked most of her life using acupuncture, shiatsu and herbal medicine to foster mind / body wellbeing. She was involved in developing and working with Sláinte Pobal in Dublin in the 1990’s, an initiative to bring courses in health education into areas of socio economic disadvantage.
Josephine was one of the founder members of the professional body, the Mindfulness Teachers Association of Ireland (MTAI.ie) which represents mindfulness teachers in Ireland and was its first chairperson from February 2018 until October 2020. She has been organizing CPD for mindfulness teachers and teacher trainees since 2008, fostering and supporting the development of a strong community of mindfulness teachers in Ireland.
Josephine is one of the founders of The Mindfulness Centre (mindfulness.ie, 2008), and she is co-director of the 18-month Professional Mindfulness Teacher Training programme which the Centre has been running since 2015.
Barry is a certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction teacher and yoga instructor. He has practiced meditation for over ten years and has trained as a mindfulness teacher with the Institute for Mindfulness Based Approaches. He has since completed further training in a range of other mindfulness-based interventions including Mindfulness Based Compassionate Living and Awakening Joy. He is a member of the Mindfulness Teachers Association of Ireland and is a registered member of Yoga Alliance UK & Ireland (Certified Experienced Teacher).
Barry worked for over ten years as a corporate lawyer and has significant experience delivering mindfulness training to organisations in the corporate sector. In 2017, he founded Mindfulness for Law (www.mindfulnessforlaw.ie) with the intention of bringing the benefits of mindfulness training to the legal profession. He has facilitated workshops and courses in many of the top Irish law firms.
In 2016, he co-founded Nature in Mind (natureinmind.ie), an educational organisation which aims to help people improve their health and well-being through mindfully connecting with the natural world.