ONLINE eight-week Fierce Self-Compassion: A Course for Empowered Care 2026

Fierce Self-Compassion: A Course for Empowered Care 

Led by Zoe Shobbrook-Fisher

ONLINE: Saturdays, 9.30am -12 noon. Orientation: 5 September. Eight-week course dates: 19 September - 7 November 2026

Fierce self-compassion means taking empowered action to protect, provide for, and motivate ourselves to alleviate suffering and thrive. This new and unique 8-week course explores the more action-oriented side of self-compassion, supporting you to do the inner work needed to speak up, set boundaries, change habits, claim your power and feel fulfilled.

Overview​

Self-compassion is often associated with gentleness and comfort, yet it also encompasses a more dynamic, brave dimension. This aspect of care is expressed through strength, courage and determination — qualities that are essential for protecting, motivating and providing for ourselves and others.

By completing this course, you will develop the capacity to:

● Motivate yourself using encouragement rather than self-criticism.

● Identify and overcome obstacles that prevent you from setting effective boundaries.

● Learn to harness anger as a constructive force for protection and growth.

● Recognise and honour your personal needs.

● Understand the contribution of fierce self-compassion to social change.

Who is this course for?

This course is intended for the general public and Mindful Self-Compassion teachers. It is a prerequisite for the Fierce Self-Compassion Practicum training programme.

This may be of particular interest to anyone who needs to draw on strong energy to care for themselves and the world, such as those in family care roles, healthcare workers, therapists, teachers, coaches and activists, charity workers as well as mindfulness, meditation and yoga practitioners and teachers.

When?

Saturday mornings 09.30 to 12. The eight-week course starts 19 September and runs until 7 November 2026 without a break. There will be an orientation session Saturday 5 September from 9.30 to 10.30.

Where?

Online. You will get Zoom log-in details when your place is confirmed.

The format of the course?

The course is delivered over eight weekly sessions, each lasting two and a half hours, with a 10 min break in the middle. Each session builds on what’s been introduced before, so it’s important to attend all the sessions if possible. (If you know you’re going to miss a session please let your teacher know)

You’ll be in a group of up to 14 people, led by one of our experienced mindful self-compassion teachers. Each session starts with a guided meditation. You will be invited to practice the meditations in any posture that best supports your focus and comfort, including lying down, sitting, walking, or other forms of movement. Following this, we’ll discuss the previous week’s home practice experiences and then introduce the weekly theme. This theme is explored through further meditations, small and large group discussions, and self-reflection exercises. These exercises are designed to help participants connect personally with the curriculum material and see how it applies practically to their own lives.

The encouraged home practice includes formal meditations and informal practice in daily life from 10 to 20 minutes a day. You may find the practices bring up strong emotions at times, which is all part of the process, and we will explore this further in the weekly sessions.

Each week there will be optional reading suggested of a chapter in Kristin Neff’s book ‘Fierce Self-Compassion, how women can harness kindness to speak up, claim their power and thrive’. Audio recordings for continued home practice, weekly notes, and supplementary resources for further exploration will be shared via email.

Some experience of mindfulness or mindful self-compassion is helpful but not essential before taking this course.

Please note, we ask all those who book a place on this course to fill in an application form that will be sent to the facilitator. If you haven't already, please click here to fill in the form.

For more details on the Mindful Self-Compassion course click here.

Cost:

• £300 (275 supported rate; £325 supporting rate)

* Please note, this courses is designed for the general public and may not be suitable for everyone. If you are experiencing mental health issues, you should talk to your GP about being referred to the appropriate clinical service.

For enquiries: spft.smc@nhs.net