Mindful Self Compassion Course

8-weeks / Mondays / 7-9.00pm

Book here

‍Mindful Self Compassion (MSC) | 8-Week Course

With Dhinita Miia Chambers

Do you find yourself constantly battling a harsh inner critic? The Mindful Self Compassion (MSC) course is an evidence-based mindfulness programme designed to help you stop being so hard on yourself, navigate difficult emotions with greater ease, and build inner resilience.

Course Details

  • Location: The North London Yoga & Therapy Space (Downstairs at the North London Buddhist Centre)
  • Group Size: Maximum 20 participants (No new members can join after session 2 to preserve group safety)
  • Cost: £280 standard | £225 low income | £155 living on benefits

Is This Course For You?

This course is ideal if you want to learn how to:

  • Stop being so hard on yourself and motivate yourself with encouragement rather than criticism.
  • Handle difficult emotions—like shame, self-criticism, and guilt—with greater ease.
  • Transform difficult relationships, both old and new.
  • Integrate lasting self-compassion skills into your daily life.

Suitability & Safety Notes

MSC focuses on how we relate to distress rather than the details of personal trauma. Because it is a group learning environment, it is unlikely to be suitable for individuals currently experiencing:

  • Psychosis or suicidality
  • Severe anxiety that prevents engagement in a social/group context
  • Inability to remain in psychological contact

What is Mindful Self Compassion?

Co-developed by pioneer researcher Kristin Neff, MSC blends self kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness to help you deactivate your body's threat system and activate your natural caregiving system.

Backed by extensive research, regular self compassion practice is proven to deliver:

  • Reductions in: Anxiety, depression, stress, rumination, perfectionism, and fear of failure.
  • Increases in: Life satisfaction, emotional regulation, happiness, self confidence, and resilience.

What to Expect

Each of the 8 weekly sessions is highly experiential and designed with your emotional safety in mind.

  • The Practice: Includes psychological education, neuroscience, breath/body mindfulness, and guided visualisations.
  • The Environment: Includes gentle individual reflection and small group discussions. Sharing is always optional. There is zero requirement to share personal history or details of your mental health.
  • Confidentiality: All participants agree to strict confidentiality at the start of the course to create a safe, supportive environment.
  • Between Sessions: To get the most out of the course, you will receive emails with links to guided audio practices to explore between weeks. Note: If you miss more than two sessions, it may be difficult to keep pace with the group.

Meet Your Teacher: Dhinita Miia Chambers

Trainer, Supervisor, Consultant Coach & Mental Health Practitioner

Dhinita (Miia Chambers) is the former Mindfulness Lead at Mind (City & Hackney and Waltham Forest) and the founder of Rainbow Mind. She has spent over a decade developing impactful, evidence-based interventions.

An exceptionally experienced practitioner, Dhinita is extensively trained by the UK’s leading institutions across a range of mindfulness and compassion methodologies:

  • MBSR & MSC: Bangor University
  • MBCT: Oxford Mindfulness Centre
  • ACT & Radical Self-Care: City University / University College London
  • CFT: Salford University
  • MBAR (Addiction Recovery): London Breathing Space


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Frequently Asked questions

How can I get the most out of the course?
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Consistency is key: Come every week. Motivation often follows action so you’ll usually find that once you’re here, you’re glad you came!Arrive early: Aim to get here 15 minutes before we start. This gives you time to settle in and relax before the session begins.

What if I can’t make every session? 
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Don't worry - it’s fine, and common, to miss a session or two. We’ll usually send follow-up emails recapping the content you missed. If you know you’re going to be away, just let us know and we’ll look forward to seeing you the following week.

Will there be any food and drink?
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Tea and biscuits are served during breaks. We provide a wide range of teas along with oat and soya milk. There is also tap water. If you’re attending a day-long event (a Festival day or Day retreat for example), you’re invited to bring a vegan lunch to share as part of a "pot-luck" buffet.

What should I wear?
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There is no dress code, just wear what you feel comfortable in. If you’re attending a meditation class, loose-fitting trousers are a good choice as they make it much easier to sit on a cushion or chair for longer periods.

Do I need to take my shoes off?
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We ask everyone to remove their shoes before entering our shrine rooms or yoga studio. You can leave your shoes in the designated areas. (You might want to bring a pair of socks if your feet get cold!)

What if I can’t afford it? 
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While many courses are "Give What You Can," others have a set fee. If the low-income rate is still out of reach, please get in touch. We want our courses to be accessible to all and can often offer a place for an amount that works for you. It helps if you can give us a rough idea of what you can contribute when you get in touch.

How do I get to the Buddhist Centre?
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We are a 5–10 minute walk from three stations: Highbury & Islington, Holloway Road, and Drayton Park. Bus routes 21, 43, 263, and 393 stop nearby. We are also on the C38 Cycleway, with plenty of bike racks close by on Fieldway Crescent. There is no on-site parking, and nearby streets are mostly resident-only.

Is the Buddhist Centre accessible? 
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While we have an internal lift to the shrine rooms and yoga studio, please be aware there are four steep steps at our main street-level entrance without a ramp or lift. On the ground floor, you’ll find an accessible toilet. Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss your specific access needs.