Compassionate Mind Training for Students

Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) for Students is a psychoeducational program based on Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) designed to enhance children’s emotional resilience, self-regulation and social-emotional skills within the school environment.

Overview

Compassionate Mind Training for Students is a structured 8-week psychoeducational program designed for students of primary and secondary education. Its goal is to strengthen their emotional resilience, improve their relationships with themselves, classmates and educators, and cultivate essential compassion and emotional self-regulation skills.
Based on the work of Irons & Heriot-Maitland and inspired by Professor Paul Gilbert’s theory, the program guides children toward developing a more compassionate way of thinking, relating, and behaving toward themselves and others. Through experiential activities, simple mindfulness exercises, and creative exploration of emotions, children learn to better understand themselves, manage challenges with greater calm, and nurture their relationships with kindness and respect.

What Participants Gain

Students develop skills that help them to:
cultivate and activate their “compassionate mind”
recognize and balance internal conflicts and difficult emotions typical of preadolescence and adolescence
reduce self-criticism and anxiety
decrease socially imposed perfectionism
manage reactive behavior and aggression by learning to identify their emotions and express their needs in calmer, more cooperative ways
develop greater understanding toward themselves and others
navigate relationships with classmates, teachers, and parents with calmness and empathy
strengthen their sense of belonging
build mental resilience against stressful situations
increase self-compassion, positive emotions and emotional well-being

Structure

Each session includes:
Clear and well-explained theoretical content
Practical experiential exercises such as:
Mindfulness practices
Guided visualization
Development of compassionate mind skills
Participatory group discussions
Video presentations
Written support materials summarizing key ideas and practices covered in the session
Content
Throughout the program children learn:
how our mind sometimes gets “stuck” on difficult thoughts and feelings such as anxiety, anger, or shame
how the “three systems” of emotions inside us work and why we sometimes feel blocked or confused
what compassion is, what strengthens it and what can get in the way
that compassion can be directed toward others, received from others, and turned inward toward ourselves
how to calm their body and mind through simple mindfulness and kindness exercises
During the program children will have the opportunity to develop skills in three key areas:
Mindfulness: Children learn how to pay calm, focused attention to the present moment and practice simple exercises that help with concentration and regulating thoughts and emotions.
Breathwork: They practice breathing techniques that help calm the body and relax the mind, especially when experiencing anxiety, tension, or strong emotions.
Compassion: They explore ways to show kindness and understanding—to themselves and others—through creative activities involving imagination, imagery, movement, and words.
Children are encouraged to practice these skills between sessions with the support of simple audio guides and friendly written materials.

Accessibility: The program is designed to respect the diverse needs of every child. It includes freedom of movement during sessions and time for breaks and relaxation, so every child feels comfortable and safe.
Upon completion of the program, participants will receive a certificate of attendance
Unlock the Power of Compassion in the Classroom!
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