Filmed October 2020
Caring for children is frequently exhausting. Parenting children with diverse needs is even more demanding of families, compounded by the need to navigate and advocate across systems. Driven by love, these families are at high-risk of neglecting themselves and developing compassion fatigue. In this 13-part workshop we begin by exploring the “costs of caring” and its potential physical and emotional toll. Then we consider research supported strategies that can empower families and build their resistance to ward off compassion fatigue. Systems supports, self-care, and mindful self-compassion are featured.
Georgina Robinson, PhD, Certified School Psychologist
Principal, Provincial Outreach Program for Autism and Related Disorders (POPARD)
Georgina has a doctoral degree in educational and counselling psychology from the University of British Columbia. She is the Principal of the Provincial Outreach Program for Autism and Related Disorders (POPARD) and is an adjunct faculty member at UBC. Georgina has over 20 years of clinical experience supporting both adults and children and is committed to supporting caregivers who are at risk for compassion fatigue.
Georgina has had training, supervision and experience and is considered a qualified teacher in several evidence-based mindfulness-based interventions including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT; Oxford University Mindfulness Centre) and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC, Center for Mindful Self-Compassion). Georgina’s work with families who have children with ASD is informed both by her professional qualifications as well as her lived experience as a parent of two boys, one with ASD.
Part 1: Introduction & Setting the Stage
Topics Covered:
- Caregiver stress and coping
- Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory (stress is influenced across systems)
- Identifying your sources of stress
Part 2: Identifying Stressors
Topics Covered:
- Stressors identified by caregivers of children with disabilities
- Stigma and shame
Part 3: Compassion/Caregiver Satisfaction & Compassion Fatigue
Topics Covered:
- What is compassion and compassion fatigue?
- Identifying where you are on the stages of compassion fatigue
Part 4: Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue & Protective Factors
Topics Covered:
- Caregiver reslience
- Protective factors across systems
- Benefits of family-centered care
Part 5: Parent to Parent Supports & Characteristics of Resilient Parents
Topics Covered:
- The benefits of parent to parent support
- The Parent perspective from: The Institute of Families for child and Youth Mental Health (Family Smart)
- Learning to Let it Go (video)
Part 6: Characteristics of Resilient Parents
Topics Covered:
- Social supports
- Resilient ways of thinking and behaving
- Awareness and Mindfulness
- Identifying your protectors
Part 7: Components of Self-Care
Topics Covered:
- Why consider self-care
- Caring for the body (physical)
- Nurturing relationships (social/interpersonal)
- Managing and appreciating your work
Part 8: Components of Self-Care (cont’d)
Topics Covered:
- Managing and appreciating your work (cont’d)
- Making time for what’s important to you (personal)
- Minding your mind (Psychological/Emotional)
- Thnx4: Online, shareable gratitude journal
Part 9: Learning to Appreciate What You Already Have
Topics Covered:
- Mental subtraction visualization
- My Self Care Plan (pdf)
Part 10: An Introduction to Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC)
Topics Covered:
- What the research says about MSC
- What you learn through MSC
- Components of MSC
Part 11: Practicing Mindfulness in Daily Life
Topics Covered:
- What is mindfulness?
- Contrast with mindlessness
- Sense and savour: The calming power of nature
- Daily pleasant experiences tracker
Part 12: Making Time for Self-Compassion
Topics Covered:
- The Soles of the Feet exercise (Nirbay Singh)
- The Best Things About My Child exercise
- MSC when things are difficult
- Taking self-compassion breaks
- Why Mindfulness Is a Superpower: An Animation
Part 13: Model of Emotion Regulation
Topics Covered:
- Paul Gilbert’s model of emotion regulation
- Drive system, soothing system, and threat system
- Responding to yourself with kindness
- Affectionate breathing practice
Questions about the presentation or MSC?
Visit Dr. Georgina Robinson’s site Mindful Self-Compassion for Life.
Where to Learn More About Mindful Self-Compassion
- Center for MSC
- Self-Compassion: Dr. Kristin Neff, Co-developer of the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) training program
- Chris Germer, Co-developer of the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) training program
- Centre for Mindfulness Studies
- UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness