Use this event registration system to register for upcoming conferences, classes, workshops, seminars, and other training activities sponsored by various departments and offices at UNC-Chapel Hill.
To begin your online registration, simply browse the event listings, select the event you wish to attend and complete the online registration form. Your registration will be confirmed by email.
To Inquire about becomming an Admin of your own events, contact Lori Saddler at lsaddler@unc.edu
UNC Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Program on Integrative Medicine Mindfulness Center
Date/Time
01/22/2026
- 03/12/2026
6:00 PM
- 8:30 PM
Event Price
Cutoff Date
01/08/2026
Must register before this date
For more information, contact the event administrator:
Paula Huffman
paulah@email.unc.edu
Event Presenters
Name
Title
LaTonia Clark Chalmers, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, APHN-BC, HWNC-BC, RYT-200
LaTonia began her mindful self-compassion journey in 2013 while completing a post-masters Interprofessional Integrative Health and Healing Therapies Fellowship at the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Healthcare System. As a board-certified holistic nurse and health and wellness nurse coach, she has a passion for partnering with others to improve overall well-being and deepen connections with one’s own internal wisdom and wholeness. LaTonia, who is a Center for Mindful Self-Compassion trained Mindful Self-Compassion teacher, believes that everyone can benefit from giving themselves more grace, compassion, and kindness.
Christine Lathren, MD, MSPH
Christine began her journey in mindfulness and self-compassion in 2015, as she navigated caregiving for her mother and her young children. Her personal interest merged with her professional path in 2017, when she began studying self-compassion as a post-doctoral fellow within UNC's Program on Integrative Medicine. Since then, she has completed research examining the role of self-compassion in supporting healthy caregiving relationships- including how self-compassion impacts family, child and adolescent well-being, and how it impacts burnout in professional caregivers. She is a trained Mindfulness and Self-Compassion for Children and Caregivers instructor, a Foundations of Mindful Self-Compassion instructor and a Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities instructor. She regularly provides workshops on self-compassion for UNC Healthcare audiences. These roles have helped deepen her own perfectly imperfect self-compassion practice.
The Foundations of Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC)
Led by Christine Lathren, MD, MSPH and LaTonia Clark Chalmers, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, APHN-BC, HWNC-BC, RYT-200
Please Note:
This event requires a brief meeting with the Instructor before registration acceptance.
Participants will be asked to provide some personal information when they register for this course to help teachers determine their safety and readiness for the course.
If you would like to register for this event please follow these steps:
Complete a registration without payment Email the Co-Instructor Christine Lathren at: lathren@email.unc.edu The Instructor will contact you for additional information. When you are accepted into the program, complete your payment to reserve your space. Once your registration is complete, you will receive your Zoom link.
The Foundations of Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Course is an empirically-supported, 8-week training program designed to cultivate the skill of self-compassion. Based on the work of Kristin Neff, PhD, and Christopher Germer, PhD, MSC teaches core principles and practices that enable participants to respond to difficult moments in their lives with kindness, care and understanding.
The three key components of self-compassion are mindfulness, a sense of common humanity, and self-kindness. Mindfulness helps us notice our difficult feelings, thoughts and body sensations in a balanced and accepting way. Common humanity reminds us that difficulty is inherent in being human, and we aren't alone when we struggle. Self-kindness asks, "What do I need in this moment, that would bring me closer to feeling supported?"
Research demonstrates that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional wellbeing, less anxiety, depression and stress, maintenance of healthy habits such as diet and exercise, and satisfying personal relationships.
Participation in this 8-week course teaches and engages participants in skills and practices that aim to support the ability to do the following:
• Practice self-compassion in daily life
• Understand the empirically-supported benefits of self-compassion
• Motivate yourself with kindness rather than criticism
• Handle difficult emotions with greater ease
• Transform challenging relationships, old and new
• Manage caregiver fatigue
• Practice the art of savoring and self-appreciation
What To Expect
Course activities include meditation, short talks, experiential exercises, group discussion, and home practices. MSC is primarily a compassion training program rather than mindfulness training, although mindfulness is the foundation of self-compassion. MSC is also not psychotherapy insofar as the emphasis of MSC is on building emotional resources rather than addressing old wounds. Beneficial change occurs naturally as we develop the capacity to be with ourselves in a kinder, more compassionate way.
Compassion is a positive, energizing emotion. However, while learning self-compassion, some difficult emotions may arise. MSC teachers are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for this process to unfold, and to making the journey enjoyable for everyone.
MSC includes 8 weekly sessions of 2.5 hours each, in addition to a 4-hour Saturday retreat. Prior to registering, participants should plan to attend every session and practice mindfulness and self-compassion as close as possible to 30 minutes per day throughout the program. Many practices can be done in the midst of daily life!
Prerequisites
Everyone is welcome, including people of all backgrounds and identities. No previous experience with mindfulness or meditation is required to attend MSC.
Participants will be asked to provide some personal information when they register for this course to help teachers determine their safety and readiness for the course.
You must have access to the internet and a device to log onto Zoom. Headphones and a private space for participating is encouraged. The community is essential for learning self-compassion. We ask that you keep your camera on to create the most community feel we can while participating virtually.
The following book is recommended as a companion to the MSC course:
The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook, by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer (2018)
