Center for Creative Self-Compassion

12/08/2025

Hello friends,

A few days ago, I found myself sitting on the couch with a cup of tea, looking out at the late-afternoon light. It was one of those December moments when everything just feels quieter ~ like the year itself is exhaling.

I ended up pulling out a big sheet of paper and folding it into twelve squares so I could map my 2025 month by month. You’ve probably heard me talk about this before, because it’s something I do every December ~ usually at the very end of the month, but this time I had an earlier start! It’s a quiet ritual that helps me see the year more clearly: what happened, what changed, what challenged me, what supported me, what I loved.

As I filled in those squares, I was reminded how much shifts in a year ~ and how hard it can be to notice any of it while we’re in the midst of things.

This practice of mapping my months is at the heart of a guide I made for you (I’ve been meaning to create this for years, and I’m so excited that I finally did it!).

It’s a free, 30-page workbook called Digest & Create, filled with simple prompts, creative invitations, and grounding practices for reflecting on your year in a compassionate, spacious way.

🕯️ If you’d like a quiet place to land and catch up with yourself this month, you can download it here: https://www.creativeselfcompassion.com/digestcreate

I hope Digest & Create brings more peace, clarity, joy, and kindness into your December.

And if there’s someone in your life who might need that too, feel free to share it with them ❤️

10/06/2025

For many of us, life feels really intense right now. The days are getting shorter, there’s so much to hold, and nearly everything feels uncertain. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed and your inner critic has been loud, you’re not alone.

Stress and unpredictability are deeply unsettling, and in those moments self-criticism often grows louder. We sometimes blame ourselves in an effort to feel some control. But self-blame isn’t an effective coping strategy ~ what we actually need is more kindness, not less.

That’s the heart of my 8-week live, online Everyday Self-Compassion program: meeting life’s challenges together, with practical kindness and creativity. The fall cohorts begin next week, and registration is open now!
In Everyday Self-Compassion, you’ll experience:�
🎨 Art journaling that makes self-compassion playful and hands-on�
🌿 Evidence-based practices to calm the nervous system and meet uncertainty with more ease�
💛 A kind-hearted community where you can feel encouraged and understood

We’ll meet weekly on Zoom, with two cohort options: Thursday evenings (starting Oct 16) or Friday mornings (starting Oct 17). CE units are available for many healthcare professionals. Registration is open until Monday, Oct 13.

If you’re looking for a supportive reset this fall, I’d love to share Everyday Self-Compassion with you!

Please click below to learn more and register 🍂

Registration is now open for Everyday Self-Compassion! Healing doesn't have to be so hard! This 8-week live online art journaling program is designed to help you navigate the uncertainty of everyday life with more confidence, creativity, calm ~ and joy.

09/07/2025

🍂 Do you struggle with change?

Change is happening all the time ~ and right now, with the days getting noticeably shorter, you may really be feeling it.

And maybe you’ve noticed this, too: change has a way of stirring up self-doubt.

The inner critic gets louder and says you’re falling behind, not doing enough, not enough, period.

It sounds so convincing, but the truth is this: your inner critic’s stories are just that ~ stories. They’re not facts.

What if it’s possible that you are enough right now? Exactly where you need to be, doing enough.

In times of transition, what we actually need is warm curiosity ~ space to reclaim our imagination, reconnect with ourselves, and move forward with compassion.

💖 Love Yourself Now with Art Journaling is a free online workshop where you’ll learn simple, creative ways to meet yourself with more kindness ~ especially when your inner critic is loud.

🖍️ No art experience needed. Just bring yourself, as you are (and a few simple supplies).

🗓️ Sunday, October 5, 2025
⏰ 11am-12:30pm PT
📍 Live on Zoom | This is a FREE event

Together, we’ll explore where the inner critic comes from, how to loosen its grip, and how creativity can help you find balance instead of blame.

❤️ Click below to learn more + sign up today

Sign up for this free online self-compassion and art journaling workshop ~ learn how deep self-healing can be fun and playful!

08/15/2025

We all feel stuck sometimes.
In old patterns, in relationships, in work, in how we see ourselves.

But so often, what’s really keeping us stuck isn’t the situation itself ~ it’s the story we’re telling ourselves about it.

Getting Unstuck is a new 5-week creative self-compassion workshop designed to help you uncover and transform those stories ~ so you can move forward with more confidence, creativity and kindness.

In this program, you’ll:

🌱 Learn a simple way to identify the stories that keep you stuck

🎨 Explore a creative art journaling practice you can use anytime to find clarity, perspective, and momentum

💬 Experience warm group connection and guided reflection

🖌️ Let go of old stories so you can move forward ~ without forcing, fixing, or pushing yourself

No art experience needed!

When: Thursdays, September 4 ~ October 2, 6-8pm Pacific Time (via Zoom)

Who it’s for: Anyone who wants to transform what holds them back so they can move forward with more confidence, creativity and kindness

Lifetime access: All classes will be recorded, and you’ll have lifetime access to the replays and other workshop materials

❤️ Learn more & register below

We all have times when we feel stuck. Getting Unstuck is a 5-week course designed to help you transform what holds you back with creative self-compassion.

06/16/2025

🌧️ When life gets hard, the inner critic often gets louder.

Maybe you’ve noticed it too ~ that voice inside that says you’re not doing enough, not handling things well enough, not enough, period.

But self-criticism isn’t what gets us through hard times.
What we actually need is more kindness and creativity ~
especially when things feel messy or uncertain.

🌞 With summer just around the corner, there can be pressure to feel bright and energized. But if you’re feeling tired, off-track, or overwhelmed ~ you’re not alone.

💖 Love Yourself Now with Art Journaling is a free online workshop where you’ll learn to meet yourself with more gentleness ~ even when your inner critic has lots to say.

And yes ~ it’s also fun and playful!
Because joy and creativity aren’t frivolous ~ they’re exactly what we need to keep going.

🖍️ No art experience needed. Just bring yourself, as you are.

🗓️ Sunday, June 29, 2025
⏰ 11am-12:30pm Pacific Time
📍 Live on Zoom | Free to attend

We’ll explore where the inner critic comes from, how to loosen its grip and how creativity can help you come home to yourself.

It’s ok to need a little extra care right now. ❤️

🎨 Click below to learn more + sign up

Sign up for this free online self-compassion and art journaling workshop ~ learn how deep self-healing can be fun and playful!

06/06/2025

Has it been hard to row your boat gently down the stream of life lately?🛶
Join me for a free online workshop where we’ll explore how to meet ourselves with kindness ~ even when life feels messy, uncertain or overwhelming.
Love Yourself Now with Art Journaling
🗓️ Sunday, June 29 | ⏰ 11am-12:30pm PT
🎨 Free | No art experience needed
📍 Live on Zoom
This gentle, creative workshop will help you reconnect with your creativity and innate capacity for self-compassion
😬 We’ll talk about where the inner critic comes from and how to loosen its grip.
🎨 You’ll be guided through a simple, nourishing art journaling practice to reimagine and revise the stories you tell yourself
Whether you’re floating, flailing, or just trying to find your rhythm again ~ you’re not alone ❤️
🖌️ Click here to learn more + sign up:

Sign up for this free online self-compassion and art journaling workshop ~ learn how deep self-healing can be fun and playful!

05/21/2025

✨ Feeling stretched thin lately? You’re not alone. ✨

If your nervous system is frayed and you need a reset ~ Beyond Burnout is for you.

This 4-week online workshop combines art journaling, poetry, mindfulness and self-compassion to help you unwind and reconnect with what matters most. It's gentle, research-based, and fun (yes, fun can be part of healing!).

🎨 No art experience needed
🧠 Grounded in science + creativity
💛 Scholarships + CE credits available

New cohorts begin June 5 and 6. Come join us ~ or share with someone who could use this kind of support.

🖌️ Learn more + sign up by clicking below

Beyond Burnout is a 4-week online workshop designed to help you avoid burnout, and creatively cultivate self-compassion for body, mind and spirit. 8 CEs available for healthcare professionals!

04/28/2025

🌿✨ Need a little breathing room? ✨🌿

There's so much going on in the world right now. If you've been feeling overwhelmed, scattered, or stretched too thin, you're not alone 💛

I created Breathing Room: Art Journaling for Stress Relief as a free 90-minute live online workshop to offer a gentle, creative reset ~ a way to step away from the noise and reconnect with your creativity and give your nervous system the care it needs and deserves.

It's completely free, and it's happening on Sunday, May 18, 2025 from 10-11:30am Pacific Time.

In Breathing Room you’ll experience:
🌼 Accessible practices to nurture body, mind and spirit
🎨 Simple, playful art journaling (no art skills or special supplies needed!)
🌿 Poetry and reflection to spark self-compassion and resilience

Breathing Room is a welcoming space to explore, create, and nurture yourself ~ whether you're brand new to art journaling or just longing for a little more peace and ease.

👇 Click below to register

✨ Everyone who signs up will also receive access to the replay through Memorial Day weekend!

💬 Curious about what Breathing Room is like? After last month's workshop, several participants emailed to share how the experience impacted them ~ I posted a few of their reflections in the comments below 🌿

Hope to see you there! 💛

A live art journaling workshop where you can de-stress through art, poetry and play! Spark your creativity with self-compassion poems and art journaling practice!

04/07/2025

🌿✨ Enrollment is now open for Beyond Burnout ✨🌿

It’s how it is right now ~ so many of us are exhausted, anxious and running on empty. The chaos is constant, the world feels intense, and our nervous systems are carrying way too much.

When we’re constantly stressed, it’s easy to disconnect from creativity, calm, and even the capacity to care for ourselves.

Beyond Burnout is a gentle, creative 4-week program designed to help you de-stress, shift out of survival mode, and find more calm and confidence in the uncertainty of everyday life.

Each week, we’ll gather online to explore research-backed ways to reduce and prevent burnout ~ through guided art journaling, thoughtfully chosen poetry, and simple mindfulness-based practices. Beyond Burnout will help you:

💛 Soothe your nervous system
💛 Feel more grounded and steady
💛 Reconnect with your creativity and joy

Throughout the program, I’ll also guide you in creating your own Beyond Burnout guide ~ a personal, handmade self-care resource you can return to anytime stress starts to rise.

And no art experience is needed ~ just a willingness to show up and try something new.

There are two cohort options (evening or daytime), and CE credits are available for therapists and healthcare professionals.

🌼 Learn more + sign up below 🌼
And if someone you know could use this kind of support, feel free to share this post and let your friends and loved ones know about Beyond Burnout.

We all need gentleness right now ~ to care for our nervous systems with compassion, and to let in as much simple joy as we can find 💛

Beyond Burnout is a 4-week online workshop designed to help you avoid burnout, and creatively cultivate self-compassion for body, mind and spirit. 8 CEs available for healthcare professionals!

03/28/2025

😣 Stressed? You're allowed to slow down.
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, tired, or like you can’t catch a break, you're not alone. Stress happens, but self-compassion helps, and art journaling makes it easier.

🌿 Breathing Room is a free, live online workshop designed to help you pause, reset, and reconnect through art journaling and poetry.

When life gets hectic, it’s easy to put yourself last. But true self-care isn’t just about taking breaks ~ it’s about how you meet yourself in difficult moments.

This workshop will offer:
✨ A simple way to ease stress & replenish your energy
🎨 Creative self-expression as a tool for self-care
💛 A foundation for lasting self-compassion

📅 Sunday, April 6 | 🕙 10-11:30am PT
💻 Live on Zoom (Replay Available!)
You don’t have to do this alone. Let’s slow down together. 💛 Sign up here: https://www.creativeselfcompassion.com/breathingroom

The Center for Creative Self-Compassion is an education company helping people tame the inner critic with creative self-compassion, mindfulness, and art journaling.

03/10/2025

🌿 new workshop for stress relief & creative self-compassion! 🌿

Stress can build up fast, and before you know it, exhaustion feels normal. But burnout isn’t inevitable ~ there’s a fun and effective way to meet stress ~ with self-compassion and creativity 💛

Breathing Room is a free live online workshop designed to help you reset, recharge and reconnect with yourself through poetry & art journaling.

When life feels overwhelming, it’s easy to disconnect from what truly nourishes you. But just a little creative self-expression can soothe your nervous system and help you breathe easier.

In this workshop, we’ll explore:
✨ How poetry can offer immediate comfort and a grounding perspective
🎨 Simple creative practices that help quiet the mind and ease stress
💛 Practices for responding to challenges with self-compassion, instead of self-judgment

Here are the details:
🌿 Breathing Room Art Journaling for Stress Relief Workshop
📅 Sunday, April 6, 2025
🕙 10am PT
💻 Live on Zoom (Replay Available!)

This is a brand-new workshop, and I’d love to share it with you!

Save your spot here 👇

A live art journaling workshop where you can de-stress through art, poetry and play! Spark your creativity with self-compassion poems and art journaling practice!

03/05/2025

😣 Stress happens.
🫶 Self-compassion helps.
🎨 Creativity makes it easier.

When stress builds up, it’s easy to ignore your own needs and keep pushing forward ~ until exhaustion becomes "normal." And then before you know it, burnout takes over.

Coping with stress effectively isn’t about powering through or waiting for things to slow down. It’s about making space for yourself right now.

That’s what Breathing Room is all about.

This free, live online workshop is an invitation to step into a new way of relating to stress ~ with creative self-compassion. Through poetry and art journaling, we’ll explore simple, meaningful practices that help you:

✨ Ease stress & replenish your energy
🎨 Experience creativity as a tool for self-care
💛 Build a foundation for lasting self-compassion

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or need a reset, Breathing Room will help you pause, exhale and reconnect with yourself.

Workshop details:
🗓 Sunday, April 6, 2025
⏰ 10-11:30am Pacific Time
💻 Live on Zoom (replay available)

Breathing Room be engaging, supportive, and restorative ~ and I’d love to see you there 💛
To learn more or register, please click below 👇

A live art journaling workshop where you can de-stress through art, poetry and play! Spark your creativity with self-compassion poems and art journaling practice!