Have you ever wondered if there was a skill you could use to help you sustain real compassionate care for patients in the face of competing demands like technology and documentation, time pressure, and fatigue? Self-compassion skills can be used on the spot while at work with patients and colleagues. Practicing mindfulness is an objective under the lifestyle medicine core competency skill supporting “Emotional and Mental Health Assessment and Interventions.” Mindfulness and self-compassion can be considered two sides of the same coin. During this session, we will explore the components of self-compassion and its benefits, cognitively and experientially, theoretically and practically.
Learning Objectives:
Define the main components of self-compassion.
Discuss how self-compassion may be implemented into the role of a healthcare professional.
Identify the benefits of incorporating self-compassion into care for the health professional, patient, and resulting clinical work.
Explore the links between self-compassion and well-being (as supported by the research).
Utilize strategies to address emotional exhaustion and clinical burnout when managing and communicating with complex patients.
