Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living
Most of us have a version of this: you'd never speak to a friend the way you speak to yourself.
You know this. You might have read about it, talked about it in therapy, even taught it to others. And still, in the moments that matter most, when something goes wrong or falls short, the voice is there. Critical, relentless, oddly familiar.
Knowing something and actually living it are two very different things.
MBCL works in that gap. It's about developing a fundamentally different relationship with your own experience. With difficulty, with emotions that feel too big, with the parts of yourself you'd rather not look at. Eight weeks of practice that builds something real: self-compassion as an actual capacity, not just a concept.
Developed by Dutch psychiatrist Erik van den Brink and meditation teacher Frits Koster, MBCL builds on the foundations of mindfulness and draws on decades of research in compassion science, including the work of Kristin Neff, Paul Gilbert, and Rick Hanson.
Who Is This Course For?
This course tends to find the people who are already doing the work. Therapy, meditation, reading, reflecting. People who genuinely understand a lot about themselves and still notice that something isn't quite shifting.
It might be for you if you:
Notice persistent self-criticism that doesn't quiet down no matter what you try
Keep catching yourself in the same patterns
Find it much easier to be kind to others than to yourself
Work in a caring profession and feel the weight of that
Are drawn to the intersection of psychology, mindfulness, and contemplative traditions
This is a graduate-level course. To participate, you need to have completed MBSR, MBCT, Breathworks, or have an established mindfulness or meditation practice. If you're not sure whether your background qualifies, get in touch and we can talk it through.
How it works
We don't just talk about compassion. We practice it, directly, in the group, in the body, in the moments where it's hardest to access.
Each session includes guided compassion meditations, reflective exercises, and honest group conversation about what's actually coming up. MBCL teaches you to work flexibly with the practices, to notice which ones help you in a given moment rather than following a fixed script.
Over the eight weeks something shifts in how you relate to your own inner life. Difficult feelings don't disappear. The relationship to them changes.
Course Structure
The program includes:
8 weekly sessions of 2.5 to 3 hours each
One half or full silent practice day
Guided compassion meditations to use at home between sessions
Reflective exercises and structured home practice
Group dialogue and integration each week
Groups are small, maximum 10 people. That's intentional. This kind of work needs space.
What the research shows
Compassion and self-compassion are increasingly recognized as central to mental health and emotional resilience. Trainable capacities with real, measurable effects.
Studies suggest that regular compassion-based practice can contribute to:
Less self-criticism and shame
More emotional stability under stress
Better relational awareness
Reduced burnout, especially in people who work in caring roles
This course is not therapy and it's not a substitute for psychological or medical treatment. It can work well alongside existing support. If you're currently in a mental health crisis, please speak with your provider before enrolling.
Upcoming Cohorts
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Upcoming Cohorts *
All cohorts follow the same full MBCL program. Language and schedule vary per cohort. Price is the same across all.
Filter by language or availability.
350–450 €
Sliding scale
350–450 €
Sliding scale
350–450 €
Sliding scale
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Before you register
Registration includes a brief introductory conversation, about 20 minutes by phone or video. It's a chance for you to ask questions and for me to make sure the timing and format make sense for where you are right now.
If you'd like to be notified when a new cohort opens, join the interest list and I'll be in touch as soon as dates are confirmed.
Join the interest list