Mindful Self-Compassion, Christopher Germer

Publications :: Books

The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions Germer, C. (author), Sharon Salzberg (foreword); Guilford Press, 2009 To order a copy please visit: Guilford Press.
	“Buck up.” “Stop feeling sorry for yourself.” “Don’t ruin everything.” When you are anxious, sad, angry, or lonely, do you hear this self-critical voice? What would happen if, instead of fighting difficult emotions, we accepted them? Over his decades of experience as a therapist and mindfulness meditation practitioner, Dr. Christopher Germer has learned a paradoxical lesson: We all want to avoid pain, but letting it in—and responding compassionately to our own imperfections, without judgment or self-blame—are essential steps on the path to healing. This wise, and eloquent book illuminates the power of self-compassion and offers creative, scientifically grounded strategies for putting it into actions. You’ll master practical techniques for living more fully in the present moment—especially when hard-to-bear emotions arise—and for being kind to yourself when you need it the most. (from the back cover)
Reviews Best Consumer Health Books – 2009 "A superb introduction to mindfulness meditation....This brilliantmanual demonstrates how by accepting and embracing emotions, one can move to a higher plane of harmony with oneself and others. Interspersed with supporting data from psychology experiments, this book provides practical, life-changing self-help techniques and suggestions for further readings and practice. Highly recommended.” ~Library Journal "Self-compassion is the ground of all emotional healing, and Dr. Germer has produced an invaluable guide. Written with great clarity, psychological wisdom, and warmth, this book will serve anyone seeking practical and powerful tools that free the heart." ~Tara Brach, PhD, author of Radical Acceptance "In this important book, Christopher Germer illuminates the myriad synergies between mindfulness and compassion. He offers skillful and effective ways of making sure that we are inviting ourselves, as well as others, to bathe in and benefit from the kind heart of awareness itself, and from the actions that follow from such a radical and sane embrace." ~Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD author of Arriving at Your Own Door and Letting Everything Become Your Teacher "Loving-kindness and compassion are the basis for wise, powerful, sometimes gentle, and sometimes fierce actions that can really make a difference—in our own lives and those of others....In the following pages you will find a scientific review, an educational manual, and a practical step-by-step guide to developing greater loving-kindness and self-compassion every day." ~from the Foreword by Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness "Explains both the science and practice of developing kindness toward ourselves and others. Dr. Germer offers powerful and easily accessible steps toward transforming our lives from the inside out. It's never too late to start along this important path." ~Daniel J. Siegel, MD, author of The Mindful Brain "An elegant and practical guide to cultivating self-compassion, by a dedicated and wise clinician and meditation teacher. The author offers time-honored practices and exercises with the potential to illuminate and transform the background chatter of our minds that determines so much of the course of our lives." ~Samuel Shem, MD, author of The House of God "Those of us treating people who struggle with addictions know all too well how clients' feelings of shame or self-blame often undermine efforts to achieve effective interventions. In this remarkable book, Germer shows readers how to use mindfulness and self-compassion to open up to their pain and treat themselves with kindness. Ideal for recommendation to clients who have fallen off the wagon or who are blaming themselves for failed relationships, lost jobs, and scattered lives, this book offers a way out of a vicious cycle." ~G. Alan Marlatt, PhD, Department of Psychology and Director, Addictive Behaviors Research Center, University of Washington
*Mindfulness and Psychotherapy* Christopher K. Germer, Ronald D. Siegel, and Paul R. Fulton, (Editors); Guilford Press, April, 2005 • To order a copy please visit: Guilford Press or Amazon.com. • To earn CE’s for reading Mindfulness and Psychotherapy, please visit this link. • For free download of Chapter 1 (“Mindfulness: What is it?”), please visit: Guilford Press. (pdf)
	Book Description Responding to growing interest among psychotherapists of all theoretical orientations, this practical book provides a comprehensive introduction to mindfulness and its contemporary clinical applications. Within a coherent conceptual framework, chapters present a range of clear-cut procedures for practicing mindfulness techniques and teaching them to patients. The editors and authors—most of whom have been practicing both mindfulness and psychotherapy for at least two decades—skillfully blend clinical wisdom, research findings, the spiritual roots of mindfulness, and personal reflections on the therapists’ craft. The resulting volume is an essential resource for anyone interested in meditation and other scientifically grounded approaches to augmenting psychotherapy.
Part I offers a concise, clinically oriented introduction to mindfulness meditation and Buddhist psychology, exploring their connections to contemporary psychotherapeutic theory and practice, and what may lie beyond. Chapters in Part II shine a spotlight on the therapeutic relationship, showing how cultivating mindfulness can increase acceptance and empathy and give patients—and therapists—a new sense of emotional freedom. Part III then details innovative applications for specific problems and populations. Bringing their approaches to life with vivid case examples, contributors show how mindfulness can give the clinician additional traction in understanding and treating depression, anxiety disorders, and chronic pain. Also included is a special chapter on working with children. Following a review of relevant clinical research, Part IV outlines the historical underpinnings of mindfulness and looks ahead to the future of this fast-growing and immensely promising field. Reviews "A landmark contribution to the emerging field of mindfulness-based interventions in psychology, psychiatry, and medicine. Contributors include psychotherapists with longstanding personal commitments to mindfulness meditation practice and its clinical applications, as well as a neuroscientist and a Buddhist scholar. Comprehensive, accessible, and full of illuminating case studies and mindfulness-based exercises, this book is likely to catalyze interest in mindfulness for years to come. It opens a range of different doors for mental health professionals interested in applying mindfulness in the clinical domain and in the cultivation of well-being, happiness, compassion, and wisdom. It will serve as a useful text in undergraduate- and graduate-level courses in positive psychology, clinical practice, psychotherapy, and human performance." ~Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, author of Coming to Our Senses, Wherever You Go There You Are and Full Catastrophe Living “One of the best books yet on mindfulness and psychotherapy. Well informed, clinically sound, thoughtful, practical, and provocative." ~Jack Kornfield, PhD, author of A Path With Heart "When the history of 21st-century psychology is written, the introduction of mindfulness as an adjunct to psychotherapy will stand out like a beacon. This seminal volume is an expert's guide to the field, while still being fully accessible to the beginner. It is invaluable both to therapists and to anyone interested in developing awareness, presence, and compassion. Mindfulness and Psychotherapy is bound to become a classic text." ~Joan Borysenko, PhD, author of Minding the Body, Mending the Mind and Inner Peace for Busy People "Over the past decade, the concept of mindfulness has captured the imagination of psychotherapists. This impressive volume catalogs the clinical applications and relevance of mindfulness across the spectrum of emotional disorders, offering an evenhanded discussion of both theory and praxis. The unique perspective provided by editors and authors whose personal practice of mindfulness suffuses their work with patients makes this text a valuable addition to any classroom or clinic library." ~Zindel V. Segal, PhD, Center for Addiction and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Canada "Mindfulness and Psychotherapy shines a light on a fundamental and powerful element in the process of human healing and transformation. With clarity and sensitivity, this book reveals how the cultivation of mindfulness can lead us to freedom in the midst of pain, anxiety, depression, and a host of other human difficulties. The editors and authors explore the theoretical and empirical basis for applying mindfulness in clinical settings, establishing it as a model of psychotherapy that is complementary to major contemporary schools of therapy. And then, with clear case examples, treatment methodologies, and exercises, they show us how mindfulness works! In addition to being an invaluable guide for mental health professionals, this book would serve well as required reading for undergraduate- or graduate-level courses in clinical psychology."? ~Tara Brach, PhD, author of Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha