8-Session Making Friends With Yourself Online – (Ages 11-13)~(Grades 6-8) Tues. /Thur. 4:00 – 6:00 EDT

Making Friends with Yourself (MFY) is a program designed to cultivate the skill of self-compassion in teens ages 11-13. MFY teaches core principals and practice that enable the young person to respond to the challenges of these critical years with kindness and compassion.

Adolescence is a time of change and growth. It is the period reserved for rebellion and self-discovery, but as the demands of life increase for teens , this time is often fraught with confusion, anxiety or depression. For many teens these challenges led to disconnection.

In this course, which meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays for two hours a day, teens engage in developmentally appropriate activities and carefully crafted practices and meditations, which provide them with the opportunity to learn how to navigate the emotional ups and downs of life with greater ease. Backed by research, findings indicate increases in emotional well-being and greater resilence after taking the course.

Following in the footsteps of the adult MSC program, MFY is rooted in the three key components of self-compassion: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindful, balanced awareness. These elements serve to open the hearts of teens to their own suffering, so they can learn to give themselves what they truly need, recognize they are not alone in their suffering, and encourage an open-minded acceptance of the struggle they are facing.

Quotes from young people who completed our Spring MFY ONLINE:

“I didn’t know about these practices and they really helped. I’ve been really happy lately.”

“my take away is being kind to myself and to saying good things to me too.”

“Mindfulness and self-compassion equals living in the moment.”

“I’m learning to love myself more.”

“My take aways …soothing touch, tracing your palm… I can change how I feel and think and saying words to yourself that you might say to a friend.”

“Really liked the Compassionate Friend practice…learned a lot … also knowing I am able to go to a safe place.”