Mindful Self-Compassion Groups & Workshops

I offer virtual Mindful Self-Compassion groups and workshops for the 2SLGBTQ+ community and general population

“The curious paradox of life is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change” - Carl Rogers

Mindful Self-Compassion is a deeply impactful, evidence-based 8-week course designed to teach and embody the skills of mindfulness and self-compassion. Participants learn practical mindfulness, nervous system regulation, embodied inquiry, and values-based meaning-making skills, all integrated in queer theory and culture and held in queer community.

MSC has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, combat chronic shame, promote deeper relationships, and contribute to more resilience in the face of life’s challenges. I offer groups open anyone in the 2SLGBTQ+ community, as well as separate ones for the general population.

Queer Mindful Self-Compassion March 2026

Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is a deeply therapeutic, empirically supported, learning and skills training group designed to cultivate mindfulness and self-compassion skills. Based on groundbreaking research, this 8-week group involves practical mindfulness, nervous system regulation, embodied inquiry, and values based meaning-making skills, enabling participants to respond to difficult moments and motivate themselves with kindness, instead of harsh self-judgement and shame.

Adapted by-and-for the 2SLGBTQ+ community, this program integrates queer thought and lived experience throughout!

  • "I truly loved this course. It has taught me so much about the benefits of being kinder to myself. It's hard for me to even express it in words, but I know it in my heart. My loved ones have also seen the benefits that this course has had on my wellbeing and mental health. I also truly appreciated the fact that this was a group for queers... practicing Mindfulness Self Compassion has allowed me to explore my needs better and believe in myself more than I have ever in my life. I just have so much gratitude for this experience."

    - J

  • "MSC for LGBTQ+ folks was a really dreamy course! It offered a uniquely soft and tender container in which to learn (and unlearn) some challenging, but beautiful practices…. In MSC for 2SLGBTQ+ folks, I felt that I could bring my full messy, hesitant, overwhelmed, stressed, queer and trans self so that I could really show up to grapple with the difficulties and joys of self compassion."

    - D

  • "Beautifully tailored to the unique challenges of being queer and trans, this course gifted me with valuable tools that I can draw on now and as I continue to grow. Mik is a skilled facilitator who is able to connect the MSC curriculum to the queer and trans lived experiences in an impactful way... 10/10 would recommend!"

    - R

Group of people walking along a grassy trail beside tall grasses and trees on a sunny day

The Deets

When:

Wednesdays, March 11-April 29, 2026 5:30-8:00 pm

Half-Day Silent Retreat: April 5 10:00-2:00

(all times PST)

Where:

Virtual over Zoom

Who:

Anyone who identifies as a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ Community

Expect 8 weeks of learning, mindfulness and self-compassion practice, opportunities for small and large group discussion, and multiple tools and practices that you can integrate into your life right away. We will work together to build a compassionate and present queer community space.

Mik Turje is a Trained Teacher of Mindful Self-Compassion, with The Center for Mindful Self-Compassion.

Topics include:

  • Integrating mindfulness into daily life to open to the present moment

  • Practicing self-kindness (especially when it doesn't come naturally!)

  • Connecting to our essential interrelatedness so we know we aren't alone

  • Working with internalized queerphobia, racism, and misogyny through compassion instead of self-criticism

  • Living deeply, aligned with your values

  • Meeting difficult emotions like shame, anger, and anxiety

  • Navigating challenging relationships, caregiving fatigue, and conflict

  • Embracing your life!

Past participants describe this course as highly transformative with lasting impacts years later.

FAQ:

Line drawing of three mountain peaks with some shading, labeled 'Mount Everest', 'K2', and 'Kangchenjunga'.

“The curious paradox of life is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”

— Carl Rogers