The Intergenerational Self-Compassion Working Group is dedicated to:
- Cultivating self-compassion in caregivers of children and youth of all ages.
- Nurturing caregivers in learning and sharing self-compassion across the generations.
- Promoting and supporting research-based self-compassion programs that serve children and caregivers in homes, schools and other environments
- Providing resources for children, youth, and adults to advance the practice of self-compassion to enhance mental health and well-being.
Karen Bluth PhD
Karen is a mom of two adult daughters, and was a former classroom teacher for almost 20 years. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where she explores the relationships between self-compassion and mental health, particularly among adolescents. She is the developer of several programs that focus on cultivating self-compassion, in particular, Mindful Self-Compassion for Teens, in which she trains teachers internationally. Dr. Bluth is also the author of five books on self-compassion for teens - three for teens themselves - including a soon-to-be published book on the self-compassion program for teens that is formatted to be taught in schools.
Teri M. Henke PhD
Teri is an Associate Professor in Child and Family Studies at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. She has worked with children and their families in a variety of contexts for over 40 years. Most recently she has devoted her time as a teacher-educator focusing her college courses on child well-being, social emotional development and building resilience through developing adult capabilities. She is committed to advocating for policies supportive of children, families and teachers. Her passion is to create a more compassionate, sustainable world for children.
Victoria Brattini
A lifelong learner and teacher for over 30 years, Victoria Brattini enjoys teaching, inspiring and mentoring others in self-compassion. A science degree in Psychology set her on a teaching and counseling journey that has included work with teenagers, university students, and adults. For ten years, Victoria also co-directed a program in Health Perspectives in Bryn Mawr, PA. While home-schooling her two sons she worked with parents and children on conflict resolution, creative problem solving, and multigenerational learning. As a certified Mindful Self Compassion teacher, Victoria’s wish is that everyone have a toolbox of MSC skills to use when difficulties arise in their life.
Christine Lathren MD
Christine is a researcher at UNC-Chapel Hill who studies self-compassion in caregivers, youth, and families. She is especially interested in how self-compassion impacts relationship health and caregiving behaviors under stressful circumstances and in different cultural contexts. She has two children, ages 16 and 11. She was also a long-term caregiver to her mother, who lived with physical and cognitive disability starting at a young age. These experiences underlie her interest in cultivation of self-compassion in situations where caregiving priorities can lead caregivers to minimize or neglect their own care.
Jamie Lynn Tatera
Jamie Lynn is an educator with a passion for helping children and their caregivers become more self-compassionate. She has taught mindfulness and self-compassion to children ages 3-18 in diverse schools as well as aspiring teachers in UW-Milwaukee's School of Education. Jamie Lynn has created a parent-child adaptation of the Mindful Self-Compassion program and is a Self-Compassion for Children and Caregivers teacher trainer. She also authors books and collaborates with researchers to increase awareness and accessibility of the life-transforming power of self-compassion.
Ursula Sexton M.E.d
Ursula is a caring retired educator and researcher, collaborating for over 30 years with diverse and indigenous communities while applying her expertise, leadership and inspiration. She shares her passion for a world in which each of us plays a key role toward stewardship of our being and the environment. She is an author and has over 1000 hours of applied learning on well-being, Mindful Self-compassion (MSC), positive psychology, understanding trauma, and contemplative practices. She is a Compassion Circle Organizer for the Global Compassion Coalition, offering a space both in English and in Spanish. As a Modern Elder mentor, she offers a beautiful place to revel in the transformative nature of awe, awareness and loving presence, all while evoking the power of self-compassion.