Grounding Psychotherapy in Self-Compassion

Galia Tyano Ronen, MA, LCP, a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Israel, serves on the faculty of the Shiluv Center, affiliated with the University of Haifa. She has specialized in mind–body–spirit mindfulness-based psychotherapy and supervision since the 1990s. Ms. Tyano Ronen is an artist, a certified focusing-oriented therapist, a certified mindfulness meditation teacher and mentor trained by Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield, and a certified Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) teacher. She is program developer and former director of the Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy Certificate Program offered by the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion. Ms. Tyano Ronen has pioneered MSC in Israel, leading worldwide workshops, and is responsible for the translation of the MSC program into Hebrew and for creating a bilingual MSC course for Arabs and Jews.

Shari Geller, PhD, a leader in the field of therapeutic presence, is founder and co-director of the Centre for MindBody Health in Toronto. A certified Mindful Self-Compassion teacher who has been weaving psychology and mindfulness since the 1990s, Dr. Geller teaches internationally and has published several books, as well as book chapters and articles. She serves on the teaching faculty in Health Psychology at York University and is Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto, in association with the Music and Health Research Collaboratory. Dr. Geller is a faculty member of the Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy Certificate Program offered by the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, and is chair of the Membership and Networking Committee of the International Society for Emotion Focused Therapy. She loves playing the handpan and drumming, and founded the Therapeutic Rhythm and Mindfulness program.