The psychology of true self-compassion
Dr. Russell Kolts 
Young Adults Explore Buddhism 2023 
Jun 12, 2023 Part of a series of talks given during Sravasti Abbey’s annual Young Adults Explore Buddhism program in the summer of 2023.
- Western science and psychology perspective on mind-training
- Cultivating self-compassion
- Why and how we feel shame in the mind and brain
- Mindful breathing vs. breathing to soothe
- The effects of mindfulness and compassion on the brain
- How threat responses work
Dr. Russell Kolts
Russell L. Kolts is a clinical psychologist and professor at Eastern Washington University outside of Spokane, WA. Dr. Kolts completed his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Mississippi in 1999. He is the author of The Compassionate Mind Guide to Managing Your Anger, Living with an Open Heart: How to Cultivate Compassion in Everyday Life (with Thubten Chodron), and, with Dennis Tirch & Laura Silberstein, the forthcoming Buddhist Psychology and CBT: A Practitioners Guide. Dr. Kolts regularly conducts trainings and workshops on Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), as well as on mindfulness and compassion practices. His professional interests lie primarily in the application of CFT and mindfulness approaches to individuals suffering from problematic anger, trauma, mood, and attachment-related difficulties. Kolts has published and presented research in diverse areas such as positive psychology, PTSD, psychopharmacology, mindfulness, and compassion. In his personal life, Dr. Kolts enjoys family time, reading, meditation, outdoor activities, and listening to and playing music.
