Defining compassion and self-compassion
Dr. Russell Kolts 
Young Adults Explore Buddhism 2017 
Jul 12, 2017 Part of a series of teachings given during Sravasti Abbey's annual Exploring Buddhism for Young Adults program in 2017.
- Defining compassion
- Courageous sensitivity to suffering
- The wish to alleviate suffering
- Self-compassion
- Taking responsibility for our emotions
- Overcoming shame
- Understanding our emotional systems
- Questions and answers
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.
