Research has highlighted several important benefits to compassion-focused interventions, including improved outcomes in recovery-focused mental health services (Austin, Drossaert & Bohlmeijer, 2023; Mavituna et. al, 2023; Spandler & Stickley, 2011), reduction in internalized stigma and decrease in stigmatizing views of mental health treatment (Chan, Tsui, & Tang, 2023; Glazer, Oleson, Campoverde, & Berenson 2023; Riebel et. al, 2023), and effectiveness in treating individuals living with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) (Heriot-Maitland, et. Al, 2025; Mavituna et. al, 2023; Rivera, Fuentes-Ferrada, Krogh, & Langer, 2023). Education and training on compassion-focused interventions exists in VA, however such resources are underutilized, creating a learning gap around these resources and compassion-focused interventions.
The purpose of this live, virtual, knowledge-based training is to help bridge the learning gap for interprofessional healthcare teams by discussing the benefits for infusing compassion into work with Veterans, as well as sharing information about VA resources for further training and education on compassion-focused interventions. Participants will learn about Mindfulness Self Compassion (MSC) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), and compassion will be highlighted as a change agent in psychosocial recovery. Participants will also have the opportunity to participate in a brief MSC experiential practice.
Audience: The primary target audience for this activity consists of Physicians, Nurses, Nurses, Pharmacists, Psychologists, Social Workers and Certified Counselors. The secondary target audience consists of peer support specialists.
Modality: Virtual Conference
Credit/Hours: 2.25 credit hours
Accreditations: ACCME/ACCME-NP, ANCC/CA BRN, ACPE, APA/NYSED-P, ASWB/NYSED-SW, NBCC, JA IPCE
Please be advised that there is a strict 15-day cut-off to request your CEUs.
Attendees must confirm your attendance in TMS after the webinar and complete the course evaluation in TMS NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 to receive CEUs.
Attendees must also complete RedCap: https://varedcap.rcp.vaec.va.gov/redcap/surveys/?s=XC8JJY74E8DLYYD9
Assistance with TMS Contact your local TMS administrator.
Program Questions: Ross.Melter2@va.gov
ILEAD POCs: Dawn.Palmer3@va.gov or Michaelle.Nascimento@va.gov
This course is jointly offered by the VISN21 – Sierra Pacific Network and the Institute for Learning, Education and Development (ILEAD). You received this announcement because of your likely interest in the content of the specific offering. Please forward this note to other VHA employees who might also be interested in this learning opportunity.
The Veterans Health Administration Institute for Learning, Education, and Development partners with clients in VHA’s program offices, Veterans Integrated Service Networks, and facilities to provide quality workforce education and training that facilitates excellence in health care for our nation’s Veterans. To learn more about ILEAD, click hereFor customer assistance, visit the ILEAD Help Center