4-Month Immersive Training for Inner Transformation and Collective Change: January 30 – May 30, 2026
New! 36 Hours of Continuing Education Credits offered for Health Professionals >>
Program Overview
Offered through Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE), the CCARE Compassion Lab is a pioneering 4-month immersive training designed to awaken and deepen the transformative power of compassion in all areas of life. This program equips individuals with evidence-based tools to navigate life’s complexity with resilience, clarity, and purpose. Participants will not only understand compassion intellectually, but embody it in ways that enhance personal well-being, relational depth, and professional leadership.
A Living Laboratory
More than a professional development program, the CCARE Compassion Lab is a living laboratory for rewiring the mind and heart. This interactive container empowers participants to reconnect with core values, deepen their emotional intelligence, and become catalysts for meaningful connection and sustainable change. Designed for professionals, changemakers, caregivers, and anyone ready to bring compassion into their personal and professional lives, this training offers a rare opportunity to engage with others in a co-created space of relational transformation and shared purpose.
The Power of Practice
The emphasis of the CCARE Compassion Lab will be on building the skills for sustaining compassion in everyday life and challenging contexts. Through experiential methods and practice experiments, participants will strengthen the core competencies of compassion:
- Self-compassion
- Compassionate dialogue
- Emotional regulation
- Perspective-taking
- Conflict navigation
- Bridge building skills
Compassion Training for Today’s World
In a world facing increasing levels of disconnection, burnout, and polarization, the need for grounded, compassionate leadership has never been more urgent.
This training provides real-time, simulated exercises designed to help participants access compassion in the face of reactivity, conflict, or division. In an era of heightened dehumanization, this training equips participants with the practical skills needed to foster compassion, dignity, respect, and ethical action in today’s world. By the end of this program, participants will have cultivated not only a deeper connection to themselves and others, but also the inner stability and courage to meet uncertainty with presence and lead with the heart.
Continuing the work and vision of our founder, Dr. James Doty…
As we honor Dr. Doty’s extraordinary legacy, we’re moved to present the CCARE Compassion Lab—a program he championed and wanted to see flourish.
How do I know if the CCARE Compassion Lab is for me?
This training is for you if you’re ready to:
- ENGAGE the transformative power of compassion—personally, professionally, and globally
- IMMERSE in compassion practice, interpersonal inquiry, and community dialogue with other program participants
- EXPLORE compassion not as a concept, but as a practical, embodied way of being
- DISCOVER how compassion gets blocked and expressed in your everyday life
- APPLY your compassion training to today’s real-world challenges while fostering long-term transformation
Meet the Teachers
Click the images below to learn more about each teacher.
Program Components
All program events will take place virtually on Zoom.
Two Immersive Retreats
Kickoff Retreat: Jan 30th – Feb 1st
Graduation Retreat: May 29th – 30th
Peer Compassion Pods
Small-group peer-mentoring for deepening insights, reflections, supportive collaboration and compassionate accountability
Community Practice Sessions
Collective compassion cultivation through guided practices and shared reflection
Teaching Seminars
Grounded in research and applied practice, led by Stanford CCARE faculty and renowned guest faculty
Compassion Blueprint
Based on their program insights and transformation, participants develop a practical blueprint for reliably living compassion in the real world.
Compassion Labs
Experiential learning ‘labs’ that integrate applied practice, reflection, and group dialogue
Registration Information
PROGRAM DATES | January 30 – May 30, 2026
PROGRAM FEE | $3950
– payment plan available
– 36 CE credits offered
– STAP eligible upon approval
REGISTRATION | The January 2026 Cohort is now full, registration is closed.
If you’d like to hear more about our next cohort, we invite you to join our interest list and we’ll share more when it’s available.
