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Imagine a solemn courtroom, a space often associated with strict judgments and legal rigidity, suddenly transformed into a sanctuary of compassion. This remarkable shift occurred when a group of judges came together to share deeply personal stories, each illustrating moments of empathy and humanity within their courtrooms.

One judge recounted the heartwarming tale of an imprisoned father who got to lay eyes on his newborn son for the first time. This was made possible by a brave attorney who, against correctional officers’ wishes, carried the infant into the gallery of the courtroom. Another judge shared an equally touching narrative of a mother who, upon seeing her child’s deep connection with a prospective adoptive mother, chose to finalize an adoption right before the trial commenced. A third story showcased the emotions of foster parents who, after a judge’s ruling to send a child home, embraced the child’s parents and offered to support them in any way possible.

These emotional stories didn’t just elicit tears and smiles but were poignant reminders of why these legal professionals chose to dedicate their careers to the foster care system. The conversation began with a simple yet profound question: “When have you witnessed compassion in your courtroom?” And thus, the floodgates opened.

I experienced this transformative moment as part of delivering my Capstone Project during my inaugural training as a Compassion Ambassador through the Applied Compassion Training (ACT) at CCARE Stanford.

Judges rarely get the chance to talk about the emotional toll of their work in the foster care system. Given the chance, however, they seized the opportunity wholeheartedly. It was a signal that I was tapping into a long-overdue dialogue that could revolutionize our interaction with families entangled in the foster care system.

Last year, I was inspired to join the ACT program because I came to a sobering realization: the persistent challenges plaguing the foster care system won’t dissipate unless we fundamentally alter how professionals within the system perceive themselves, their colleagues, and the families they serve. Stories of professional burnout and emotional exhaustion are rampant. Too often, overwhelmed professionals project their own struggles onto their colleagues, creating a toxic environment of incivility and needless confrontation.

Worse still, this emotional burden is often transferred onto the vulnerable families in the system, manifesting in judgment, blame, and humiliation. I committed myself to ACT with the conviction that true partnership with these families can only emerge when professionals confront and address their own emotional pain. Through the ACT program, I’ve learned compassion-based approaches to help address the suffering that is present within the system, along with skills and practices that can help professionals apply compassion to the challenges they’re facing.

Though I am merely at the beginning of this exciting journey—with my initial training with the Judges in New Mexico serving as the first of many steps—I’ve come to realize that the opportunity to sow the seeds of compassion exists everywhere. Since my inaugural training with ACT, I’ve been able to apply the principles and practices of applied compassion to the work I’m doing with judges, attorneys, and law school students. I’ve written articles, hosted webinars for fellow attorneys, integrated compassion-focused exercises into my law school curriculum, and even outlined plans for judicial retreats centered around compassion.

The world is not just ready but eager for this conversation about compassion, and I am grateful to ACT for giving me the skills to contribute to this vital dialogue! I would encourage anyone thinking about how to bring more compassion into your personal or professional life to become an Ambassador of Compassion through the Applied Compassion Training at CCARE Stanford.

Do you feel an urgency to make a positive difference in this complex, challenging world?

Applied Compassion Training (ACT), CCARE’s 11-month global live online program, is designed to address this need by preparing you to be an agent of change and compassion within your workplace, organization, community, profession, and personal life. The ACT program will equip you with the skills, knowledge, resources, global community, and expertise needed to apply compassion in all areas of your life, personally and professionally.

ACT participants worldwide consistently identify these five elements as the key factors defining ACT’s distinct and influential training approach:

1. Action
2. Experiential Learning
3. Mentorship
4. Global Connections
5. Credibility of CCARE at Stanford University

ACTION

In the ACT program, the action component of compassion takes center stage!

Throughout the program, each participant is guided through a carefully designed process that empowers them to develop and deliver an Applied Compassion Capstone Project they choose in the real world. These projects stand as tangible illustrations of action and influence as participants apply compassion to address specific areas of suffering, creating genuine and lasting change.

Applied Compassion Capstone Projects in ACT come in various sizes, forms, and applications, such as: 

• Compassion Toolkits for healthcare practitioners to reduce burnout and increase wellness
• Compassionate Leadership Programs to increase trust, collaboration, employee engagement, and business success
• Art Installations that cultivate awareness of and compassion toward marginalized groups
• Compassion Games and apps for students to reduce anxiety, depression and increase self-compassion
• Community Hubs for Mental Health to tackle the stigma and provide comprehensive services 

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

ACT integrates Stanford’s renowned Design School experiential approach to learning by engaging participants in evidence-based practices, processes, and experiences that foster direct and embodied learning. Throughout the program, participants are immersed in a deliberately designed environment that encourages the application of compassion, nurturing deep engagement and growth within themselves and with others. This comprehensive approach ensures a truly transformative learning experience.

MENTORSHIP

A cornerstone of ACT is the individualized and group mentorship provided to each participant throughout the program. Every ACT participant is paired with an expert mentor who guides them through their ACT journey, assisting in developing their Applied Compassion Capstone Project. Regular one-to-one mentorship sessions offer guidance and skillful advice as participants design and ultimately implement their compassion projects in real-world contexts. Additionally, participants are part of smaller mentoring groups and mini Capstone Teams, engaging in an evidence-based collaborative and feedback-driven process that supports the growth of each individual and their Applied Compassion Capstone Project.

GLOBAL CONNECTIONS

ACT participants share a profound desire for personal and professional growth, intending to leverage it to inspire and impact the people, communities, and organizations they are connected with. Through this ripple effect, ACT graduates become Ambassadors of Compassion, uniting with a growing, diverse, and influential community making a difference worldwide. Since its inception, over 500 individuals from 40+ countries have successfully graduated from the ACT program at CCARE Stanford University.

CREDIBILITY OF CCARE AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY

CCARE at Stanford University is a foremost authority in compassion advocacy, education, research, and training, recognized by individuals across diverse disciplines, professions, and industries worldwide. CCARE’s ACT program participants are esteemed leaders contributing to the public understanding of compassion and its advantages for organizations and society. Earning a Certificate of Completion as a Compassion Leader and Ambassador from CCARE Stanford offers an unparalleled opportunity to gain credibility, influence, evidence-based resources, skills, confidence, and connections needed to effect meaningful change and impact in the world.

See your influence and impact grow! If you’re ready to effect real change, consider becoming an Ambassador of Compassion through Applied Compassion Training at CCARE Stanford. To learn more about this prestigious program, visit ACT at CCARE Stanford. And to explore ACT Alumni’s diverse Capstone Projects and stories showcasing the impact of applied compassion around the world, visit Meet the ACT Alumni and Explore Their Inspiring Capstone Projects.

In a compelling example of the ripple effect of CCARE’s Applied Compassion Training (ACT), Dr. Barbara Easterlin, a passionate participant in the program’s 2021 cohort and distinguished graduate, harnessed her enhanced confidence and skills to effect enduring change in the field of mental health. Easterlin’s Capstone Project, an innovative compassion workshop for clinicians addressing the psychological consequences of the climate emergency, not only altered the course or her career but also yielded remarkable achievements and far-reaching impact.

Under the guidance of ACT, Easterlin successfully integrated the process and principles of applied compassion into her Capstone Project, focusing on the psychological impacts of the climate crisis, an aspect frequently overlooked. With support and feedback from ACT colleagues and mentors, she developed an applied compassion workshop designed to engage clinicians. The workshop emphasized the critical importance of mental health professionals offering empathy and understanding of the emotional toll endured by both clients and clinicians in the face of the climate emergency.

“My journey with ACT instilled in me the confidence to apply compassion and make a real difference in the world,” Easterlin shared. “It empowered me to delve deep into the intersection of mental health and climate change, leading at first to the development of an applied compassion workshop that would spark awareness and drive compassionate action in addressing the climate emergency.” 

The impact of Easterlin’s project extended far beyond her immediate circle. The ripple effect of her applied compassion workshop became evident as clinicians who attended it were inspired to apply their newfound knowledge and compassionate approach in their practices. Their supportive feedback further rippled, leading Easterlin to co-develop the first-ever Climate Psychology Certificate (CPC) program at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco (CIIS CPC Program)—a historic milestone in the dynamic convergence of mental health and environmental crises.

The CIIS Climate Psychology Certificate (CPC) represents a significant breakthrough in providing mental health professionals with essential knowledge and skills to apply compassion in addressing the unique psychological consequences arising from the climate emergency. The ripple effect continues to spread as these professionals, equipped with specialized expertise and deep compassion, bring this knowledge to their clients and communities.

“The ripple effect was remarkable, not only in my own life but also in the lives of many clinicians our program reaches and onward to their clients,” Easterlin noted. The creation of the certificate program has empowered mental health professionals with the confidence and expertise to apply compassion and their existing mental health know-how to this complex problem to understand better and address the climate emergency’s unique psychological consequences.

Easterlin’s experience is a testament to the impact that people, bolstered by the principles and practices of applied compassion and confidence, can have on the world. Her unwavering determination and the support of ACT at CCARE Stanford have contributed to a transformative shift within the field, bringing heightened awareness to the mental health repercussions of our ecological fragility and, most importantly, how to respond effectively and collectively to the climate crisis.

As we grapple with the complex challenges of our time, Easterlin’s story inspires us, reminding us of the power of the ripple effect. Through Applied Compassion Training (ACT), individuals like Easterlin are leading the way to a more compassionate and sustainable society. Their actions have a cascading impact, fostering positive change and addressing pressing global issues with understanding, care, and the application of compassion at their core.

Barbara Easterlin’s experience is just one of the many examples of the ripple effect of ACT capstone projects. Around the world, across various fields and communities, ACT Graduates of CCARE Stanford are leaving their mark and transforming lives by applying compassion. 

This story offers a glimpse into the immense impact that ACT Participants and Graduates are generating, as the ripple effect extends far beyond the initial individual transformations. It touches and enriches countless lives while also fostering a more compassionate society.

Learn more about the California Institute of Integral Studies Climate Psychology Certificate Program at CIIS CPC Program.

Join the global community of ACT Graduates and make a difference in your field and community.

• Learn more about ACT and how you can unleash your own ripple effect.
• Explore ACT Alumni’s diverse Capstone Projects and stories showcasing the far-reaching impact of applied compassion.