Compassion in a T-Shirt

Compassion in a T-Shirt

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Compassion in a T-Shirt episodes

  • Happiness at Work Is a Human Right | Daniela Jinés

    What if happiness at work isn’t a perk, but something much more fundamental?

    In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I speak with organisational happiness and wellbeing strategist Daniela Jinés about what it really means to be happy at work — and why happiness, compassion and human performance may be much more closely connected than we realise.

    Daniela shares her remarkable journey from law and human rights into humanitarian work and organisational happiness, including the personal health crisis that forced her to reconsider how she was working and leading. We explore happiness not simply as pleasure or positivity, but as something connected to self-awareness, purpose, relationships, safety and the way we treat ourselves and others.

    We also explore the pressures built into modern working life — threat, drive, burnout and our relentless focus on productivity — and ask whether responsibility for wellbeing sits with individual workers or with the organisations around them. Daniela makes the provocative case for happiness at work as a human right, while also acknowledging how difficult systemic change can be.

    Along the way, we discuss the hedonic treadmill, the neuroscience of happiness, compassionate leadership, Daniela’s HAND Model, self-compassion and the inner critic, and the small everyday actions that can help us create happier and more compassionate workplaces. Again and again, the conversation comes back to one deceptively simple starting point: self-awareness.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Welcome to Compassion in a T-Shirt

    01:20 How did happiness become your life’s work?

    05:25 What do we actually mean by happiness?

    11:40 What role do self-awareness and self-empathy play?

    15:20 What gets in the way of happiness at work?

    18:15 Are our workplaces built around threat and drive?

    27:40 Is burnout an individual or organisational problem?

    30:40 Have we become too focused on productivity?

    36:35 What is the HAND Model?

    45:15 How can we make work happier and more compassionate?

    Links:

    Find Daniela Jinés at her website:

    https://happyorganizations.org/

    If you would like to learn more about compassion focused therapy, you can find Dr Stan Steindl's book The Gifts of Compassion here: https://www.ausapress.com/p/the-gifts-of-compassion-how-to-understand-and-overcome-suffering/

    Say hi on social:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drstansteindl

    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/StanSteindl

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_stan_steindl/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stan-steindl-150a5264/

    Website: https://www.stansteindl.com/

    YouTube Video URL: https://youtu.be/KIOQrynBTeY

    *Affiliate Disclaimer: Note this description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. While this channel may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in no way obligated to use these links. Thank you for your support!

    Video hashtags:

    Compassion, HappinessAtWork, WorkplaceWellbeing, SelfCompassion, OrganizationalHappiness, CompassionateLeadership

    52 min
  • Chris Irons Discussing the "Third Arrow" of Shame

    Why do painful experiences sometimes spiral into shame and harsh self-criticism?

    In this excerpt from my conversation with clinical psychologist Dr Chris Irons, we explore a powerful idea in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT): the Third Arrow. Building on the traditional Buddhist teaching of the Two Arrows, Chris explains how Paul Gilbert recognised an additional layer of suffering that many of us experience—shame and self-criticism about our pain.

    Together we explore how shame can trap us in a "bubble" of threat, why reconnection often takes courage, the qualities of the compassionate self, the difference between internal and external shame, and how compassionate inquiry can help us respond to suffering with greater wisdom, strength and care.

    This is one of my favourite moments from our full conversation and beautifully captures the heart of Compassion Focused Therapy.

    If you enjoy this excerpt, be sure to watch the complete interview with Chris Irons on the channel.

    https://youtu.be/mfK3XBCWQWg

    And I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Which idea resonated most with you?

    Timestamps:

    00:00 The Third Arrow

    00:18 The Buddhist Two Arrows

    01:08 Paul Gilbert's Third Arrow

    01:45 Shame, Self-Criticism and the Bubble

    02:40 Why CFT Attends to All Three Arrows

    03:40 Reconnection Takes Courage

    04:45 The Compassionate Self

    05:50 Who's Walking the Dog?

    06:50 Internal and External Shame

    07:55 Compassionate Inquiry

    Links:

    If you would like to learn more about compassion focused therapy, you can find Dr Stan Steindl's book The Gifts of Compassion here: https://www.ausapress.com/p/the-gifts-of-compassion-how-to-understand-and-overcome-suffering/

    Say hi on social:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drstansteindl

    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/StanSteindl

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_stan_steindl/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stan-steindl-150a5264/

    Website: https://www.stansteindl.com/

    YouTube Video URL: https://youtu.be/WaRylOh4nFY

    *Affiliate Disclaimer: Note this description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. While this channel may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in no way obligated to use these links. Thank you for your support!

    Video hashtags:

    compassionfocusedtherapy, compassion, selfcriticism, shame, paulgilbert, chrisirons

    9 min
  • How Self-Compassion Can Change Your Life | Clarissa Rayward

    I think this interview speaks to anyone who has ever wondered whether success has come at too great a cost.

    After building a successful legal career, Clarissa Rayward reached a point where she dreaded driving to work. Rather than walking away from the profession she loved, she chose a different path—one that led her to rethink success, embrace self-compassion, and ultimately create Happy Lawyer Happy Life.

    In this conversation, Clarissa shares the deeply personal story behind that turning point, the lessons she learned from burnout and grief, and how those experiences transformed the way she practises family law, leads her team, and lives her life. Together, we explore self-compassion, perfectionism, courage, receiving help, redefining success, and why genuine wellbeing isn't about lowering our standards but creating a life that's sustainable.

    We also dive into some fascinating questions about compassion in the legal profession. Can compassion exist within an adversarial system? What happens when we shift from asking, "Who's right?" to "What really matters?" Clarissa explains how collaborative practice, curiosity and deep listening are changing the way she helps families navigate separation and conflict.

    Towards the end of our conversation, we also explore the rise of artificial intelligence and why, despite extraordinary technological change, genuinely listening to another person may become even more valuable. It was particularly meaningful when Clarissa reflected on what it felt like to simply be listened to—a timely reminder that compassion often begins not with advice, but with understanding.

    Whether you're a lawyer, psychologist, healthcare professional, leader, parent, or simply someone trying to build a meaningful life, I think you'll find something valuable in Clarissa's wisdom.

    If you enjoy conversations exploring compassion, wellbeing and human flourishing, I'd love you to subscribe to the channel and join us for future interviews and video essays.

    Connect with Clarissa Rayward

    Happy Lawyer Happy Life

    https://www.happylawyerhappylife.com/

    Podcast

    https://open.spotify.com/show/6Swqki7ooLQ8fDV1AlhXsY

    Book

    https://www.happylawyerhappylife.com/thebook/

    Brisbane Family Law Centre

    https://www.bflc.com.au/

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction

    02:05 The burnout that changed everything

    08:30 Early warning signs and perfectionism

    13:20 Self-compassion and asking for help

    20:00 Redefining success

    27:45 The three flows of compassion

    34:15 Compassion in family law

    41:30 Changing the legal profession

    44:45 AI, listening and staying human

    47:30 What really matters in life

    50:10 Closing reflections

    23:47 Final Takeaways

    Links:

    If you would like to learn more about compassion focused therapy, you can find Dr Stan Steindl's book The Gifts of Compassion here: https://www.ausapress.com/p/the-gifts-of-compassion-how-to-understand-and-overcome-suffering/

    Say hi on social:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drstansteindl

    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/StanSteindl

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_stan_steindl/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stan-steindl-150a5264/

    Website: https://www.stansteindl.com/

    YouTube Video URL: https://youtu.be/MLwwJ-NYfYo

    *Affiliate Disclaimer: Note this description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. While this channel may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in no way obligated to use these links. Thank you for your support!

    Video hashtags:

    compassion, selfcompassion, burnout, wellbeing, happiness, familylaw

    51 min
  • Reflective Listening: The Magic Mirror of Compassionate Listening

    What if the most powerful listening skill isn't asking better questions—but making better reflections?

    In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, Dr. Stan Steindl explores one of the core skills of compassionate communication: reflective listening. Drawing on Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and the work of Carl Rogers, you'll learn how reflections help people feel understood, organise their thoughts, discover deeper meaning, and often arrive at their own insights.

    Using the metaphor of an ordinary mirror versus a magic mirror, this episode explains why reflections are far more than repeating someone's words. They become a compassionate way of helping people understand themselves.

    Whether you're a therapist, coach, healthcare professional, leader, teacher, parent, partner, or simply someone who wants to become a better listener, these practical skills can transform your conversations.

    If this video was helpful, I'd love for you to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who values meaningful conversations. Small changes in the way we listen can make an enormous difference to the people around us.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Surface vs Deep Talk

    01:06 Questions vs Reflections

    02:46 What Is a Reflection?

    04:38 Simple Reflections

    06:07 Complex Reflection Magic

    08:03 Reflecting Feelings

    11:38 Reflecting Meaning

    14:33 Choosing What to Reflect

    16:22 Special Reflection Types

    19:50 Drop the Reflection Stems

    21:05 Putting It All Together

    22:27 Compassion in Action

    23:47 Final Takeaways

    Links:

    If you would like to learn more about compassion focused therapy, you can find Dr Stan Steindl's book The Gifts of Compassion here: https://www.ausapress.com/p/the-gifts-of-compassion-how-to-understand-and-overcome-suffering/

    Say hi on social:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drstansteindl

    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/StanSteindl

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_stan_steindl/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stan-steindl-150a5264/

    Website: https://www.stansteindl.com/

    YouTube Video URL: https://youtu.be/2et5eQKwBnA

    *Affiliate Disclaimer: Note this description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. While this channel may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in no way obligated to use these links. Thank you for your support!

    Video hashtags:

    reflectivelistening, compassionfocusedtherapy, compassion, motivationinterviewing, communicationskills, activelistening

    25 min
  • Better Listening Starts With Better Questions

    Most of us think good listening means staying quiet. But great listeners do something else as well—they ask better questions.

    When someone is struggling, it's natural to want to offer advice, share our own experience, or tell them what we think they should do. But what if, instead of giving another answer, we asked another question?

    In this episode, I explore one of the most powerful listening skills I know: Ask, Don't Tell. Drawing on compassion, motivational interviewing, and over 25 years of clinical psychology, I'll show you how turning advice into thoughtful questions can help people discover their own wisdom, strengthen relationships, and create deeper, more meaningful conversations.

    You'll also learn a practical framework of eight different question types—from opening and exploring questions through to strength, possibility and commitment questions—that you can start using immediately in everyday life, whether you're a parent, partner, friend, leader, coach, therapist or simply someone who wants to listen more compassionately.

    If you've ever wondered how to become a better listener, it might start with asking better questions.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 A childhood question I never forgot

    00:50 Why good questions matter so much

    01:30 Ask, don't tell: a simple listening shift

    02:28 Turning advice into thoughtful questions

    03:22 The motivational interviewing mindset

    04:19 Open versus closed questions

    05:34 Eight question types for better listening

    05:52 Opening, exploring and clarifying questions

    06:47 Perspective and balancing questions

    07:27 Strength, possibility and commitment questions

    08:51 Avoiding advice disguised as questions

    09:36 The quiet power of curiosity

    Links:

    If you would like to learn more about compassion focused therapy, you can find Dr Stan Steindl's book The Gifts of Compassion here: https://www.ausapress.com/p/the-gifts-of-compassion-how-to-understand-and-overcome-suffering/

    Say hi on social:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drstansteindl

    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/StanSteindl

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_stan_steindl/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stan-steindl-150a5264/

    Website: https://www.stansteindl.com/

    YouTube Video URL: https://youtu.be/pCJN49ez_Mw

    *Affiliate Disclaimer: Note this description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. While this channel may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in no way obligated to use these links. Thank you for your support!

    Video hashtags:

    listening, listeningskills, communicationskills, motivationalinterviewing, compassion, psychology

    11 min
  • Listening Without Fixing: Why Advice Often Backfires

    The more I tried to help, the less effective I sometimes became.

    It sounds backwards, but years ago I discovered that the harder I pushed with advice, solutions, or persuasion, the more resistance I often encountered. That experience led me to one of the most important lessons I've learned as a psychologist: sometimes the most compassionate thing we can do is stop trying to fix and start trying to understand.

    In this episode, I explore why our urge to fix is usually well-intentioned, but can sometimes get in the way of genuinely helping. Drawing on Compassion Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and three fascinating psychological theories—Self-Perception Theory, Psychological Reactance, and Self-Determination Theory—we look at why people are often more likely to discover their own answers than adopt ours.

    You'll also learn practical ways to become a more compassionate listener by replacing advice with curiosity, reflection, and thoughtful questions that help others find their own way forward.

    If you've ever found yourself wanting to solve someone else's problems (or wishing someone would simply listen to yours!) I hope this episode gives you a different way of thinking about what it means to help.

    If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Have you ever experienced a conversation where being listened to was more helpful than receiving advice?

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Why Trying to Fix Fails

    01:14 The Urge to Fix

    02:57 Compassion Means Understanding

    03:22 Why Advice Needs Understanding

    04:07 How Talking Creates Clarity

    05:15 Why We Resist Advice 07:21

    Why Autonomy Drives Change

    08:23 Listening Is Real Help

    09:13 Three Ways to Listen Better

    11:02 Listening as Compassion

    12:08 A Simple Experiment This Week

    12:54 Final Thoughts

    Links:

    If you would like to learn more about compassion focused therapy, you can find Dr Stan Steindl's book The Gifts of Compassion here: https://www.ausapress.com/p/the-gifts-of-compassion-how-to-understand-and-overcome-suffering/

    Say hi on social:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drstansteindl

    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/StanSteindl

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_stan_steindl/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stan-steindl-150a5264/

    Website: https://www.stansteindl.com/

    YouTube Video URL: https://youtu.be/UT29TU1-WQY

    *Affiliate Disclaimer: Note this description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. While this channel may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in no way obligated to use these links. Thank you for your support!

    Video hashtags:

    listening, compassion, compassionfocusedtherapy, motivationalinterviewing, psychology, communication

    14 min
  • The Three Circles Model Put to the Test | Dylan Moloney-Gibb

    Can we actually measure the Three Circles Model? And if we can, what does that tell us about what's happening in our brains, bodies, and emotions?

    For years, the Three Circles Model has been one of the central ideas in Compassion Focused Therapy, helping therapists and clients make sense of threat, drive, and soothing. But until recently, it had never really been tested scientifically.

    In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I'm joined by compassion researcher Dr Dylan Moloney-Gibb to discuss his groundbreaking research, recently published in Behaviour Research and Therapy. Together with colleagues Chase Sherwell, Sasha Lynn and James Kirby, Dylan explores whether the Three Circles Model reflects measurable changes in physiology, using heart rate variability (HRV) alongside the new digital Three Circles app.

    We explore how the app works, why it may offer advantages over traditional questionnaires, and what happens to threat, drive and soothing when people move through rest, stress, recovery and compassion. We also discuss some surprising findings—including why the compassion exercise didn't produce the changes the researchers expected—and what this might mean for the future of Compassion Focused Therapy, emotion regulation research, and clinical practice.

    Whether you're a therapist, researcher, student, or simply curious about compassion, neuroscience and emotion regulation, I think you'll find this a fascinating conversation.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Meet Dr Dylan Moloney-Gibb

    02:16 The Three Circles app

    02:34 Understanding threat, drive and soothing

    07:59 Why this research matters

    11:21 Measuring circle dominance

    14:03 Is the soothing system more than calmness?

    16:45 The Triple R study design (Rest, Reactivity, Recovery)

    20:30 The compassion exercise

    23:04 What happened to the Three Circles?

    28:53 Comparing the circles with heart rate variability (HRV)

    31:34 Why balance between the circles matters

    38:31 Future directions for research

    42:19 What this means for therapists and the future of CFT

    Links:

    The Three Circle Model of Compassion Focused Therapy: An Experimental Paradigm to Assess Dynamic Psychophysiological Changes of Emotion Regulation Systems (Moloney-Gibb, Sherwell, Lynn & Kirby, 2026). Open Access at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2026.105028

    Find links to Dylan’s other papers here: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dylan-Moloney-Gibb

    Find the Three Circles App here: https://www.threecircles.io/

    If you would like to learn more about compassion focused therapy, you can find Dr Stan Steindl's book The Gifts of Compassion here: https://www.ausapress.com/p/the-gifts-of-compassion-how-to-understand-and-overcome-suffering/

    Say hi on social:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drstansteindl

    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/StanSteindl

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_stan_steindl/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stan-steindl-150a5264/

    Website: https://www.stansteindl.com/

    YouTube Video URL: https://youtu.be/ZklIRyBzpkY

    *Affiliate Disclaimer: Note this description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. While this channel may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in no way obligated to use these links. Thank you for your support!

    Video hashtags:

    CompassionFocusedTherapy, ThreeCirclesModel, EmotionRegulation, SelfCompassion, HeartRateVariability, HRV, Neuroscience, ClinicalPsychology, Psychotherapy, CompassionScience, MentalHealth, Psychology, PaulGilbert, DylanMoloneyGibb, StanSteindl

    46 min
  • How to Listen Better: 7 Skills of Compassionate Listening

    Most of us think listening is easy. But if we're honest, we often listen with the intention to reply, advise, fix, persuade, or tell our own story.

    In this follow-up to my recent episode on listening as compassion, I explore what compassionate listening actually looks like in practice. Drawing on ideas from compassion-focused therapy, motivational interviewing, and the work of Carl Rogers, I share seven simple skills that can help us become better listeners in our everyday lives.

    These aren't just communication techniques. They are ways of creating the kind of safety and understanding that help people feel heard, valued, and less alone.

    In this video, you'll learn:

    . Why "No Fixin'" is often the best place to start

    . How to "Ask, Don't Tell”

    . Why reflection is one of the most powerful listening skills

    . How to listen for feelings and deeper meaning

    . Why silence is often where the real conversation begins

    . What it means to put your agenda down

    . Why understanding someone doesn't require agreeing with them

    Whether you're a therapist, coach, leader, teacher, parent, partner, or friend, these skills can help you have more compassionate and meaningful conversations.

    As Carl Rogers famously said: "The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” Perhaps something similar is true in our conversations. When people feel accepted and understood, they often find their own way forward.

    I'd love to hear from you in the comments. Which of these listening skills comes most naturally to you? And which one do you find most challenging?

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Why Listening Is Compassion

    00:50 Threat vs Curiosity

    01:14 Tip 1 No Fixing

    02:13 Tip 2 Ask Dont Tell

    04:02 Tip 3 If In Doubt Reflect

    05:08 Tip 4 Feelings and Meaning

    07:20 Tip 5 Make Friends With Silence

    08:16 Tip 6 Put Your Agenda Down

    09:10 Tip 7 Understand Without Agreeing

    10:15 Key Takeaways and Closing

    Links:

    If you would like to learn more about compassion focused therapy, you can find Dr Stan Steindl's book The Gifts of Compassion here: https://www.ausapress.com/p/the-gifts-of-compassion-how-to-understand-and-overcome-suffering/

    Say hi on social:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drstansteindl

    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/StanSteindl

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_stan_steindl/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stan-steindl-150a5264/

    Website: https://www.stansteindl.com/

    YouTube Video URL: https://youtu.be/oWHmGIjn4FA

    *Affiliate Disclaimer: Note this description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. While this channel may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in no way obligated to use these links. Thank you for your support!

    Video hashtags:

    compassionatelistening, compassion, selfcompassion, empathy, psychology, communicationskills

    12 min
  • Why Listening Is the Most Powerful Act of Compassion

    After the unexpected death of a dear friend, I found myself doing what many of us do when faced with grief. I tried to stay strong. I tried to carry on. But it wasn't until I sat around a campfire with friends—sharing memories, expressing sadness, and listening to one another—that something began to shift.

    That experience got me thinking about listening.

    In a world increasingly shaped by social media algorithms, advertising, political polarisation, and the constant pressure to broadcast our opinions, genuine listening can feel surprisingly rare. Yet being heard remains one of the most powerful human experiences we can offer one another.

    In this episode, I explore listening as an act of compassion. We journey from ancient oral traditions and Indigenous storytelling, through Socrates, Confucius, Carl Rogers, and motivational interviewing, to consider why listening helps reduce defensiveness, soften threat, create connection, and transform isolation into belonging.

    Listening doesn't necessarily remove suffering. A grieving friend still grieves. A difficult situation may remain difficult. But when people feel heard, something important happens. We feel less alone. We feel understood. And sometimes, that's where healing begins.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Grief and the urge to hide

    00:39 Healing through being heard

    01:39 Listening as the core skill

    02:07 A world that rewards noise

    03:08 Listening across history

    05:20 From waiting to real listening

    05:56 Carl Rogers and empathy

    07:20 Compassion begins with listening

    08:19 How being heard changes us

    09:57 Listening as a bridge in conflict

    11:00 Motivational interviewing basics

    11:40 What compassionate listening sounds like

    12:35 Why listening matters now

    13:28 The gift of listening

    Links:

    If you would like to learn more about compassion focused therapy, you can find Dr Stan Steindl's book The Gifts of Compassion here: https://www.ausapress.com/p/the-gifts-of-compassion-how-to-understand-and-overcome-suffering/

    Say hi on social:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drstansteindl

    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/StanSteindl

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_stan_steindl/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stan-steindl-150a5264/

    Website: https://www.stansteindl.com/

    YouTube Video URL: https://youtu.be/5dQZymv8lp8

    *Affiliate Disclaimer: Note this description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. While this channel may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in no way obligated to use these links. Thank you for your support!

    Video hashtags:

    listening, compassion, empathy, psychology, communication, relationships, mentalhealth, wellbeing, connection, selfcompassion

    15 min
  • Teacher Burnout, Stress Contagion & Self-Compassion | Dr Rita Princi-Hubbard

    Teacher burnout doesn't just affect teachers—it affects students too.

    In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, Dr Stan Steindl speaks with Clinical Psychologist, educator, researcher, and founder of the Institute for Neuroscience and Education, Dr Rita Princi-Hubbard, about compassionate pedagogy, teacher wellbeing, and the fascinating ways stress and emotional regulation can flow between teachers and students.

    Drawing on her PhD research and her chapter, Teaching the New Teacher with Compassionate Pedagogy, Rita explains why many teachers enter the profession without sufficient training in child development, emotional regulation, trauma, attachment, and self-compassion. She argues that understanding how people work—not just how students learn—is one of the missing pieces in modern teacher education.

    The conversation explores the concept of "stress contagion" and the bidirectional relationship between teacher and student wellbeing. Rita shares research showing how teacher stress can influence students, how student distress can affect teachers, and why self-compassion may be one of the most important tools for preventing burnout and creating emotionally safe learning environments.

    Stan and Rita discuss:

    • Teacher burnout and the growing pressures facing educators

    • Stress contagion and emotional co-regulation in the classroom

    • Why teacher wellbeing matters for student wellbeing

    • Compassion Focused Therapy and the Three Systems Model

    • Attachment, trauma, and child development in education

    • The limits of rewards-and-consequences behaviour management

    • Self-compassion and receiving support as an educator

    • Heart rate variability research conducted in real classrooms

    • Compassionate pedagogy and social justice

    • What teacher education programs may be missing

    Whether you're a teacher, school leader, psychologist, parent, student, or simply interested in compassion and education, this conversation offers a compelling vision for how understanding, connection, and compassion can help both teachers and students flourish.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Compassion Meets Education

    02:11 Why Teacher Training Falls Short

    03:10 Stress Contagion Explained

    04:59 Modern Teacher Stressors

    10:19 Teacher Shame and Self-Doubt

    12:03 Inside the Research Design

    15:32 The Eight Module Program

    19:51 Self-Compassion for Teachers

    25:39 Receiving Help Without Guilt

    27:46 Three Systems Model in Classrooms

    33:18 Beyond Rewards and Consequences

    37:47 Heart Rate Variability Findings

    43:14 Compassion and Social Justice

    44:47 Redesigning Teacher Education

    47:26 Advice for Burnout Beginners

    49:43 Closing Reflections and Thanks

    If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who cares about education, wellbeing, and compassion.

    Links:

    Rita Princi-Hubbard’s website:

    https://www.in-ed.com.au/copy-of-consulting

    Compassionate Pedagogy in Higher Education: International Perspectives

    https://www.amazon.com.au/Compassionate-Pedagogy-Higher-Education-International/dp/1911451448/

    If you would like to learn more about compassion focused therapy, you can find Dr Stan Steindl's book The Gifts of Compassion here: https://www.ausapress.com/p/the-gifts-of-compassion-how-to-understand-and-overcome-suffering/

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    51 min

About Compassion in a T-Shirt

From the publisher's feed

A podcast exploring the science and practice of compassion. Offers clear and practical advice on how to cultivate compassion and self-compassion from experts in the field. Life can be difficult, and…