Treat Yourself Like a Friend: The Power of Self-Compassion

What if the way you speak to yourself matters just as much as the challenges you face?

Join us for a lecture with Dr. Serena Chen, UC Berkeley Professor of Psychology and leading researcher on the self, identity, and self-compassion.

Self-compassion is more than being “nice” to yourself - it's a scientifically grounded way of meeting mistakes, setbacks, and painful moments with kindness rather than judgment. Dr. Chen will share research showing how self-compassion can boost motivation, support personal growth, deepen authenticity, and strengthen relationships, while also clarifying why it’s often misunderstood and how it differs from self-indulgence or avoidance. She’ll close with practical tools anyone can use to cultivate greater self-compassion, even during stressful or uncertain times.

Dr. Chen is a Fellow of multiple major psychological associations, a recipient of UC Berkeley’s Social Sciences Distinguished Teaching Award, and a leading voice whose work has appeared in Harvard Business Review and The New York Times.

Leave with both the science behind self-compassion and practical, sustainable ways to put it into practice.