Coping with a loved one’s alcohol or substance misuse?
It’s time to take care of you.
Apply for a free space on the Cultivating Self-compassion programme. Learn skills to ease your suffering and start living for you. The next programme starts in September 2026
Free
Part-Funded by Essex County Council
Supporting someone suffering with addiction can be isolating, overwhelming and riddled with self-blame. It’s challenging to navigate, especially without access to support. But there is hope – and it is found in the gentleness of self-compassion.
Cultivating Self-compassion for carers of people struggling with alcohol or substance misuse
The Blossome Cultivating Self-Compassion programme is designed specifically for those impacted by addiction within their family or social circle. Learn to treat yourself with the same kindness and support that you would give to a good friend.
The programme will provide tools for responding in a kind and compassionate way towards yourself, when you are faced with painful situations and emotions. It will help to ease the suffering that you feel.
By learning self-compassion you will gain the self-care tools needed and the confidence to use them regularly, to self-regulate your emotions. You will learn to actively cultivate the positive emotional states that are so important for your own health, wellbeing and quality of life.
Self-compassion is a transformative skill that will empower you to:
- Change the relationship that you have with yourself into a loving, supportive one
- Overcome the self-criticism that drains your energy and well-being
- Cultivate loving self-kindness to navigate challenges with greater ease
- Learn to regulate negative emotions such as anxiety and depression
- Learn how to develop positive emotions such as compassion, kindness, hope and joy
- Recognise your shared humanity, reducing feelings of isolation
- Develop mindfulness skills in order to respond to difficulties with clarity and wisdom
- Embrace “fierce self-compassion” to advocate for your self-care needs
- Build resilience and sustain hope, even in the face of setbacks or life’s adversities
Live Online Cultivating Self-compassion Training
Learn CSC from the comfort of your home.
Live online 9-week course.
Thursday 17 September 2026 – Thursday 12 November 2026
In-person Cultivating Self-compassion Training
Learn CSC in a safe space, group setting The Tree Room, Colchester, Essex.
In person 9-week course.
Friday 18 September 2026 – Friday 13 November 2026
What is self-compassion
Discover what is self-compassion is and how it helps to improve the relationship that you have with yourself.
The science behind self-compassion
Discover the science behind self-compassion and the evidence base that supports its effectiveness.
Blossome Cultivating Self-compassion Programme
Discover what the Blossome Cultivating Self-compassion programme is and how it is structured.
Practising Self-compassion in a Community
Discover how learning and practising self-compassion with others supports the development of your own self-compassion.
Cultivating Self-compassion Training
The Blossome Cultivating Self-Compassion (CSC) 9-Week training has been developed specifically for people affected by someone else’s suffering from addiction. Through guided meditation practice, exercises and topics in a safe non judgemental group with others who understand the difficulties, you’ll learn skills that will help bring self-compassion into your life.
The training is based on the hugely successful evidence based Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program, developed by Christopher K. Germer, PhD, leader in the integration of mindfulness and Kristin Neff, PhD, pioneering researcher in the field of self-compassion. The new elements designed specifically for the Blossome community take into account the increased burden that caregivers for those suffering from addiction experience and will actively address possible trauma related issues.
How self-compassion has helped others
After the session, I got home to a very difficult situation and somehow felt like I could handle it and prioritise myself. I feel that being able to express myself in session, in writing but also having some courage to share with the group, helped me have my own back, so I’m proud of me. M
Self-compassion helped me believe again – believe in the possibility of change – that it is really possible to change how I feel. You learn about the relationship between physiology and psychology, and how you can change how you feel by implementing small techniques. Hearing someone’s first-hand experience of it, the science behind it, it’s just something I’ve never been part of before. I think nowadays there’s just so much self-help out there and you don’t know what to believe and a lot of it feels quite wishy-washy and too simplistic but hearing Maya talk about it in such a scientific way, the studies behind it and how it helps her as well, it is just really fascinating. L
Self-compassion has been the greatest catalyst and support with my own self-care and healing. I have grown to love the sound of my own voice and looking in the mirror too. I smile back every time.I’ve completely changed the relationship that I have with myself. I love myself, honour myself, speak with loving kindness and that is changing my life for the better. Kim
Our Team Supporting you on this Journey
Kim Moore
Kim is teaching both the online and the in-person Cultivating Self-compassion programme. She is a fully qualified Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Teacher.  She Has been practicing self-compassion for over 4 years and is proud to fully embody self-compassion, weaving into her daily life, making it a way of living. With Kim stepping into this role as a self-compassion teacher, it conveys hope for others on the journey. Life can change. You can feel different. You can feel joy again.
Kim is on her own journey of healing after losing her husband to alcoholism. After her husband passed away, she realised she could no longer hide behind her husband’s alcohol misuse and had to choose happiness for herself. She is walking the path of recovery, finding her way back to joy through self-care and self-compassion.
Abby Hollick
Abby will be co-teaching the in-person Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) course with Kim Moore.
Learn Self-compassion in the Blossome Community
Healing is easier together. Meet others who understand what you are going through and know you are not alone. We created the Blossome Community for a safe, compassionate, brave space where people could come together to heal, learn self-care and strengthen the life-changing skill of self-compassion. By joining our community, you will be firmly on the path to developing a healthier relationship with yourself and prioritising your self-care.
Everything in the Community is an invitation. Through a choice of helpful videos, guided practices, self-care activities and community support, you’ll find enjoyment in learning proven self-compassion techniques to care for yourself as you support your loved ones.
Online Resourcing Me Practice
Online Resourcing Me PracticePractice your self-compassion every Wednesday evening via Zoom. Meet others who are affected by a loved one’s alcohol and substance misuse. Regular meetings online in a safe space.
Online Self-care Activities
Online Self-care ActivitiesParticipate in the Blossome monthly live online self-care activities. Explore different forms of self-care and discover what brings you joy. Try different activities as you learn how to prioritise taking time out for you.
Online Self-care Hub
Online Self-care HubGain access to the Blossome Community Online Self-care Hub – a place where you can find helpful self-care and self-compassion support videos that you can watch in your own time at your own pace.
In-person Self-care activities
In-person Self-care activitiesParticipate in a range of self-care activities and experiences in person.
Is the Cultivating Self-compassion programme for you?
If you answer yes to any of the following questions, the Cultivating Self-compassion Programme is for you.
- Do look out for someone who misuses alcohol or drugs, someone who would struggle to cope without your help?
- Is your first reaction to try to find help for your loved one?
- Does it often seem that support is geared towards the person with the substance misuse problems, when you struggle through problems too?
- Is there chaos and uncertainty in your family home?
- Do you struggle with feelings of guilt and shame?
- Do you feel excluded from your social life due to embarrassment or shame?
- Do you face the pressures of financial instability or bear the full responsibility of supporting your family due to your loved one’s alcohol or substance misuse?
- Do you walk on eggshells around your loved one?
- Do you feel you are the cause?
- Do you feel high levels of stress, anxiety or a low mood?
- Do you feel exhausted?
- Do you feel judged and like no one understands what you are going through?
- Do you feel so sad, like you’ll never laugh or be happy again?
Do you have any questions about Blossome or are you looking for more information? Reach out. We are here to support you.
What will you get by doing the Blossome Cultivating Self-Compassion Training?
We understand how overwhelming life can feel and how difficult it is to make time for yourself when coping with a loved one’s alcohol or substance misuse. The Cultivating Self-Compassion training is designed to gently guide you towards a kinder relationship with yourself. By participating in our practices and exercises, you can begin to alleviate the burdens you’re carrying. The journey requires effort, but with your commitment, you’ll discover the profound impact of self-compassion on your well-being. With your effort, the possible outcomes from participating in the training can be:
Increased
- Self-compassion
- Self-worth
- Motivation
- Hope
- Self regulation skills
- Self-confidence
- Improved immune system
- Connections and community
- Quality of sleep
Decreased
- Shame or self-loathing
- Anxiety and depression
- Overwhelm by stress or develop PTSD
- Burnout from work and care roles
- Colds or minor illness
- Isolation
Take part in the programme. Apply for a part-funded space.
If you are over the age of 25, and have cared for or are caring for someone with alcohol or substance misuse, you can apply for a free space. Add yourself to the waitlist and we we be in touch when the next programme is scheduled.