Jean Fain

For everyone, everywhere struggling with their eating, I lead self-compassion groups in person and online. As much as I believe in individual psychotherapy, I’ve come to believe that, if you’re serious about ending your struggle with food, you gotta have compassionate support.

Go it alone and it’s only a matter of time before going the distance feels like scaling a sheer rock face without climbing ropes. One misstep and you’re done. But get a group behind you and, before long, missteps are significant do-overs waiting to happen. Solitary risks are mutual rewards in the making; repeated disappointments are lasting achievements to come.

Informed by the ever-evolving research on eating disorder treatment, my self-compassion groups teach you how to curb overeating, feel your hunger, trust your taste buds and find deep satisfaction in the quality, rather than quantity, of food. All of which frees you from the ball and chain of dietary restriction and rebound weight gain.

Derived from mindfulness principles popularized by meditation teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn, mindful eating research by psychologist Jean Kristeller and proven practices from self-compassion proponents Kristin Neff and Chris Germer, you not only learn to cultivate mindful awareness and loving-kindness, you learn to eat whatever you choose to eat in moderation.

With group participation, you also gain personal insight and inspiration from British psychologist Paul Gilbert’s best-of-all-worlds’ approach to alleviating food-related suffering. According to a growing body of international research, proven practices from Gilbert’s Compassion Focused Therapy effectively help you feel better, eat better and cope better.

However long the group – eight sessions, a weekend workshop, a half-day training – you can expect an interactive, multi-media experience, complete with mini-lectures, mindfulness meditations, self-compassion practices, group discussion, short videos, and mindful eating experiences.

I primarily run groups and workshops in Concord, Mass., but, occasionally. I offer training further afield – at destination spas, treatment centers and other health and wellness facilities. My online groups meet via a secure teleconferencing platform. The price of admission depends on the geographical location, the frequency and duration of the group, among other factors.

To learn about ongoing and upcoming groups, visit the Special Events page. If you’ve got questions or special requests, send them to jfain@hms.harvard.edu.