Kristin Neff, PhD, the trailblazing researcher on self-compassion, is an associate professor in human development at the University of Texas at Austin and author of Self-Compassion. She is creator of the Self-Compassion Scale used by clinicians and researchers worldwide, and cocreator, with Christopher K. Germer, of the 8-week Mindful Self-Compassion training program that teaches self-compassion skills.

Kristin became interested in Buddhism during her last year of graduate school, and she has been practicing meditation in the Insight Meditation tradition ever since. While doing her post-doctoral work, she conducted research on self-compassion, a central construct in Buddhist psychology and one that had not yet been examined empirically. Along with her current work at the University of Texas at Austin, Kristin leads Mindful Self-Compassion trainings and self-compassion workshops nationally.

What People are Saying About Kristen Neff

“Kristin Neff moves the entire study of compassion forward.”
—Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness

“Drawing on a powerful blend of Western psychology and Eastern meditative strategies, Kristin Neff offers practical, wise guidance on the path of emotional healing and deep inner transformation.”
—Tara Brach, PhD, author of Radical Acceptance

“Self-compassion is a revolutionary new idea—a better idea—pioneered by...Kristin Neff, with profound implications for how to live our lives.”
—Christopher K. Germer, PhD, author of The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion