People and groups can’t truly thrive without compassion.
Compassion U™ is a virtual way to learn CBCT© (Cognitively Based Compassion Training), a program developed at Emory University in 2005, to cultivate compassion and emotional wellbeing in adults. Supported by decades of research, the CBCT program includes self-paced sessions in Compassion U and a weekly live group session with a trained CBCT Instructor to support you to:
- Strengthen Attention
- Regulate Emotions
- Sustain Compassion for Yourself and Everyone You Meet!
CBCT is already transforming the fields of healthcare, mental health, education, and business. Whether for personal healing, professional development, or a more just world, CBCT equips individuals with the tools to flourish.
This Fall, join a life-changing 10-week journey into Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT)—a science-informed course developed at Emory University and offered in collaboration with the Charter for Compassion.
Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT®)
with Steve Kramer and Marilyn Turkovich
**Enrollment closed**
Class time: 5:00 to 6:00 PM Pacific Time. Check your timezone here.
Dates (2025): October 15, 22 + November 5, 12, 17, 19 + December 3, 10, 11 and 17.
Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT®)
with Erika Ceceña and Mérida McCarthy
**Enrollment closed**
**Course taught in spanish**
Class time: 3:00 to 5:00 PM Pacific Time. Check your timezone here.
Dates (2025): October 20, 27 + November 3, 10, 17, 24 + December 1, 8.
Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT®)
with Anum Mulla and Mérida McCarthy
**Enrollment closed**
Class time: 6:00 to 8:00 AM Pacific Time Check your timezone here.
Dates (2025): October 24, 31 + November 7, 14, 21 + December 5, 12, 19
The Charter for Compassion, in collaboration with the United Religions Initiative (URI), will be offering CBCT® (Cognitively Based Compassion Training) in the Fall of 2025, in partnership with the Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics at Emory University. Pending approval from URI, scholarship assistance will be available for URI participants. The Charter for Compassion has embraced CBCT as a core element of its educational and leadership offerings—both for its global membership and for strategic partners such as URI.
CBCT was developed at Emory University to help people cultivate greater resilience, well-being, and compassion in their everyday lives.
It is secular and non-sectarian—open to people of all backgrounds. While CBCT draws on insights from contemplative traditions, it does not rely on or promote any particular religion or philosophy. Instead, it integrates ancient wisdom with modern psychology and neuroscience, offering a practical, evidence-based approach to training the mind.
CBCT is built on the understanding that compassion is both innate and trainable. Through a step-by-step process, participants learn skills such as emotional regulation, self-awareness, and perspective-taking. The program emphasizes the science behind how the brain and body respond to stress and compassion—including trauma- and resilience-informed practices that can be applied in daily life.
CBCT is also highly practical. Its guided meditations and informal daily practices are designed to be woven into everyday life—whether managing workplace stress, improving relationships, or supporting community well-being. Over time, these practices can help individuals move from greater inner calm to deeper empathy and, ultimately, to more compassionate action in the world.
CBCT is offered through Emory’s Compassion U™ digital learning platform, which integrates live instruction with ten self-guided learning modules. Each module includes 60–90 minutes of interactive content and guided meditation experiences that bring the material to life. Participants are asked to complete each self-guided module before attending their weekly live class—whether online or in person—so that live sessions can focus on deeper reflection, integration, and community dialogue.
