Compassion, Self-Compassion, and HRV Biofeedback: An Integrated Approach to Treating Anxiety and Preventing Clinician Burnout
Inna Khazan, PhD, BCB, BCB-HRV
Urszula Klich, PhD, BCB
1-day workshop
Date: March 27, 2026
Workshop Title
Compassion, Self-Compassion, and HRV Biofeedback: An Integrated Approach to Treating Anxiety and Preventing Clinician Burnout
Workshop Description
This hands-on, experiential workshop offers a comprehensive approach to integrating compassion, self-compassion, and heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback in the treatment of anxiety and prevention of burnout – for both clients and clinicians.
In the current climate of increased demand for mental health services, many clinicians are facing burnout, while clients present with rising levels of anxiety and emotional overwhelm. Clinicians must find effective and sustainable ways to support their own emotional resilience while caring for others. Compassion and self-compassion are evidence-based tools shown to reduce anxiety in clients and buffer against burnout in helping professionals.
HRV is one of the most reliable physiological markers of emotional regulation, stress resilience, and overall well-being. HRV biofeedback has been empirically supported as a powerful intervention for both anxiety and burnout. Importantly, a growing body of research demonstrates a strong link between HRV and compassion: individuals with higher HRV tend to report greater capacity for compassion and self-compassion.
In this workshop, participants will:
• Discuss the core principles and experience the practices of compassion and self-compassion
• Explore how these tools can be applied in both clinician self-care and client treatment
• Describe the science behind HRV and its connection to emotional regulation and compassion
• Gain hands-on experience in integrating HRV biofeedback with compassion-based interventions for maximum therapeutic impact
Participants will leave with practical strategies and tools to enhance resilience, improve clinical outcomes, and support both client and clinician well-being.
Learning Objectives
- 1) Discuss the core principles and experience the practices of compassion and self-compassion
2) Explore how these tools can be applied in both clinician self-care and client treatment
3) Describe the science behind HRV and its connection to emotional regulation and compassion
4) Gain hands-on experience in integrating HRV biofeedback with compassion-based interventions for maximum therapeutic impact
About Inna Khazan
Inna Khazan, Ph.D., BCB is a clinical psychologist, and faculty at Harvard Medical School. She maintains a private practice in Boston, working with clients on optimizing their health and performance. Dr. Khazan is recognized as a pioneer in the area of mindfulness and acceptance based biofeedback, and is the author of Clinical Handbook of Biofeedback: A Step-by-Step Guide to Training and Practice with Mindfulness.
About Urszula Klich
Dr. Urszula Klich is a clinical health psychologist with three decades of expertise in bio-based self-regulation and mindfulness practices. She has held leadership positions in her professional organizations, such as serving as president of the Southeast Biofeedback and Clinical Neuroscience Association (SBCNA). Klich is Board-certified in Biofeedback (BCB) and as a teacher of Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT®) at Emory University.
Dr. Klich developed a program of _Mindfulness-Based Biofeedback®_, a structured training that integrates mindfulness with evidence-based self-regulation training. For decades, this model has been implemented across hospitals, schools, and private organizations, reaching both patients and professionals.
Through her clinical work and professional trainings, Dr. Klich empowers healthcare providers and corporate leaders to transform burnout and empathy fatigue into resilience, optimal performance, and sustainable well-being. At this workshop, she invites you to practice these techniques with her.
