Mindfulness in the classroom: How U of GH’s Melanie Zuzarte is preparing future social service professionals to thrive, not burn out

I feel it is important for educators to prepare our students for the heaviness that professional roles and helping others demands. It is important for educators to model what self-compassion feels like to dispense and receive." - Melanie Zuzarte, M.A., RSW

University of Guelph-Humber Community Social Services (CSS) instructor Melanie Zuzarte, M.A., RSW, takes a unique approach to teaching, one where self-compassion is at the core.  

As future social services professionals and presently as students, they will experience stress in their professional and academic careers. Zuzarte wants students to understand that to take care of others, they must first take care of themselves. It’s this philosophy that drives her to infuse self-compassion into her curriculum – a concept she describes as offering ourselves comfort, care, and generosity, especially when we are struggling. 

“After a long day in my private practice, I may feel stress percolating in my mind, body and soul,” she explained, adding that according to Dr. Kristin Neff, a pioneer in the study of self-compassion, this comprises three pillars: kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. “When I engage in these elements whilst on my downtime during my workday, I replenish my ‘self-compassion well’ and show up as my best self in my private practice and in the classroom.” 

Having obtained an undergraduate degree in English Literature and French, and a Master’s of Arts degree in Child and Youth Care, as well as her experience being a registered social worker, Zuzarte’s education and experiences inspired her to implement moments of reflection and therapeutic activities into her lectures. These activities include arts and crafts, journalling, storytelling, and music therapy. She said this is a way for students to experience the course through a creative lens within the classroom. 

“I feel it is important for educators to prepare our students for the heaviness that professional roles and helping others demands. It is important for educators to model what self-compassion feels like to dispense and receive. Considering the use of creative mediums, self-care activities rooted in self-compassion for themselves, they will in turn shine out as a warm light when working with those who need their strength, advocacy and knowledge in the darkest of hours,” she said. 

Some of the activities Zuzarte introduced to her students included forming music playlists for moments of vulnerability then modelling these with artwork and creating ornaments with themes of kindness and respect through a trauma-informed lens for users of the service Good2Talk (a free helpline for post-secondary students who are struggling).  

And on the last day of class, Zuzarte gifted her students handmade farewell cards for them to write compassionate messages to themselves and their peers, which she noted was something her students told her no other instructor had done for them before. The reception to this focus of teaching has been positive. 

Moreover, she wrote a paper in September 2025 entitled “Weaving Self Compassion into Post-Secondary Education Delivery,” which is currently under peer review by the Humber Press. According to Zuzarte, the manuscript explores the application of self-compassion into in-class creative activities so post-secondary students mentally, emotionally, relationally, and physically experience the elements of kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. This is expected to be published in spring 2026.  

Melanie Zuzarte, M.A., RSW, is teaching CSS*4060 Family Mediation and Conflict Resolution this winter 2026 semester.  

Starting fall 2026, Community Social Services will be called Social Services and Well-Being Studies (SSWS). To learn more about the program, click here.