Spring Retreat - NVC Santa Cruz - Our 27th Seasonal Event

With trainers Jean Morrison, Kristin Masters, Rick Longinotti, Eric Huang, and Caren Camblin

Friday May 2: 6:45-9 pm

Saturday May 3: 9 am - 5 pm

Sunday May 4: 10 am - 5 pm

Join us for a weekend of in-person learning, reflection, and fun for folks with any level of NVC experience, including beginners! We are offering this experience by donation--pay what you can!

We start Friday evening with greeting, gathering, sharing our wishes and intentions, and laughing along with Conflict Improv.

Saturday and Sunday will feature workshop options for new to very seasoned practitioners. Scroll down to see our detailed offerings!

Lunch breaks will be a 90 minutes so you can explore nearby restaurants or grocery stores, or bring a lunch to eat onsite (fridge and microwave available).

Connect with others for shared meals, hiking/walking, and rest.

Inclusion and Contribution are alive for us. We use compassionate pricing to meet our needs for generosity and your needs for contribution.
We welcome you to register to attend for any amount that works in your budget. Here is some context to help you decide on an amount:

• Sustaining: A sustaining donation of $301+ supports us continue our mission and support others in attending our events.
• Maintaining: A maintaining donation of $300 helps us cover our overhead costs for this retreat.
• Supported: A supported donation of $10-299 will be gratefully accepted as we would like to welcome all interested parties, regardless of ability to pay.

Please Register Now so we know you will attend. You can register on-site also with Venmo or Paypal, and we still need to know you will attend so we plan for you.

Saturday May 3

Morning

Session 1A - Intro to NVC - Jean Morrison

For those starting new and those who want a refresher. Get the ‘Big Picture’ view of NVC and the foundational aspects of this phenomenal universal process that grabs our minds, hearts and souls has us wishing we had learned this in our homes, schools, and communities. And… it’s not too late!!

Session 1B - Living in Uncertain Times - Kristin Masters

Drawing on NVC and neurobiology, we'll explore ways to support ourselves and those who live in times of uncertainty. How do we learn to “catch” our nervous systems states, to self regulated when we have fear and anxiety.

Afternoon

Session 2A - Who is Triggering You? - Caren Camblin

It could be a co-worker, family member, acquaintance, or even a political figure. If you find yourself feeling activated and disconnected around a particular person, Marshall Rosenberg’s process for dealing with “enemy images” could be helpful for accessing empathy for yourself and the other. Let’s see what requests or boundaries might emerge!

Session 2B - Political Advocacy without Shaming - By Rick Longinotti

Let’s practice transforming righteous anger so that it can become a powerful force for changing hearts and minds as well as the structures of domination/

Rick has been working to remove moralistic judgments from his advocacy work in local and national politics.

Session 3A - Voice Memos for Self-Empathy - By Caren Camblin

Looking for an alternative to journaling for self-empathy? Recording your own compassionate voice can be a magical offering of deep resonance. I’ll share multiple 2-5 minute examples for building your own emergency empathy medicine cabinet for different situations. Then we’ll practice. You’ll need your phone or a small recording device.

Session 3B - Conflict Improv Role Plays - By Rick Longinotti

Rick invites you to play a role in a conflict and with coaching apply NVC. We’ll follow clear steps to find serenity, listen with empathy, and express needs.

Sunday May 4

Morning

Session 4A - Living in Uncertain Times - Jean Morrison

Drawing on NVC and neurobiology, we'll explore ways to support ourselves and those who live in times of uncertainty. How do we learn to “catch” our nervous systems states, to self regulated when we have fear and anxiety.

Session 4B - Discernment - Eric Huang

Discernment is understand our needs, and finding clarity, insight, and wisdom in making life-serving distinctions and choices; recognizing one has choice. We will practice finding Discernment in a situation you choose for yourself.

Afternoon

Session 5A - TBD

Session 5B - Working with Boundaries and Consent with Somatic Movement - Eric Huang

In this interactive session, we will explore our needs around consent and set boundaries. We will explore our physical sensations in connection with others and requests that they make, and requests that they make.

Session 6A -Living Wanting & Contentment - By Kristin Masters

Practicing asking for what you want with bold requests and finding contentment with what you receive. We will play with concepts spatially and with words in order to find a depth of self empathy .

Session 6B - TBD

Note: This isn't actually the 27th seasonal retreat. We made that up. We've done a lot of retreats, like a lot. Sooooo many... Please join us... We'd like to meet you.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Tierra Pacifica Charter School, 986 Bostwick Lane, Santa Cruz, United States