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Spring Retreat

Register for our 27th seasonal retreat at NVC Santa Cruz this Spring!
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.
OFFERINGS
Saturday May 3
10:15AM
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.
1:45PM
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.
3:30PM
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
10:15AM
Session 4A – Empathy NOT and Why Not and a Listening Hack to rock your relationships – Jean Morrison
We’ll gather to focus on new skills for listening and responding to hard-to-hear messages, or boring conversations; and authentically connecting with the speaker.
Session 4B – Discernment – Eric Huang and Candidate for Certification
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.
1:15PM
Session 5A – 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 5B – TBD – By Eric Huang with Candidate for Certification
3:00PM
Session 6A – NVC Q&A – By Kristin Masters
Bring your specific situations, questions and curiosity for this collaborative, interactive, session with the engaging, warm, thoughtful KristinMasters
Session 6B -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.