Rest and Renew Hour

Rest and Renew Hour

Do you ever feel like you just need to get out, even if it is only for an hour, and nurture yourself?

Come to Nurture on Sundays from 11am-noon and relax and renew your energy and spirit. We will have tea (coffee?), company and conversation or a quiet spot to just sit, books, and occasional specialized support as announced. You can make the hour be what you need it to be; feel free to bring whatever you need to do just that (knitting, snacks to share, a book, your journal, a pillow?). This is your hour.

Sundays 11am-noon at Nurture

Walkabouts: A Family-Friendly Walk/Hike Group

The rain has arrived, and that seems like a great reason to get a group together to get out there and hike or walk (or, in reality with children, meander about stopping frequently to spot slugs, mushrooms, gnomes, fairies, and hobbit traces) on a regular basis. I know I need the motivation more now. So, grab the Wellies or Boggs, slickers, Ergos, and snacks and let's meet up for a kid-friendly hike on our beautiful city trails and walkways. Let's head out for as long or as short as the children or our energy will allow. We can pick new places to meet each time until we have covered the city, then we can repeat our favorites!


Join the Walkabouts Group forum and from there we can decide where to meet next and how often to meet-up...weekly, bi-weekly, monthly?

First Walkabout

Monday, November 16th 11am

Meet at the Forest Park Leif Erickson Dr. trail head parking lot

about 1.3 miles up Germantown Rd. on the left (coming from the Portland side of Germantown)

Respectful Connection Parenting Support Group

Join us for a Respectful Connection Parenting Support Group

This groups is a weekly meeting designed for those parents working towards a connected respectful relationship with their children. We will support and commiserate with each other, problem solve and share ways to meet our needs and the needs of our children without punishments, coercion or manipulations.

This group is open to all parents, no matter where they are in their parenting journey or the ages of their kids. Based on theories and works by Pam Leo, NVC, Scott Noelle, Patty Wipler, Jan Hunt, Alfie Kohn, Gordon Nuefeld, Althea Solter and others.

Children are welcome, there is an adjacent play area to our meeting room. Please feel free to bring what you or your child may need to feel comfortable during group such as easy to clean up snacks or pillows.

We meet on Tuesdays from 10am-12pm at Nurture (1614 NE Alberta St.).

Suggested donation of $3-5 per week to cover costs of handouts and space. Our intention is to work together to create a sustainable group that is abundant in resources. This means sharing what we have when we have it and trusting it will balance out in the end.

Facilitated by Deb Thornton at Nurture. Deb is the mama-mind of Sacred Arrivals, a Parent and Family Coach, Mama to 4, and has been facilitating parenting groups since 1992.

For more information, please contact Deb at 503.250.2973 or sacredarrivals@gmail.com

Compassionate Communication Practice Group Update

Join us for a monthly, self-led group to practice compassionate communication, with an emphasis on parenting/family.

The compassionate communication practiced in this group is a communication approach using techniques and ideas inspired by Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg. It is a way to communicate peacefully while addressing the needs of everyone involved and models gentle, empathetic, and assertive communication to our children.

This group is self-led, but coordinated and hosted by Nurture (http://www.nurturepdx.com/)

We focus on families who want to support each other with compassion and in giving our children tools in unconditional love and freedom. We are a self-guided group, providing support for each other using discussion, sharing, practice, role play, and the book Respectful Parents, Respectful Kids by Sura Hart and Victoria Kindle Hodson as a guide. We also have an on-line group for additional support throughout the month. Children are welcome to the group. All NVC levels of experience welcome. $2 suggested donation.

We meet on the 4th Monday of each month from 2-3:30pm

at Nurture 1614 NE Alberta St. , Portland , OR 97211

Contact Mychelle at mychelle@nurturepdx.com

For more information and other local resources on Compassionate Communication visit the Oregon Network of Compassionate Communication and Wise Heart. There is also a wonderful NVC parenting series offered in NE Portland called Parenting from the Heart, more info here: http://insideoutschoolhouse.wordpress.com/ and the Portland Unconditional Parenting yahoo group for those who want to connect with others who are parenting respectfully and compassionately: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UP-Portland/

Baby Blues Connection Aftercare Group

I volunteer for the Baby Blues Connection, a wonderful organization that provides mother-to-mother support for postpartum mood disorders.

Baby Blues Connection is excited about expanding their mom-to-mom services! They are bringing back their group that supports mothers as they face the challenges of motherhood after postpartum.

Our Aftercare Groups are right for you if you:

• have a child older than 12 months,
• would like continuing support after 'graduating' from new mom group,
• or if you're pregnant again after recovering from a postpartum mood disorder.

If you have questions about attending, especially about time and location, please call their phone line and let them know. These numbers are also the numbers to call if you need support.

Oregon: 503-797-2843
Washington: 360-735-5571

Healing Circle

Please join Molly Fitzpatrick, L.Ac. as she facilitates a monthly Reiki healing circle at Nurture. All are welcome to come and receive Reiki energy to support personal intentions of healing. Reiki practitioners from the community are encouraged to share their abilities with the public. Donations will go towards non-profit organizations in the community that support the well-being of families. The healing circles will meet the first Sunday of each month from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. Please arrive on time and expect to be there for the duration of group. After 7:15pm, the door will be locked, so as not to disturb the healing in progress. The next healing circle will be on Sunday, March 1st. Questions? Please contact Molly at molly@nurturepdx.com or calling 503-341-1372. Namaste.

Be a Part of the Change

The Obama administration, just 32 days away from inaguration, is proactively asking for our help in creating a health care reform plan that works. We invite you to be a part of the change with us as we meet on December 27 from 2-3:30pm to discuss, as a community of mothers/parents/future parents, our ideas for a health care plan that will support family needs.

You can see what Senator-designate Tom Daschle has to say about the health care reform and community discussions.

December 27, 2008

2 pm-3:30 pm
at Nurture (1614 NE Alberta)

Before the gathering, please upload this Participant discussion guide and bring it with you.

Please RSVP to Mychelle Moritz 971-344-7527

Babes-in-arms are welcome

Our focus will be...

-cost effective, safer, holistic maternal wellness
-safe, holistic infant and child wellness
-accessibility for all families
-reducing the impact of healthcare on the environment
-transparency from the medical community

Compassionate Communication Group Wait List

Our monthly compassionate communication group is currently full. If you would like to be on the wait list, contact Mychelle at 971-344-7527 or mychelle@nurturepdx.com. We are considering starting a second group if the waitlist fills-up.

This is a self-led group to practice compassionate communication, with an emphasis on parenting/family. The compassionate communication practiced in the group is a communication approach using techniques and ideas inspired by Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg.

It is a way to communicate peacefully while addressing the needs of everyone involved and models gentle, empathetic, and assertive communication to our children. For more information and other local resources on Compassionate Communication visit the Oregon Network of Compassionate Communication and Wise Heart.

Facilitator: The group will be self-led, but coordinated by Mychelle Moritz and Rebecca Andersson

Description: Focus on families who want to support each other with compassion and in giving our children tools in unconditional love and freedom.

Prerequisites: none, all levels of experience welcome.

Format and Structure: To be determined by the group. Children are welcome.

Meeting Day/Time: *note change of day* 2nd Sunday of each month from 2-4pm, future meeting times negotiable by group.

Location: Nurture, 1614 NE Alberta St., Portland, OR 97211

Starting Date: August 31, 2008

Fees: Suggested donation $5/ group meeting

Group Maximum: 15 Members

Contact: Mychelle at 971-344-7527 or mychelle@nurturepdx.com

Filial Therapy

Filial Therapy is a unique therapeutic approach in which you are guided to conduct weekly, 30-minute, play therapy sessions at home with your child. Through this process, you will develop a deeper understanding of your child and his or her needs and strengthen your relationship with your child.

Filial Therapy is most beneficial for children ages 3 - 12. However, many children as young as 2 years of age and up to 13 can benefit from Filial Therapy. Filial Therapy is beneficial for both the parent and the child.

The following concerns can be addressed with filial therapy:

• Preparing for or after the arrival of a new sibling


• Reconnecting with a parent experiencing postpartum depression/anxiety


• Attachment related difficulties in biological/foster/adoptive families


• Depression, sadness, moodiness


• Grief & loss


• Moving


• Divorce


• Aggressive behaviors


• Excessively worries, anxiety, or separation issues


• Traumatic stress from events such as accidents, witnessing violence, abuse or a natural disaster


• Self-esteem or identity problems


• Nightmares/night terrors


• Needing to be center of attention


• School related difficulties


• Social issues

Goals and Benefits of Filial Therapy:

• Strengthened relationship with your child


• Develop a deeper understanding of your child


• Your child learns and understand their feelings


• You and your child learn to express feelings and communicate in healthy ways


• You and your child develop new problem solving skills


• Reduce or eliminate challenging behaviors


• Your child will feel heard and understood


• Your child can work through troubling issues


• Increased trust between you and your child


• Increased self-confidence and self-worth for your child


• Increased confidence in parenting


• Increase or repair your family's ability to have fun together


• Provide tools the family can use in the future

I also offer a filial therapy group when I have a minimum of 4 families to start at the same time. I maintain a waiting list for parents interested in the group filial therapy format. The group format provides the additional benefit of peer support, suggestions, and feedback.

Note: Filial therapy involves a commitment on your part, please read through the information about filial therapy on the Nurture website.

Fees:For individual filial therapy my rates are $65 for the initial session as well as all following 50-minute sessions and $32.50 for each 1/2 hour session. I offer a sliding scale when needed. My group rates are $65 for the initial session and $200 for the 10 week group. I offer a sliding scale when needed.

For more information, to schedule an appointment, or to join the wait list for a filial group, please contact Mychelle Moritz at mychelle@nurturepdx.com or 971.344.7527

Compassionate Communication Update

For the September 28th meeting we will be hosting an introduction workshop led by Kathy Marchant. Kathy is an Nonviolent Communication facilitator. If you would like to attend the training, there will be a small fee (approximately $10/person) depending on how many people attend. Please contact Mychelle to reserve a spot. mychelle@nurturepdx.com or 971.344.7527

Compassionate Communication Parent Practice Group

Join us for a monthly, self-led group to practice compassionate communication, with an emphasis on parenting/family.

The compassionate communication practiced in the group is a communication approach using techniques and ideas inspired by Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg. It is a way to communicate peacefully while addressing the needs of everyone involved and models gentle, empathetic, and assertive communication to our children. For more information and other local resources on Compassionate Communication visit the Oregon Network of Compassionate Communication and Wise Heart.

Once the group is established, we will bring in a speaker to provide a training.

Group Details
Facilitator: The group will be self-led, but coordinated by Mychelle Moritz and Rebecca Andersson
Description: Focus on families who want to support each other with compassion and in giving our children tools in unconditional love and freedom.
Prerequisites: none, all levels of experience welcome.
Format and Structure: To be determined by the group. Children are welcome.
Meeting Day/Time: *note changed day* 2nd Sunday of each month from 2-4pm, future meeting times negotiable by group.
Location: Nurture, 1614 NE Alberta St., Portland, OR 97211
Starting Date: August 31, 2008
Fees: Suggested donation $5/ group meeting
Group Maximum: 15 Members
Contact: Mychelle 971-344-7527 http://b11.mail.yahoo.com/ym/nurturepdx.com/Compose?To=mychelle@nurturepdx.com

Brain, Child Reading Group

Thinking mothers! Let's gather for a Brain, Child reading group and share your thoughts and feelings about each issue (as well as some group-selected back issues).

Brain, Child: The Magazine for Thinking Mothers was founded by two mothers Jennifer Niesslein and Stephanie Wilkinson back in 1999. Different than the usual parenting or mother-oriented magazines, Brain, Child is a "source of smart writing that delved into the meatier issues of that life-altering experience: motherhood" with personal essays, feature articles, debates, and fiction.

Group members who attend the first group gathering will receive a discounted rate on the current Brain, Child issue as well as a discounted subscription or subscription renewal.

September 21, 2008 from 11am-1pm

Contact Mychelle at mychelle@nurturepdx.com for more information or to reserve a spot. This group is limited to 15 members.