Marcia Christen

I have been interested in personal healing, since I was a teenager growing up in North Seattle. I've wanted to discover how to find peace within and how to heal families so that the world may become a more loving, compassionate place. I am so excited to be sharing NVC because it keeps me closer to the consciousness that has become such an important, core part of my life.

To follow my interests I received a B.A. in Sociology with a Minor in History in 1988 from the University of New Mexico. I received my teaching certificate for Social Studies 7-12th grade the next year. When my husband and I returned to Washington, I became an Ameri Corps volunteer and worked at Kitsap County Project Family, a non-profit agency for the prevention of child abuse. There I worked with pregnant and parenting teens, and parents of young children. I learned many parenting programs and curricula. I received my most important degree in 1993, when our first child was born. I then got a double degree in 1996 when our twins were born. And all the parent education preparation didn't help me understand how to navigate my inner landscape, let alone help me teach my children how to self-regulate. Thankfully, I was asked if I might be interested in joining an NVC practice group in 2006 and my life changed. NVC has helped me realize my dream of helping to spread compassion and has greatly benefited my relationship with myself, my children, my husband and my world. Now I want to help others explore this meaningful work.

Within the last ten years I have taught 3rd and 4th graders NVC using Sura Hart's The No Fault Classroom and worked as an aid for 4 years while also serving as the school's Student Support Coordinator. I have been volunteering at the Women's prison sharing NVC since 2010 and I have been teaching middle schoolers NVC at the local Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. I have a passion for sharing NVC to anyone who is interested in exploring self-growth and learning a different way of speaking and listening. I especially love to work with parents and teachers. I have attended Family Camp with my family for the past 2 years. I provide community workshops and facilitate practice groups in Kitsap County. I also work with individuals and offer NVC mentoring and coaching. Please email me at m g c h r i s t e n AT DOMAIN aol~com.