Mission
Mission: Inner Compass Learning reorients us toward healthy relationship with ourselves, one another, and this Earth.
Why: We believe in dominant Western culture we are not living healthy, connected lives with ourselves, one another, and this earth. This disconnection hurts everyone and everything.
How: Group Workshops, School Circles, and 1-1 Coaching for People in Times of Transition
What: Nature Messages, Creative Expression, Communication Practice (Nonviolent Communication & Internal Family Systems), Somatic Practices, Energetic Practices (Reiki) and more.
We work with people in times of transition:
Youth moving through Puberty & Young Adulthood (ages 9-20)
Women* moving through Pregnancy
Women* & Partners moving through Postpartum
Women* and Partners moving into Parenthood
While women* is the dominant way of talking about the pregnant person, there are people who don’t identify as woman who are also pregnant, birthing, and moving into postpartum. We are open to working with all people who feel aligned to our mission.
Vision
Inner Compass Learning wants to be part of a world where we are all living in balance.
We believe, in the dominant Western culture of the US, built upon systems of power including white supremacy, patriarchy, classism, able-bodiedness, and more, that people are more and more disconnected from self, one another, and this Earth.
To create healthy, sustaining change, we believe:
Each individual has the responsibility to learn deeply about their values, identity, power, & culture, both ancestrally and presently
With knowledge & awareness, we better navigate our communities with compassion, curiosity and care
Youth have power to transform this Earth, but it is not their responsibility alone
Women, in particular mothers, are creative, intuitive, powerful sources of collective change, but can often feel unsupported and disconnected
Creating radical, creative, nature-loving community helps dismantle silos of individualism where youth, mothers, and parents feel alone
Strategies/Practices include
(see more in Scope and Waiver)
Nonviolent Communication (NVC)
Somatic practice
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Creative & Nature Journaling
Outdoor Experiential Learning
Self-Healing Reiki
Vision Boards
Drawing and Painting
Interviewing
Nature Messages
Hiking & Camping
Storytelling
Birth Doula & Pregnancy Support Practices
Role Plays
Training & Experience: Kristen Sawyer
Bachelor’s Degree in Cultural Anthropology- UNC Chapel Hill, 2012
Teach for America Phoenix Alumni- 2014
Master’s in Education, focusing on Creative Development for Youth- Arizona State University, 2014
Shamanic Reiki: Master’s Level- SWIHA, Phoenix, 2020
Wilderness First Aid- Renewing 2023
Intern: Healing Roots Communitymunity.com/- 2021
Embodied Social Justice: 50 Hour Certification- The Embody Lab
Somatic Practice: Embodied Practice Level 1 & 2- Strozzi Institute
Nonviolent & Authentic Communication Student: 100+ Practice Hours since 2020- Authentic Communication Groups
Internal Family Systems Student: 50 Practice Hours since 2020- Authentic Communication Groups
Certified AZ Master Naturalist- 2022
Conversational Oral & Written Spanish
DONA Birth Doula: Certification in Process 2023