Welcoming the New Year: Gentle Growth & New Opportunities
As we step into 2026, I find myself reflecting on the beautiful ways our community continues to grow and support one another. The start of a new year always feels like a fresh invitation—a chance to gently check in with ourselves, notice what’s stirring beneath the surface, and set intentions for the months ahead. I’m grateful for the trust you place in me and for
each moment of connection we share, whether in workshops, community circles, or quiet emails exchanged.
Personal Reflections: Deepening Skills for Our Healing Journey
In just over a week, I’ll be attending an in-person training on Psychodramatic Empty Chair Work. This three-day immersion is an exciting opportunity to deepen the experiential tools I bring into our Befriend Your Story workshops. I’m looking forward to sharing fresh
insights and practices with you—each new skill is another way we can gently tend to the parts of ourselves that long for understanding and compassion.
I’m also honored to be assisting with NeuroAffective Touch (NA Touch) training this year. NA Touch holds a special place in my heart for its depth and the peace it can help foster. A recent client shared, “I came into life with that wound as my one thing that needed to be addressed, it has been. I’ve
had a long period of peace since then, too, even as I have been addressing other things.” It’s a powerful reminder of the healing that’s possible when we meet our bodies and stories with gentle presence.
Tending Together: Free Community Support
If you’re new to my offerings, I invite you to explore Tending Together—my free community space that meets twice a month on Zoom. These 30-minute sessions are a gentle way to reset,
ground, and tend to whatever is coming up in life. You can access public recordings of past sessions or join the live community for upcoming gatherings. If you are already a community member, you can access
the community space here: Tending Together Community Our most recent session, "Tending To the Heart," felt especially meaningful as we honored the tender places within us during this season.
Workshop Highlights: Being Who I Want To Be & Find Your Inner Calm
Last weekend, our in-person Being Who I Want To Be workshop in Grand Rapids was a beautiful, brave gathering. Together, we settled into our bodies, shared winter reflections, and explored simple ways to live more authentically—befriending protective parts,
noticing unmet needs, and stacking glimmers (like hot tea or nature walks) to find our center. Tools like the midline exercise and the feeling words chart sparked real shifts; one attendee noticed more compassion for their nurturing side. I’m reminded again and again that we all have a wise core self, ready to tend our inner gardens.
If you’re feeling called to go deeper into calming your body’s stress responses, I’d love for you to join my upcoming Find Your Inner Calm series—a blend of body wisdom, trauma insights, and hands-on tools for releasing bracing and supporting overwhelm. This in-person series meets for three Tuesdays (5:30–6:30 pm) and one Saturday in February. No experience is needed—attend one
or all sessions. Spots are limited, so sign up for Find Your Inner Calm if you’re interested in a gentle, embodied approach to presence in parenting, relationships, and life.
For those joining me online, our last Befriend Your Story session centered on “Hope on the Horizon.” We explored the parts of ourselves that yearn for hope and those that feel wary. It takes courage to look honestly at both. There are still a few spots open for the Befriend Your Story Experience—a 4-week closed group beginning
January 27th. This series will be my first that starts to work through the themes of my Empowered Healing Journey program, weaving together somatic and parts work for deep integration. If you’re interested, simply reply to this email. Space is limited.
An Invitation to Reflect: Small Shifts, Big Ripples
As we wrapped up our session on hope, I invited everyone to consider: What are one or two small things you might
do over the next few weeks to help you feel more like how you want to feel? Any gentle shift you make now can ripple through your entire year. I’d love to hear what you’re pondering—just reply and share your reflections if you feel moved.
Healing Happens in Connection
Thank you for being part of this community and for your ongoing commitment to your own well-being. If you have questions about any of the upcoming offerings or want
to share what’s coming up for you, I’m always here to listen. Healing is never a solitary path—we walk it together, one gentle step at a time.
~ Kimberly Erickson Growing Harmony Within
P.S. For more resources, reflections, and a full list of upcoming offerings, you’ll always find the latest on the Growing Harmony Within website. Not sure where to start? Try this - Discover Your Next Step If you’d like to share your experience or have a question, just reply—I genuinely love hearing from you.