Lower Hutt
Women's
Centre

186 Knights Road
Lower Hutt


phone: 569 2711
e-mail: lhwomenscentre@paradise.net.nz
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Workshops (see latest Newsletter for more information)

On-Going Groups

Self Esteem for Women (click here for schedule of topics)

Our self-esteem develops and evolves throughout our lives as we build an image of ourselves through our experiences with different people and activities. Experiences during our childhood play a particularly large role in the shaping of our basic self-esteem. When we were growing up, our successes (and failures) and how we were treated by the members of our immediate family, by our teachers, sports coaches, religious authorities, and by our peers, all contributed to the creation of our basic self-esteem. The course is designed to give women the opportunity to develop awareness of how they live in the world, the influences on them and how they have the ability and power to make changes in their lives.

Women will be given the opportunity to:

  • Develop skills to recognise the strengths in themselves
  • Look at the areas of self responsibility and self reflection
  • Be encouraged to develop awareness around how beliefs about self develop and grow
  • Build their emotional connection with themselves and develop a greater awareness of their own feelings and emotions
  • Feel a sense of personal power and belonging
  • Celebrate positive aspects of being a woman

    Friday morning 9.45am and Tuesday evening 6.30pm

Assertiveness for Women

Assertiveness is the ability to express yourself and your rights without violating the rights of others. It is appropriately direct, open, and honest communication which is self-enhancing and expressive. Acting assertively will give you the opportunity to feel self-confident and will generally gain you the respect of yourself and your peers and friends. It can increase your chances for honest relationships, and help you to feel better about yourself and your self in everyday situations.

Tutor: Stephanie Brockman
Dates: 6 Weeks Wednesday 8 September 2010
Time: 7-9pm
Cost: $45
Enrol: WEA 5692 292

Women Who Love Too Much (Part One)

Workshop 1 (Friday evening and two day weekend course)
Facilitator: Ally Andersun
Dates: 12,13 and 14th March 2010
Time: Friday 7-9:30, Saturday & Sunday 10-5pm
Venue: Women's Centre
Enrol: By payment or deposit to Women's Centre
Cost: Waged $60/Low or Unwaged $30

6 Minimum and 10 Maximum for course to commence
Note: Participants must be prepared to attend all of the workshop

This weekend will give participants an opportunity to explore their own issues around co-dependency and process addiction and the origins of behaviour and ways of changing and developing in yourself.

Women Who Love Too Much (Part Two) Co-dependency

This weekend is for women that have completed the first weekend. This weekend will be for women that want to work therapeutically with these co-dependency issues. The workshop will give participants an opportunity to explore their own issues around co-dependency and process addiction.  We will also explore the  origins of your behaviour and ways of changing and developing in yourself.

Dates: 23, 24 and 25 July 2010
Time: Friday 7-9.30pm Saturday & Sunday 10-5pm
Venue: Women's Centre
Enrol: Only by payment or deposit
Cost: Waged $60/Low or Unwaged $30

6 Minimum for course to commence and 10 Maximum
Participants are expected to attend the full course.

Mothering with Ease

This is a four week programme to:

  • explore the role mothering has on women,
  • assist women with the transition process of shifting from independent woman to being on call 24/7,
  • conscious raising of the career of parenting and the impact that has on society.

The course will look at the following during the four weeks;

  • The Transition Journey to the Mother role,
  • How we were "Mothered",
  • Role of Mother in our society,
  • Self Care for Mothers.

Dates: to be confirmed
Time: 7-9pm
Cost: $40
Facilitator: Ally Andersun
Venue: Women's Centre
Enrolment: WEA 5692 292

Sleep Well For Women

In a world where "time is money", just about everything in life can seem more important than sleep. Yet, our sleep and health are very closely linked. Parenting demands, caring for an elderly parent, or a restless partner can interrupt our sleep. Pain, worries, fears or our fluctuating hormones may keep us awake. Whilst sleeping problems are as widespread as they are diverse, this course aims to help participants to understand basic facts and to discover practical and workable solutions toward improved sleep and well-being. We will look at physiological aspects of sleep, including sleep stages and rhythms, the relationship between daytime busyness and quality of sleep as well as the relationship between sleep and health. We will discuss specifically what helps and what gets in the way of sleep including; stress, worries and anxiety, food and other habits, parenting and other caring roles, hormonal changes, illness and changing patterns as we age. Building on their learning, participants are helped to discover simple and workable answers to common concerns.

Facilitator: Veronika Gabel
Dates: 8 July 2010
Time: 7-9pm
Cost: $40 Enrolment to Women's Centre only by deposit or payment.

Anger as a Strength

Anger is a misunderstood emotion and energy. This training is skill based on providing opportunities and techniques to express anger using tools of assertivness.

Tutor: Ally Andersun
Date: Wednesday 21 July 2010 (Course goes for two weeks, one week break then for four weeks)
Time: 7-9pm
Enrol: WEA 5692 292
Cost: $45

Self Development for Women
Using the Psychodramatic Method

Facilitator: Ally Andersun
Two day weekend Course
Dates: 18, 19 and 20 June 2010
Time: Friday 7-9:30, Saturday & Sunday 10-5pm
Enrol: By payment or deposit to
Cost: Waged $60 Low or Unwaged $30
6 Minimum and 10 Maximum for course to commence
Note: Participants must be prepared to attend all of the workshop

This weekend will give participants an opportunity to explore personal issues using the psychodramatic method. Women new to the psychodramatic method are welcome.

Ally Andersun is the Counsellor/Trainer/Supervisor at the Lower Hutt Women's Centre. Ally has a Bachellor of Counselling, Certificate in Social Studies and is an advanced trainee in Psychodrama. She is a member of NZAC and ANZPA. Ally has been a counsellor for 15 years and has run groups for over 20 years.

Meditation for Women

The Beauty of the Breathing
A 6-week Meditation Course with Ruth Pink

6 Thursdays starting 19 August 2010 7-9pm

Meditation is an ancient art with many possibilities for modern application! Using simple techniques of watching and being with the breath, it is designed to help people to calm the mind and to live well. It is one of the cheapest, most portable kinds of healthcare and self help around. Meditation can be used to manage stress, pain, anxiety and depression. It is also a way to connect more deeply with the richness that we are, a way to come home to beauty and peace.

During this six week course, we will:

  • learn some basic meditation techniques,
  • explore ways to manage our thoughts and feelings ( instead of letting them manage us!)
  • discuss ways of living more easefully and more mindfully.

The course will include mediation practice, art work, gentle body movements, discussion and sharing. Each participant will be encouraged to reflect on things she'd like to change in her own life.

This course would suit people who are new to meditation and those who are looking to revitalize their practice.

Please wear warm loose clothing.

Cost: $10 registration fee with a weekly dana/donation to Ruth.

In Buddhism dana means generosity or giving. Dana consists not so much in the act of giving as in the feeling of wanting to give, of wanting to share what you have with other people. This workshop is run in this spirit, a spirit of free exchange - Ruth is the tutor sharing her knowledge and people attending are invited to offer what money they can to Ruth in exchange for her travel, time and teaching.

In our Western mind we often get confused with the idea of koha/ donation or dana and might ask how much do I give? This question can be answered by further questions like how much can I comfortably offer given my current situation ? What is the value of this teaching for me in my life now? Participants also need to consider that their dana  is also a gift to others not just the tutor. By offering dana one also supports a teaching that is about fostering hope and health on the Planet. Please give as generously as you can. (The concept of dana will be explained more fully at the first night of the course).  

Ruth Pink is a writer, poet, counsellor and celebrant. She has been meditating and studying meditation for more than 17 years. A stressful job brought her to meditation and a serious illness helped her really practice it! Ruth is connected to the Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre in Nelson, and has studied with the Venerable Tarchin Hearn, the Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche,  Leander Kane and many other teachers whose wisdom has enriched her life. Ruth weaves together teachings from the Buddha and other spiritual traditions with art, science, ecology and poetry. While seeking to inspire others to change their lives and change their minds, she is also open-hearted, and down to earth.

My Mother My Self

The inspiration to run the Workshop “My Mother My Self” has grown out of Women Who Love Too Much workshops. Guilt was one of the emotions that women identified, through these workshops, as influencing them today.

The workshop will look at the issues of guilt including; mother guilt, our mother’s guilt – how much did we inherit from her, and how we are controlled through guilt.

Other issues include; looking at concepts of what stops us from living our own authentic lives, our relationship with our mother, how our relationship with our mother influences how we are today.

  • "Understanding what we have with out Mothers is the beginning of understanding ourselves."
  • "Our mothers had not raised us to feel comfortable with autonomy, sexuality, a life different from theirs".
    Both quotes from Nancy Friday in My Mother My Self.

This is an experiential workshop and participants need to have a commitment to their own development and to attend all parts of the weekend including Friday evening.

Friday evening and two day weekend course
Facilitator: Ally Andersun
Dates: 28, 29, 30 May 2010
Time: Friday 7-9:30, Saturday & Sunday 10-5pm
Venue: Women's Centre
Enrol: By payment or deposit to Women's Centre
Cost: Waged $60/Low or Unwaged $30 6 Minimum and 10 Maximum for course to commence

Note: Participants must be prepared to attend all of the workshop

Inner Child Workshop

Through the use of action and art learn the techniques to develop a deeper understandingof yourself and your processes. It is said that the child holds the key to our own healing and recovery, and this is an individual journey for each person.This workshop is for women that have done previious self development workshops or groups.

All participants need to be interviewed by Ally Andersun before registration. You can phone and put your name down to be contacted for an interview.

Dates : No dates confirmed for 2010 as yet
Time: Fri 7-9.30pm, Sat/Sun 10-5pm
Cost: $60/$30
Venue: Lower Hutt Women's Centre

Menopause for Women

4 Weeks beginning 2 June 2010

This workshop is for you if you are starting menopause, experiencing full-on symptoms, post menopausal or just curious about what is ahead. We will look at different aspects, physical, emotional, spiritual, social and psychological. We will have guest speakers and discussion.

Dates: Four weeks beginning Wednesday 2 June 2010
Time : 7-9pm
Facilitator: Ally Andersun
Venue: Women's Centre
Enrol: WEA 5692292
Cost: $40

6 Minimum and 12 Maximum for course to commence.

Self Esteem for Teens [Girls only 13 - 19 years]

A workshop for girls to learn about yourself, to have fun, to learn self respect and to be more confident and to accept yourself and others. A 10-week program beginning 24 August 2010.

Facilitator: Johanna Pibal
Time: 4pm - 6pm
Cost: $$35.00

Johanna Pibal has a Playcentre Federation Certificate, a BA in Education and Psychology, a BA HONS in Psychology with a counselling paper in Education, a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (Child Mental Health) and has completed Family Therapy training.Johanna has many years of experience tutoring and facilitating learning groups for young children, adolescents, and adults. She has been involved in the Lower Hutt Women's Centre over the past 14 years.

Weaving with Harakeke -Attend one or more of the workshops

Learn how make a konae and a kono, and how to prepare the harakeke using correct protocol, e.g. with cutting harakeke and the significance of karakia. We will also sing waiata .

Tutor: Makere Love
Time: 10-4pm
Cost: $10 for the one-day course / $15 for two-day course
Venue: Lower Hutt Women's Centre
Enrol: By payment or deposit

Course One: 2 May 2010 Konae

Course Two: 13 June 2010 Kono

Course Three: 14 and 15 August 2010 Whiri bottom kete
For course three you need to have attended course one or two at some stage previously.

Painting Workshops (Attend one or more)

Workshops for women, you can be experienced or complete beginners. The workshops will be based on you expressing yourself through painting and learning techniques at the same time. Techniques (one for each workshop), will be taught. Come along and have a creative and relaxing time in a supportive environment. You can work on new projects each workshop or carry on with your work from the previous workshop. Linda is an experienced art tutor - who will guide you as you want.

Workshop One: Sunday 28 March 2010
Workshop Two: Sunday 23 May 2010
Workshop Three: Sunday 18 July 2010
Workshop Four: Sunday 29 August 2010
Workshop Five: Sunday 17 October 2010

Facilitator: Linda Wood

All equipment supplied

You can attend one or all of the workshops.
Times: 10-4pm
Cost: $20 per workshop.
Enrolment by payment or deposit only.

Other Groups

Women's Support Group (Wednesdays 1pm)

Stessed? Tired? Lonely? Sad?

Do you want and need to unload, are you getting stressed out?

If you are feeling out of touch with yourself and other people or feeling isolated then the group is a time to get support in a caring environment while you work on looking at yourself, your feelings and how you are in life.

The group is open to all women and you can join the group by turning up to the Women's Centre on Wednesdays from 1 til 2.30pm. No booking necessary. Just turn up or phone to see if the group is for you.

Facilitor: Ally Andersun
Cost: No cost

Art/Mosaic (Tuesdays - 10am till 2.30pm)

Learn how to mosaic and make a paving stone for our garden, and then continue on to make your own projects. A fun, creative time with other women.

Friendship Group (Thursdays - 10am to 12noon)

Friendships are a vital source of emotional sustenance. As well as providing the pleasure of companionship, your friendship network offers you a sense of support and belonging. They can also be challenging, frustrating, unsatisfying and confusing. Our ability to make and sustain friendships is influenced by our ability to develop and maintain a nurturing relationship with ourselves.

We have facilitated discussions on:
- Being a good listener

- Respect your friend's point of view
- Never betray a trust
- Support and praise your friends
- Never resent a friend's success

Facilitator: Yvonne Broadley

Yvonne Broadley is a committed and active mother of 5 children and grandmother of 5 children. Yvonne is a keen hiker and has a wide variety of life experiences and gained a lot of wisdom, which she brings to the group.

Note: The first Thursday of the month we bring our own lunch and stay behind. For more information phone 5692711.

 

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