"Love in such a way that the person you love feels free."- Thich Nhat Hanh
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Hi! I'm EMILY FROST. I'm an artist and mentor working with youth and families in the Bay Area. I am also a devoted mother, wife, sister and daughter. As the Founding Director of LOVE YOUR NATURE, I consider the heart of my work to be about our responsibility to remember, tend and teach what is sacred about being alive for the next generation.
I work with young people and adults, in groups and individually, as a girls empowerment coach, contemporary rites of passage guide, experiential educator and consultant. Facilitating programs that develop social, emotional and spiritual intelligence, with a focus on girls coming of age and honoring life passages for all of us, is my thing. I am a fiercely loving mama who is passionate about creating meaning through ritual, ceremony and journeys of initiation. My mission is to help people, especially girls, young women and mothers, to know themselves and discover their inherent wisdom, power, and place in this world. We all belong. |
How did I get here?
As a tween/teen I deeply struggled with feeling like I didn't belong, that I wasn't "wanted", that I wasn't ________ enough. It's amazing how vivid those early memories are, of being teased and excluded, of going silent. Like so many teens, I was living an outwardly "normal" life with a private world filled with doubt, self-judgment, body-shame, and need to feel "seen". I quietly disappeared. So deep are the wounds, they still arise in my adult life... just, wow.
As I found my way into adulthood, finally landing in the Bay Area (yay!) and into the arms of loving community, mentors and chosen family (thank god for growing up!) I began my study of the essential need for connection and belonging. This led me into the realms of spirituality, healing, rites of passage, social justice - and most importantly into nature. My personal journey is inseparable from having chosen (or been chosen) to do this job, to play this role in the world. It is my own healing offered back for the benefit of all (at least that's my intention). It's the work I can't not do. I have worked with hundreds of girls and families around the Bay Area, and am thrilled to devote my life energy to LOVE YOUR NATURE. I am SO grateful for all my mentors and guides who have shown me the way. |
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Experience:
A renaissance woman who has already lived many lives, Emily holds dual degrees in Art and Interdisciplinary Studies from UC Berkeley, has completed 2 years of the Somatic/Mindfulness based Hakomi Method Training, is a certified Integral Counselor and Life Coach, permitted Early Childhood Educator, certified Mindfulness Educator with Mindful Schools, and practitioner of several healing arts.
She has taught art, mindfulness, ecology, and been a specialist in social-emotional literacy curriculum in many venues throughout the Bay Area; mainly UC Berkeley, Park Day School, Prospect Sierra Elementary School, Summit K2 Middle School, Greenwood School, the Young Artists Work Space (YAWS), Westside Studio, and the Early Childhood Gazebo Park School at Esalen Institute. She continues to offer educational consulting on the side. Currently she is tending to the development of the Courage Museum, an immersive learning center (in person in SF) to prevent violence, with Futures Without Violence.
She has taught art, mindfulness, ecology, and been a specialist in social-emotional literacy curriculum in many venues throughout the Bay Area; mainly UC Berkeley, Park Day School, Prospect Sierra Elementary School, Summit K2 Middle School, Greenwood School, the Young Artists Work Space (YAWS), Westside Studio, and the Early Childhood Gazebo Park School at Esalen Institute. She continues to offer educational consulting on the side. Currently she is tending to the development of the Courage Museum, an immersive learning center (in person in SF) to prevent violence, with Futures Without Violence.
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Emily is the former Director of the Stepping Stones Project, offering long term mentoring and contemporary rites of passage to middle school youth and their families. After having her son Emily shifted into an advisory role, facilitating groups of youth and parents, leading trainings, and providing support for the organization. After tending to the org for 10 years, she helped bring the non-profit's 20 years of service to a close with an intergenerational marking ceremony in Fall of 2021.
Emily is a is a certified facilitator with Prajna Consulting, at the crossroads of youth advocacy, gender, sex and sexuality. She has trained in the work, philosophy and practice with Prajna's founder, Charis Denison. Their partnered themes address the questions: What are teens doing, what do they want, what do they need, and how can we support them? |
Emily recently participated in a three year coaching group for mothers, with Beth Berry's MotherWorthy, centering around the themes "Reclaim. Rewild. Revillage.". She has been profoundly inspired by the crossroads of her 10+ years of intensive youth mentoring with her journey as a mother, especially related to her writing and parent coaching work.
Emily is also a devoted friend and ongoing student of global humanitarian teacher and founding member of the Amala Foundation, Vanessa Stone, and past facilitator with the Global Youth Peace Summit. Emily has committed to deepening her study with Vanessa with extensive professional mentoring, and by joining the School for Transformational Facilitation for multiple years. Deep bows to Vanessa and all the incredible teachers, young and old, I am blessed to learn from.
Emily is also a devoted friend and ongoing student of global humanitarian teacher and founding member of the Amala Foundation, Vanessa Stone, and past facilitator with the Global Youth Peace Summit. Emily has committed to deepening her study with Vanessa with extensive professional mentoring, and by joining the School for Transformational Facilitation for multiple years. Deep bows to Vanessa and all the incredible teachers, young and old, I am blessed to learn from.
Credentials:
- Founding Director, Love Your Nature, 10+ years working with children in learning communities, retreat centers and non-profits as independent creative/experiential educator
- Facilitator with Prajna Consulting, at the crossroads of youth advocacy, gender, sex and sexuality, 2016-current
- Former Executive Director / Program Director, Stepping Stones Project, 2011-2021
- MotherWorthy Coaching Group with Beth Berry, 2018-2021
- Professional member of Alliance for Girls, 2016 - 2021
- Completed Hakomi Method Training (Mindfulness Based, Body-Centered Therapy Training) with Hakomi Institute of CA (300 Hour Levels 1 & 2, 2015 - 2017
- Council 1 Training with Shay Sloan of the Ojai Foundation, 2017
- Facilitator with Global Youth Peace Summit (ongoing apprenticeship with Vanessa Stone), 2017
- Graduated "Certified Integral Counselor and Life Coach" Interchange Counseling Institute, 2013-14
- Faculty with Interchange Counseling Institute (300+ hours supervised training & practice), 2014-2016
- Additional mini courses in Diversity, Social Justice, and Process Work / Deep Democracy, 2010 - 2017
- Certified Educator with California Charter Schools, 2014-2017
- Permitted Early Childhood Educator, Saddleback College, 2012-2014
- Certified Mindfulness Educator, Mindful Schools, 2012
- Certified Massage Practitioner with the California Massage Therapy Council (450+ hours supervised training & practice), 2009-2013
- Certified Reiki Master & Jin Shin Jyutsu Practitioner, 2008-9
- Student Teacher with UC Berkeley Decal Courses Meditation, Mysticism & the Mind and Awakened Leadership, 2007-2009
- Dual Undergraduate Degrees, Art & Interdisciplinary Studies, UC Berkeley, 2004-2008
Emily is not a licensed therapist and does not take any insurance. She practices as a mentor, rites-of-passage guide and 'life coach', utilizing 10+ years of training in various modalities, and her own life experience. She is happy to offer referrals if you are seeking a licensed therapist.
Fun Facts:
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