Nature as a Mentor: Overcoming Fear

Instructor: Cristina Bourassa (she/her)

Bio: Cristina is a facilitator, educator, scientist, climber, and outdoor leader passionate about building opportunities for people to heal, connect, and amplify their potential. She is the Founder of Chicks With Grit, a climbing initiative dedicated to redefining success by women and gender-expansive climbers through mentorship, mindfulness, and play. She completed over 200 hours of Surf Therapy for Trauma Recovery and Surf Therapy Facilitator Training in 2022 which gave her the tools and inspiration to examine her own experiences with, and existence in, different climbing disciplines as a Puerto Rican, queer, woman. 

Cristina currently serves as the Community Director and JEDI Advocate for the Bay Area Climbers Coalition where she seeks to amplify a broad definition of what it means to access rock climbing (and nature). In all that she does, supportive community exploration spaces, sustainable climbing practices, and connection to nature are reliably woven in.

Clinic Description: “Overcoming Fear of Falling” blends mindfulness, nature’s wisdom, and experiential learning to approach fear and pressure with curiosity and self-compassion, guided by examples from the natural world. This clinic expands climbers’ toolkit beyond repetition and exposure to falling by developing awareness and perspective. Through a mix of reflective dialogue, intentional partner work, and on-the-wall integration, participants will:

• Identify and apply one nature-based strategy to reframe fear or failure
• Practice regulated breathing and positive self-talk in climbing contexts
• Participate in structured falling drills to build confidence
• Improve partner communication and develop community support
• Redefine success through small, measurable progress

Chicks With Grit programs are rooted in universal femininity to redefine success through individual healing and collective empowerment. This session centers women, queer, femme identities, creating an environment where folks can learn in a supportive, confidence-building space and deepen their connection to the climbing community.

Prerequisites: 

• Touchstone Lead or Top Rope Belay Card
• Climbers who can climb 5.9 comfortably
• Must be 16 years or older

Participants: 6 maximum

When: 10:30am to 2:30pm on July 18th at Berkeley Ironworks

Price:
$150 Members
$185 Non-Members

Woman Up donates all proceeds to a non-profit that increases diversity in the climbing and outdoor recreation world. This year, we're thrilled to announce WalkGood LA as the 2026 beneficiary. WalkGood LA is a nonprofit wellness organization dedicated to creating spaces for healing through community-based movement and mindfulness.

Our Access to Climbing (ATC) Program offers 25% off on clinics and competitions. Contact info@touchstoneclimbing.com to receive your unique discount code before booking, which can be applied during registration to receive a 25% discount.