Learn skills to relieve stress and overwhelm

Becoming a parent is a huge transition and brings with it a whole host of emotions. For most parents, the intensity of all the changes combined with the relentlessness of caring for a baby can make for feelings of stress and overwhelm. While these feelings are entirely normal, they aren’t always comfortable and sometimes they lead us to feel depressed, anxious or not ourselves.

Resourceful Parenting is a curriculum based approach to combat stress and help develop skills to reduce overwhelm, lift mood, and connect with our children. The program combines cognitive-behavioral approaches, mindfulness, and attachment theory and has been shown in studies to have a positive impact on mood and stress. Sessions include a brief presentation, time for building skills, and group sharing and discussion.

The group is open to international parents of all age children who are looking to reduce their feelings of stress and overwhelm. We are open to anyone who considers themselves a mother*, a father* or primary caretaker regardless of gender identity or family structure.

About our facilitator

The group is facilitated by international mom*, Johanna Tonn-Straavaldsen. Her role is to present the Resourceful Parenting material, facilitate discussion and ensure the safety of the group.

Johanna is the longstanding facilitator and the former Director and Chair of Afloat. She moved to Heidelberg in the summer of 2017 with her husband and two kids and has been building a life in the Rhein Neckar region ever since. Having spent fifteen years moving frequently throughout Europe and the United States, she is familiar with the challenges and opportunities of being a newcomer and is thrilled anytime she can support others in similar situations. Johanna is far from immune from the stressors of parenthood and is extremely grateful to be able to fall back on the Resourceful Parenting skills!

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Disclaimer: Please note that this group is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment by a psychotherapist or psychiatrist. We are a peer to peer support group and a hub to connect you health care professionals and other service providers around pregnancy and motherhood*. We do not handle psychiatric emergencies.

Here’s how it works

• This is a 6-week group. It takes place every Friday at 10:30 for 75 minutes.

• Meetings take place on Zoom.

• The group language is English.

• Maximum 12 participants + 1 facilitator

• Babies are welcome and baby-care interruptions are entirely understood!

• The suggested donation for this group is 45€. Afloat requires donations to cover the costs of running our groups so your help is crucial to keep us going. Thank you so much for your help. Please remember that your donation is tax-deductible in Germany and offers financial benefits. Donation receipts are available upon request via email. The group is open and welcomes everyone, regardless of ability to pay.

Registration Process

You are registering for a Seasonal Weekly Support Group Series. Each series runs for six weeks and is offered several times per year, typically on a quarterly basis. These are peer-led, closed groups with the same participants across a set number of sessions. This structure helps build trust, create continuity, and strengthen community among mothers*.

Advance registration and booking are required. After completing the one-time registration form below, you will be invited to book all six support group sessions using our Afloat Scheduling Tool (Calendly). We encourage international immigrant mothers* living in Germany to attend all sessions to benefit fully from the experience.

Booking is essential to receive the Zoom link and session details. For security reasons, only participants who have booked a session can attend. Registration closes once the group begins. It is not possible to join after the first session.

If you’ve missed a group series, you’re welcome to email us to find out the dates of the next one. Please fill out the form below so we know you’re interested, and so we can send you the Calendly link as soon as new dates are available.

Think of it like joining a gym: filling out the form makes you a member, but booking your sessions is how you reserve your yoga class. Only then can you attend.

Once booked, you will receive email reminders and updates, including the Zoom link, ahead of each session. If you do not see these emails, please check your spam folder.

Contact: If you have any questions about the group or what to expect, please feel free to contact Johanna at afloatresourcefulparenting@gmail.com.

Would you like to support us?

Please donate. Help sustain our work.

You can donate once or, even better, join our community of monthly supporters. Monthly contributions are essential as they enable us to maintain and grow the ongoing support groups our community relies on. If you can, please become a monthly donor. Your support truly makes a difference. Thank you.

Afloat depends on your generosity to keep our groups running.

For less than the cost of a Netflix binge or Spotify playlist, you can support a mom* in need every month:

• 8€ / month = Afloat e.V. stays afloat.**

• 25€ / month = Full Cost of 1 Support Group Session.**

• 45€ / month = Enable a mom to call our Warmline and receive support.**

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**Your donation funds your chosen project or urgent needs within Afloat’s mission. We honour your donation choice. If a project is fully funded or urgent needs arise elsewhere, we may reallocate donations in line with Afloat e.V.’s mission. Your support helps us care where it’s needed most. Thank you for your trust. Please note that, as these are donations, we do not issue refunds if you cancel your attendance to a support group or a session. A donation receipt for tax purposes can be requested via email to hello@afloatgermany.org. All groups are open and welcome everyone, regardless of ability to pay.

Join us and make lasting connections!

IMPORTANT! Please fill out the registration form below to indicate your interest in the group. Once submitted, you will be redirected to a confirmation page with the next step, booking your 6 sessions via our Afloat Scheduling Tool (Calendly). Your registration is only complete once you have booked your sessions. This is also the only way for you to receive the Zoom Link to be able to attend. Only participants who have booked on Calendly can attend the sessions. If you are not redirected, please check that all required fields have been filled in correctly. Thank you!

Think of it like joining a gym: filling out the registration form is like becoming a gym member, but using Calendly is how you sign up for the actual yoga class and secure your spot. Thank you!