Training centre for nonviolent communication (NVC)

Ask yourself…

• Do you have difficulty saying “No” without feeling guilty?
• Do people sometimes say you don’t listen and that this harms your relationships?
• Do you feel secretly terrified by the idea of conflict?
• Do you get confused about what you feel or really want?
• Do you find yourself smiling on the outside while not knowing what to do in difficult situations?
• Are you tired of being “nice” and hoping that others will like and respect you?
• Are you sometimes shocked by what comes out of your mouth and then regret having said it?
• Do you lack the courage to ask for what you want?
• Do you feel compelled to give the people around you a piece of your mind?
• Have you ever listen so profoundly and without defense that you are moved, better understood or feel relieved?
• Are you tired of constantly repeating yourself?

If you’ve responded yes to one or more of these questions, nonviolent communication (NVC) could be for you.

Are you someone who aspires to…

• Take back your well-being and put some order into your life?
• Efficiently resolve misunderstandings and conflicts?
• Reduce your stress and feel at peace?
• Be freed from shame and guilt?
• Do you and your partner aspire to…
• Become more intimate and passionate?
• Be more honest with and listen attentively to one another?
• Achieve a better balance between committment and freedom?
• End the vicious cycle of arguments or carefully avoided subjects?

Do you dream of family life that…

• Exists in a climate marked by collaboration and support?
• Offers a sense of confidence and respect for everyone?
• Is rich in dialogues that result in long-lasting solutions that satisfy everybody?
• Nourishes self-esteem in both children and their parents?

Are you a manager who…

• Wants to live and work in harmony with your values?
• Would like to be able to express yourself clearly without engendering defensive reactions or causing intimidated withdrawal?
• Seeks clear understanding with your employees, colleagues or employer?
• Wants to negociate with dynamism, honesty and respect?

Do you dream of a work team that…

• Can handle conflicts in a constructive fashion?
• Can simultaneously have fun together and be efficient?
• Is capable of evolving via honest, respectful feedback?
• Brings up difficult topics at the right time and with the right people?

What is nonviolent communication?

The classes and coaching offerend by Spiralis were inspired by the work of internationally renowned Dr. Marshal B. Rosenberg, founder of the Centre for Nonviolent Communication. His research and programmes are based on the precepts developed by Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Carl Rogers.

Nonviolent communication is an interpersonal communications process that raises consciousness about the sense of self, its presence and the concept of taking personal responsibility.

By changing the language we use – a direct reflection of the the way we think – NVC permits us to take responsiblity for how we experience each situation (feelings and needs), for our intentions, for our expressions and for the quality of our listening.

By changing our habit of thinking about things in terms of judgments, blames and criticisms, by allowing us to express ourself based on what we are truly living, by taking into consideration the needs of everyone as we make decisions, we can create and maintain peaceful, honest and dynamic relationships.

By creating secure places where we can tell the truth, describe what we’re feeling and verify perceptions, conclusions become a shared experience and solutions can become mutually satisfying.

By employing this simple and efficient process, a new way of focusing attention on and evolving dialogues, NVC points to a third path, beyond good or bad, beyond nice or nasty, leading to shared, constructive well-being.

To learn more about NVC :

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Learn NVC

An evolutionary programme in which the participant progressively increases his or her ability to maintain the state of communication consciousness offered by NVC. The programme involves three cornerposts : understanding, skills and self-awareness.

Understanding

NVC is based on some key premises that define the boundaries and the intention of the approach. A proponent of NVC can clearly see the results of his/her development in daily interactions with others. In addition, NVC employs a clearly defined process of communication. In order to benefit from the power of the NVC approach, it is important to understand the subtleties of each step – this is where NVC’s power to undo negative situations come into full play.

Skills

Learn how to best employ the different steps of NVC, make good choices at the right moment, stay in touch with yourself while remaining sensitive to others, differentiate the connection moment from the solution moment, understand the mood and direction of others… NVC is truly an art. Understanding and developing good skills go hand in hand, each enriching the other.

Self-awareness

Choosing to learn and practice NVC is a personal decision that inevitably puts us face to face with our limits. These limits are often historic, the result of upsetting events that still echo in our lives years later. It can be important to reserve time to master these trouble zones and learn to manage them, outside of reactionary discussions. Self-awareness also comes from understanding our unique, intimate connection to human needs. To know one’s self through our relationship with each need allows us to access that information in real-time when interacting with others.

Steps in NVC apprenticeship

Many people want to study NVC after hearing a lecture or reading a book on the topic (see Les Mots sont des fenêtres ou des murs or Cessez d’être gentil, soyez vrai!). Some of you quickly grasp that NVC can’t be immediately put into action upon finishing a book – we have much to unlearn before we can put NVC to work for us and the learning/unlearning is best done, for most people, in a group setting. We recommend that you start by signing up for the NVC Basics workshop. If you continue to be inspired, you can proceed to the Intermediate training sessions, choosing the topics that speak most to you or taking them one after another to complete the NVC Integration Programme. See the calendar for upcoming offerings.