Nonviolent Communication
At Peace Talks, our courses andĀ offerings are all groundedĀ in the principles, skills and consciousness of Marshall Rosenberg's model of "Nonviolent Communication" (NVC). Sally and Jorinde are both certified as trainers with the Centre for Nonviolent Communication.
What Is NVC?
We understand NVC as, first and foremost, a practice of consciousness - a way of being in the world, where we learn to see and understand ourselves and the people around us as it truly is, without the usual layers of judgement, evaluation and criticism. We can be more present to what is really happening within ourselves and other people, and understand all words, actions and behaviour as expressions of feelings and needs. It is a practice of authenticity, compassion and curiosity. It is also a method of communication, providing very practical tools and practices which help to support the application of this conscious way of being in our daily lives.
"NVC suggests [that] behind every action, however ineffective, tragic, violent, or abhorrent to us, is an attempt to meet a need."
Marshall Rosenberg
Individual Growth
When people have the skills and understanding to bring about their own inner change, they are able to contribute to a peaceful and compassionate world. Learning NVC can be an incredibly powerful way to bring about inner growth and healing, and we have seen numerous examples of how learning these skills and practicing this consciousness has transformed people's lives.
Although we would love for everyone to learn this, the amazing thing about NVC is that it does not require that anyone else knows "how to do it" in order to bring about palpable change in your own life. It is therefore an incredibly practical step to being "the change you wish to see in the world."
All of our programmes and servicesĀ aim to offer you the support you need to make this deep and lasting inner transformation.
Closer Relationships
Learning NVC can bring about incredible transformation within close relationships (e.g. couples, friendships, co-workers or parent-child relationships).
We are particularly passionate about the way NVC can help to develop deep, empathetic caring relationships between parents and children. There is so much advice for parents focusing on techniques Ā to address their children's behaviour (i.e. how to "fix problems") but very little focus on how to deepen our connection, compassion and empathy with children so that we can truly hear the needs beneath their behaviour.
We are committed to daily exploration of how to integrate NVC within our own family lives, and have found it to be one of the best and simplest ways for restoring harmony, creating real understanding and finding solutions that work during difficult times. We bring this lived experience into all of our courses and individual support.Ā
Connected Communities
The principles and tools of NVC can be integrated into groups and communities in a way that can help to foster effective working relationships, build shared values and vision, foster deep connection and create an environment of mutual support, collaboration and respect. It also offers a practical method for facilitating difficult decisions and working through group conflict.
We believe change happens between people and within communities of care. Our courses and membershipĀ aim to build relationships between participants and foster communities of support that can continue to offer support and care beyond the life of these programmes.
We also have experience helping exisiting community groups to integrate NVC into their way of operating (including homeschooling groups, environmental groups, social change/activist groups and spiritual/religious groups) and are excited to continue to explore NVC as a way to build strong, resilient, connected communities.
Social Change
We have seen that NVC can be a powerful tool for people and groups who are actively working to bring about change and build a more peaceful world. As practices of consciousness, compassion and empathy are internalised and used at the individual, inter-relationship and community level, it is possible to integrate them into how we operate at a larger societal and political level. We have a vision for NVC providing a practical scaffolding that can be used at any level of society to bring about more equality, compassion, kindness and care in the world.
At Peace Talks, we integrate NVC principles into every aspect of how we operate, including offering all of our services using a Gift Economy (pay what you are willing and able) approach.
Connect With Us
We would loveĀ to hear from you if you have any questions or would like to talk about how we might be able to support you
