Empathy
Empathy is the ability to see and understand the situation from another person’s perspective, even if you don’t agree with it. Empathic connection is to communicate that understanding in a way that the other person feels like they have been heard and understood.
A Language of Connection
NVC provides an empathic language for building and improving understanding and connection between people, especially when their perspectives and expectations differ.
It organizes the way we listen and speak by focusing our attention on four components in a person’s experience: their Observations, Feelings, Needs, and Requests.
Difficult Conversations
NVC is well-suited for difficult conversations, within oneself and with another person. Through it we can offer empathy to ourselves as well as to others, building trust and increase the likelihood of harmony and cooperation.
Easy and Hard
The components of Observations, Feelings, Needs, and Requests are fairly easy to understand and we can readily experience their benefits when we try them out on personal situations. Yet, with any vital communication skill set, the ability to access these skills in heated moments requires practice outside of those moments.
Our workshops provide an introduction to the skills, and our practice groups provide the opportunity to practice with other like-minded people.
What will you Learn?
Through these opportunities you learn to:
- Use a new vocabulary of feelings
- Practice identifying the basic human needs that connect us all
- Honestly express feelings and needs without shame or blame
- Listen deeply with empathy
- Express anger in a constructive way
- Advocate assertively for your own needs to be met
- Make requests that are more likely to be received than demands
- Offer empathy to yourself
- Offer healing interactions for others
Who can Benefit?
These skills have practical application in virtually all realms where people interact and help others in meaningful ways:
- Counselors and therapists
- Personal development consultants
- Sports coaches
- Life coaches
- Health care professionals
- Clergy and congregations
- Parents and children
- Couples and individuals
- Educators
- Customer service
- Business owners, managers and partners
- Organization development specialists
Where do I Start?
Check out our introduction and practice opportunities:
- 90-Minute NVC Tasters
- 3-Hour Introductory Workshops
- 8-Hour Intensive Workshops
- Practice Groups