Images credited to: Hill House Retreats CIC, 2025-6

Bookings now open!

About the retreat

Live NVC Together

The purpose of this retreat is to immerse ourselves in living NVC together — practising compassion, honesty, empathy, and connection alongside others who are committed to the journey.

You do not need to be “good” at NVC to come. If you at least conceptually know the four basic NVC principles (observations, feelings, needs and requests) and have a willingness to practise, you are welcome to join.

I will hold and facilitate the space, helping to create a safe and supportive environment where all feelings are welcome. Over many years of holding retreats like this, people often leave feeling lighter, more connected, and with a renewed faith in humanity.

I’m also delighted to be joined by Alex, whose warmth, honesty, humour, and willingness to be vulnerable enrich the space greatly.

This retreat is an opportunity to explore questions such as:

• What does it mean to live from an NVC consciousness with others who don’t practise NVC?

• How can I develop a kinder voice within myself?

• What needs to shift inside in order to risk my significance and speak up for my needs?

• What happens when my partner and I appear to have ‘clashing needs’?

The Arc of Our Days

Each day, we will co-create our time together, allowing space for what feels most alive and meaningful. There will be opportunities for deep sharing, empathic listening, role-plays and reflection as well as creativity, rest, and walking in the beautiful surroundings.

Together, we may explore:

• self-empathy

• expressing needs honestly

• making requests

• hearing and saying “no”

• staying connected when needs feel unmet

• transforming judgments into curiosity and compassion

There is no fixed teaching agenda, yet meaningful learning often emerges naturally through our shared experience. We will also share simple daily tasks such as meal preparation and clearing up as part of living and connecting together.

What People Often Receive

People commonly leave with:

• greater self-acceptance and self-connection

• relief at being met with compassion rather than judgement

• new insight into life challenges

• more confidence in expressing needs and boundaries

• deeper trust in themselves and others

• rest, nourishment, fun, and meaningful connection

How I work

My particular focus in my NVC work is helping relationships improve and find greater connection. We often choose friends or partners who have different patterns of trying to meet needs - for example, we try to ‘talk it out’ where as our partner tends towards distancing and ‘waiting it out’. I plan to bring my years of experience of working with NVC mediation and coaching clients into whatever challenges you are facing to help you connect to yourself more fully and see what patterns need to shift to find more helpful ways of asking for your needs. I tend not to start with “How do I…?”, I start with “What is alive in you when…?” We let the plan emerge from the self-connection. Sometimes this is an empathic and witnessed holding as you talk it out, sometimes it leads to a role-play or the use of my NVC self-empathy mandala floor mat where we walk it out or something else. You get to choose what you need and want.

My Wish for You

Come exactly as you are. You do not need to “have enough skills” or be a certain way — only a willingness to connect with yourself and others with honesty and compassion. Bring your fears and challenges, grief and sadness, excitement and laughter…all are welcome.

About the Venue

Hill House is set in the beautiful Cotswolds village of Amberley.

This is what the owners say about their place “Our vision for the house is that it be used by small groups seeking a quiet and lovely country space for workshops or retreats, and that this activity will subsidise the opportunity for refugees, people seeking asylum and others in need of sanctuary to come on short breaks.”

Bedrooms

There is room for ten people sharing in twin bedrooms and there are two bathrooms. All bedrooms are upstairs (not suitable for wheelchair access sadly).

Group Spaces

There are two comfortable reception rooms, a spacious dining room and a well-equipped modern kitchen.

Garden

There is a large wonderful garden with some huge and unusual trees. The garden is available for us to walk around, connect to nature, meditate and rest in.

Walks and locality

You can walk straight out the door to take you across Minchinhampton Common to the Cotswold village of Minchinhampton or you can walk into the beautiful woods down the hill below the house. Nailsworth is within walking distance too (a steep hill tho!) where you will find independent shops and plentiful cafes. Stroud is famous for its Farmers Market held every Saturday. The village of Amberley has a wonderful community cafe and shop, with a visiting mobile bakery (Salt Bakehouse) and fresh organic local fruit and veg on Tuesdays. For those who like the idea of a pint or soft drink sitting in a pub garden, there is a lovely old, local pub just a short walk up the road (although our request is that people don’t drink enough to get drunk during the retreat).