Level 1 Foundation | 6 Feb - 21 March 2025
Nonviolent Communication
Foundation Course
Up-skill your ability to communicate with strength,
honesty and compassion without alienating others
In person: Boncath, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Thursdays - Starts 6th Feb, finishes 20th March 2025
Do you want to get better at speaking up for what you need but are afraid of the response?
Do you find yourself building resentment when others don’t support you or seemingly prioritising their needs without consideration of yours?
Do you find yourself saying yes to people when you would prefer to say no?
Do you judge yourself harshly when others get angry with you or you can’t speak up for yourself?
Or maybe you find yourself being judgmental of people you love when they act in ways that seem unfair or unkind?
Are you wanting more depth of connection with your friends and loved ones?
Do you wish there was a kinder way to communicate with your children but find yourself demanding when they don’t do as you want and using punishments and rewards as a way to get them to behave?
About the Course
Level 1 foundation trainings are the first step to learning the skills of NVC
They are designed for people new to NVC or who want to refresh their knowledge of the key components
It is the core training that most trainers / facilitators will ask for if you want to do further training in NVC. Penny is a CNVC certified NVC trainer and will offer a certificate of attendance on completion.
We will cover and practice
the four key skills of the NVC model that will act as anchors to transforming your usual way of thinking and speaking
Skill 1 - knowing the difference between a ‘clean’ observation and one mixed with evaluation and why this is a liberating act in itself!
Skill 2 - Developing a feelings and emotions literacy to help you communicate without blame and to have better guesses at others’ feelings.
Skill 3 - Developing a needs literacy to help you know what you need and to communicate them without ‘hooks’ that push people away rather than inspire to support
Skill 4 - Learning the art of making a good request, whilst being able to hear a no without giving up on your needs and without demanding. Also being able to hear another’s request of you and finding your willingness or your no.
These skills are the foundational blocks to build communication:
Tuning in to our inner critic and hearing the valid needs hidden within
Listening to others and guessing at what matters to them without taking their judging and blaming personally
Being true to your needs and sharing honestly (no ‘passive aggressive’ in true NVC!)
Building your resilience for conflict and disagreements
Increasing your ability to speak up for what you need and invite your needs to count
Your ability to hold your needs strongly and hear other people’s needs at the same time
Understanding why empathy matters to build connection, intimacy and differentiation (I don’t need to agree to empathise)
Developing new neural-pathways for a kinder more resonant inner-voice for self-empathy
Being able to hear another person’s request or ask of you and consider it alongside your own needs.
Holding the dilemma of two different opinions together even when there appears to be no unifying solution
and more…
You will be invited to practise with imaginary scenarios and your own examples of difficult conversations, interactions and feelings, in a safe way through interactive activities in pairs and small groups, and sometimes reflecting individually. There is no pressure to disclose anything that you don’t feel comfortable talking about.
What is NVC?
Out beyond ideas of wrong-doing, and right-doing, there is a field. I will meet you there.
-- Rumi
Nonviolent Communication (NVC) was founded by Dr Marshall B Rosenberg and is now taught worldwide in over 65 countries
In its simplest definition, it is a way to support natural giving happen between people - giving that is free of coercion or resentment and done from a place of willingness rather than duty “like a child feeding a hungry duck” as Marshall would say.
It is a way to support and deepen connection in relationships of all kinds by discovering what supports connection and what decreases it.
The 4 skills of NVC:
Observation – without judgement or evaluation
Feelings – in their purest form
Needs – the universal longings that make life complete
Requests – strategies to get needs met.
For more information:
Practical Information
Starts: Thursday 6th Feb 2025
Finishes: Thursday 20th March 2025
We will meet on six Thurs evenings 7.15 - 9.15pm as follows:
6th, 13th 20th February
(Half-term break: 27th Feb)
6th, 13th, 20th March
Location: Boncath, N Pembrokeshire
Cost:
Supporter ticket is £250
Standard ticket: £225
Concessionary tickets: £200-£160
Please contact me if these prices would still prohibit you coming
Numbers: There are a maximum of 9 places available (limited concessionary tickets)
Booking: Coming soon. Register your interest here
What other course participants say:
“ Penny is thoughtful, insightful, and careful in the true meaning of the word - she works in a way that is full of care. She really got to the kernel of what we needed as an organisation, and was agile and creative in her approach to each session. She really went the extra mile in her generosity with her time and her home... and also knows how to have a laugh! ”
— Holly C, Director & Project Development Manager
“It is very powerful to observe how Penny enables people to get in touch with themselves - staying with them in a truly empathic, supportive way”
— Jan, Retired Accountant
“ Penny is such a skilled facilitator, you're able to learn NVC skills in a practical, considered way and thoughtful way. There is space to experiment with these different communication methods. It's amazing! ”
— Louise C, Project Officer
“I have already recommended you and your course to many people. I've said it is essential learning for anyone interested in building relationships with people or themselves.”
— Nicky P, Project Officer
“ Penny is a great facilitator and holder of a calm and safe space. She teaches you without it feeling like you're being taught!”
Naomi H, Project Coordinator
“The course was powerful and has had a positive impact on our organisation and staff interactions. Part of the effectiveness, was Penny's ability to engage, have connection and be trusted by each member of the sizeable team of staff; while taking us through the material which was presented very much as truths that we had known all along but just needed drawing out of us collectively. Penny also seems to have an ability to bring equinimity to contentious areas through, among other things, making sure the members of the group are all heard and understood.”
Daniel B, Director & Project Manager
Training Facilitators
I’m Penny Spawforth
I love sharing Nonviolent Communication as it is so rewarding to watch people dare to be more able to speak up, have greater capacity to listen and to feel deep connection with people after such a short time.
Over the last 10-15 years I have run small Living NVC groups. Five days seems to be an optimum time for people to drop day-to-day stresses, recuperate some of themselves, explore what they need to and experience what it is like to be amongst people committed to living from a place of compassion and authenticity.
FAQs
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We will be meeting in Berllan Aur, Boncath, Pembrokeshire
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Yes, there is a ground floor toilet and no stairs needed to be negotiated.
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There is no pressure for anyone to say anything they feel uncomfortable about sharing in the group. Sometimes people feel they get enough by witnessing others speaking. That said, anything you chose to share will be welcomed and held with great respect
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Please fill out the booking form here
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You can choose to pay a deposit on booking and then make a final payment a couple of weeks before the start date or pay the full amount up front. If you need something different to this, please email me to discuss.
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I offer a sliding scale of between £250-£150 to enable people of different means to be able to attend. I ask that you pay the most you can afford within the scale without over stretching yourself.
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The integration practice groups are an optional extra.
Most people want to do more at the end of the course and like to stay with the same group for a few sessions. If you would like to benefit from the early bird rate by also booking three practice group sessions to help you integrate your skills, I offer an Early Bird ticket of £57.
You can choose to book at the end of the course - the price at that point will be £75 for the three sessions.
They will only run if I have 5 or more people. In the case that we don't reach minimum numbers I will refund the £57 in full.
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I welcome any questions you may have. Please contact me here