About Nonviolent Communication
On this page:
• About NVC • Getting Started • About NVCSC • Trainer Certification
Imagine…connecting with the human spirit in each person in any situation.
Imagine… interacting with others in a way that allows everyone’s needs to be equally valued.
Imagine… creating organizations and life-serving systems responsive to our needs and our environment.
• OBSERVATIONS free of judgments, interpretations, or evaluations
• FEELINGS straight from the heart, free of judgments or perceptions
• NEEDS, values, and hopes, free from expectations or assumptions
• REQUESTS free from demands and expressed clearly in positive-action language
When we focus on what is being observed, felt, and needed, rather than on interpreting and judging, we discover the depth of our own compassion. The use of NVC does not require that the persons with whom we are communicating be literate in NVC or even motivated to relate to us compassionately. Through its emphasis on deep listening—to ourselves and others—NVC fosters respect, attentiveness, and empathy, thus engendering a mutual desire to give from the heart.
What is Nonviolent Communication?
Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is a way of communicating that strengthens our ability to stay in touch with our humanity and get our needs met, even under difficult circumstances. Instead of habitual responses, our words become conscious responses based on a clear awareness of what we are observing, feeling, and wanting. We are led to express ourselves with honesty and clarity, while paying respectful and empathic attention to others.
We are trained to make careful observations free of evaluation, and to specify behaviors and conditions that are affecting us. We learn to hear our own deeper needs and those of others, and to identify and clearly articulate what we are wanting in a given moment. When we focus on clarifying what is being observed, felt, and needed, rather than on diagnosing and judging, we discover the depth of our own compassion. Through its emphasis on deep listening—to ourselves as well as others—NVC fosters respect, attentiveness and empathy, and engenders a mutual desire to give from the heart. The form is simple, yet powerfully transformative.
Learn and practice NVC in the Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay area -- check out the events calendar to find a workshop, seminar series, or special event. See our resources page on Nonviolent Communication.
About NVC—Click here to learn more about the life-changing process of Nonviolent Communication.
Find over 50 articles written about NVC, a description of the 4-part NVC process, key benefits of the process, and more.
See video testimonial from participants of the 2008 Integration Program
Getting Started with Nonviolent Communication (NVC)
A number of our workshop series presuppose familiarity with the NVC model - but where to start? There are a few ways to begin learning NVC locally. We have monthly Introduction to NVC workshops, as well as Foundation Training in Nonviolent Communication series which show up in our calendar several times a year. We also demonstrate the NVC process in an engaging Conflict Improv format at different venues in the community.
If you've been to one of our Intros or have read one of Marshall Rosenberg's books, then you're ready to join our Learning & Practicing Basics: Monday Night NVC, which is held weekly & lead by a different trainer on a monthly rotation.
NVC Santa Cruz History
About our Board of Directors
1996: Certified NVC trainer Jean Morrison moved from Sonoma County and began presenting NVC trainings in Santa Cruz and surrounding areas.
2002: Christine King joined with Jean to found Compassionate Communication Santa Cruz. Jean, Christine, and Seth Burton collaborated in sharing NVC in the community, getting a website up and running, and a growing schedule of classes and workshops.
2004: Certified trainer Kelly Bryson moved to Santa Cruz from San Diego, and joined with Jean and Christine and community members Rick and Aviva Longinotti, to transform CCSC into a new non-profit: Nonviolent Communication Santa Cruz (NVCSC).
2009: Celebrated our five year anniversary with Funabunda!
Our trainings have now served over 1000 individuals and dozens of organizations, schools, businesses, and churches in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and in the greater Bay Area. We now have a physical location: The Center for Compassion, upstairs from Quaker Meeting House, 225 Rooney Street.
Sharing NVC - about certification
Periodically someone asks how they might become a Certified Trainer in NVC. Ultimately, to become certified, you will be communicating with specific people at the Center for Nonviolent Communication tasked with the job of assessing training candidates.. in a process that can take several years to complete. Certification was started as a way of
We invite those desiring more information about the path to trainer certification to contact NVCSC Board member Bar Lowenberg at barlowenberg - over at - hotmail - period - com
Learn more about Marshall's book, and read a sample chapter (external link).
Learn more about basic NVC concepts from the international Center for Nonviolent Communication:
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The NVC Model: a diagram
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Feelings List: a list of feelings when needs are and are yet to be satisfied
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Needs List: a basic list of the needs and values universal to humanity.
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10 things we can do to contribute to internal, interpersonal, and organizational peace
NVCSC Fundraising for our Scholarship Funds
You may also email the following address to initiate the process:
NVCSCcars@
centerforcardionations.com
“[NVC] provides us with the most effective tools to foster health and relationships." - Deepak Chopra