About Dr. Marshall B. Rosenberg
Marshall B. Rosenberg was born in Canton, Ohio in 1934, grew up in Detroit and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan. In 1961, he received his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Wisconsin, where he met his friend and mentor, the psychotherapist Carl Rogers. From 1966, he worked as a recognized psychotherapist himself and began his professional career in St. Louis, where he opened a successful clinical practice.
NVC promotes intensive listening, respect and empathy, and it creates a mutual desire to give from the heart. Some people use the NVC to treat themselves with empathy, others use it to deepen their personal relationships, and still others use it to build better contacts in the workplace or in politics. The NVC is used all over the world to mediate in disputes and conflicts at all levels.
Marshall’s concern for people over profits, as well as his curiosity and desire to learn more about the causes of violence that had shaped his early experiences living in inner-city Detroit, soon inspired him in his private practice to explore new and meaningful ways he could apply his professional training to reduce various forms of violence and spread peacemaking skills.
Marshall’s research quickly evolved into Nonviolent Communication, a process that facilitates more intense interpersonal communication and cultivates mutual recognition of deeper emotional needs, which in turn leads to greater compassion and peaceful resolution between conflicting parties. Marshall became a respected conflict mediator.
In the 1960s, Marshall worked closely with human rights activists, mediating between rioting students and school administrators and working to peacefully desegregate public schools in long-segregated regions. Marshall’s work in this capacity led him to found the Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC), where he served as director of educational services.
He was a committed teacher, peacemaker and visionary and led NVC workshops and international intensive trainings for thousands of people in over 70 countries worldwide. The NVC movement gave rise to thousands of so-called Giraffe Schools, where NVC is taught to young people, and thousands of local NVC groups.Marshall was very active in Israel, where most of the world’s initiatives can be found.
Marshall traveled to war-torn areas and developing countries offering NVC courses to promote reconciliation and peaceful resolution of differences. He has worked tirelessly with groups of educators, managers, mental and physical health providers, lawyers, military officials, prisoners, police and prison officials, clergy, government officials, individuals and families.
Marshall is the author of numerous books and has received many awards and honors throughout his career. He lived in Switzerland for many years. He also gave numerous NVC workshops in Germany, which initiated the growing NVC movement in this country. He passed away in 2015.
Seeing the beauty in a person is most necessary when they communicate in a way that makes it most difficult to see.