What is Nonviolent Communication / NVC?
Nonviolent Communication (also “empathetic communication, appreciative communication”) developed by psychologist Dr. Marshall B. Rosenberg has existed for more than fifty years and is established in over 70 countries. The basic literature on it has been translated into over 30 languages and sold millions of copies. There are many NVC-schools and educational initiatives around the world.
Through my NVC coaching you can:
- come into empathic contact with yourself and your counterpart
- strengthen your awareness of your feelings and needs
- transform conflicts into enriching exchange
- communicate more authentically, effectively and sensitively
- experience a harmonious flow with yourself and others
- promote inner growth and discover new impulses in your life
NVC is a very effective communication method that helps you express your feelings and needs in a way that resolves and avoids conflicts. Through it you learn to express yourself authentically and confidently. NVC promotes the connection to yourself and to other people and creates closeness and peacefulness. It supports you in acting self-responsibly, helps you to listen more consciously by giving your counterpart appreciative attention.
NVC is based on the following assumptions:
- every human action fundamentally seeks to fulfill a need.
- every kind of violence is a tragic expression of unfulfilled needs.
- violence is created by our way of thinking and expressing ourselves.
- humans instinctively enjoy helping others as long as they can do so voluntarily.
- communication and healthy peaceful relationships only work well when lead by true empathy.
The emergence of conflicts depends primarily on our ability to communicate. The better we learn to express ourselves (our feelings, observations, opinions, expectations, etc.) and communicate them to others, the better we will be able to resolve conflicts or even avoid their occurrence.
Nonviolent Communication was designed by US psychologist Dr. Marshall B. Rosenberg and has basic features of modern behavioral therapy (constructive realization of one’s own needs, recognition of destructive strategies/attitudes) and Buddhist mindset (observing, not judging; concentration, equanimity & kindness as main attitude). NVC taught and applied in many areas where growth, healing, connection, conflict resolution take place. It has the power to help you make all your relationships positive, resolve old conflicts, and build a new nurturing and peaceful connection to yourself. It has the potential to support you in creating the fulfilling life, you long for.
Marshall B. Rosenberg (1934-2015) was an American Jewish-born psychologist & psychotherapist. He developed the concept of Nonviolent Communication (NVC). Rosenberg was greatly influenced by the client-centered therapy of psychologist Dr. Carl Rogers, whose theory of basic human needs in relationships is reflected in NVC. But also many people from a non-academic background have shaped NVC like f.ex. the gang leaders, teachers and social workers Rosenberg worked with. In 1984, Rosenberg founded the nonprofit Center for Nonviolent Communication. He has been very active internationally as a respected mediator and teacher.
I am always amazed at the healing power of empathy. Again and again I have witnessed people grow out of the debilitating effects of emotional pain as soon as they have enough contact with someone who can listen to them empathically. As listeners, we don't need deep insights into psychological relationships or psychotherapeutic training. What matters is our ability to be present to what is going on inside - to the unique feelings and needs that a person is going through right now.