Nonviolent Communication Skills Training Day - London

The violence we see and hear around us is not only physical, but can also be verbal in our communications with others, as well as with ourselves.

Nonviolent communication can guide us to a language that is empathetic and compassionate. It can offer ways to communicate without the ‘violence’ of criticism, judgment and blame.

Each of us has different needs, and finding ways to get them met often gives rise to differences with others and conflict. NVC offers ways to identify and express those needs in an authentic yet unthreatening way.

This one day course by accredited NVC trainer Lawrence Kershen QC will build your skills in observing challenging situations and how you respond to them, in identifying your own feelings and finding ways to get your needs met, while showing empathy and respect for the needs of others.

Participants will become familiar with a safe and effective structure for communicating along with practical exercises to develop key skills. By the end of the course these skills and structure will become more integrated into our conversations, relationships and daily lives.

About Nonviolent Communication (NVC)

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is based on the principles of nonviolence -  the natural state of compassion when no violence is present in the heart.

NVC begins by assuming that we are all compassionate by nature and that violent strategies—whether verbal or physical—are learned behaviours taught and supported by the prevailing culture. NVC also assumes that we all share the same, basic human needs, and that each of our actions are a strategy to meet one or more of these needs.

People who practice NVC have found greater authenticity in their communication, increased understanding, deepening connection and conflict resolution. Further information about NVC can be found on the website of the Centre for Nonviolent Communication www.cnvc.org.

About Lawrence

Lawrence Kershen QC is an accredited trainer of Nonviolent Communication. He is also a highly experienced mediator and trainer, accredited by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) since 1994. He has mediated commercial, governmental, police, community and other disputes and trains in communication, dispute resolution and negotiation skills. His work has taken him from Iceland to Bangladesh, and in 2013 he facilitated reconciliation workshops in Sri Lanka for the Commonwealth Foundation.

Lawrence practiced as a barrister, Queens Counsel and Recorder of the Crown Court until 1999, and helped develop Restorative Justice in the UK as Chair of the Restorative Justice Council.

Lawrence is Chair of Search for Common Ground in the UK. Having seen the practical application of peacebuilding tools in Search's work in Sierra Leone, Lawrence was inspired to set up Search for Common Ground UK in 2007, to continue to build and support work to build peace around the world.

Supporting global peacebuilding

Lawrence is offering this training pro bono, and St Ethelburga's have provided their beautiful venue pro bono, so that the full ticket price from this training will go to support the peacebuilding work of Search for Common Ground in 35 countries around the world.

Members of the Search for Common Ground UK supporter programme, who give regularly to support the work of Search, are welcome to attend this event for free - please email lnelson@sfcg.org to secure your place.

If you would like to set up regular giving to support the peacebuilding work of Search for Common Ground in conflict zones around the world, please contact Lizzie at lnelson@sfcg.org, and we would be delighted to set this up and offer you a complimentary place on this training.

Course content and practicalities

We will start at 9.30 with registration and coffee, with the course starting at 9.45am and ending at 4.00pm.

Tea, coffee, soft drinks and light refreshments will be available during breaks throughout the day. Participants are invited to bring their own lunch or to buy lunch at one of the sandwich bars nearby