Nonviolent Communication
What: A Curious Soul Philosophy workshop
Where: Online via Zoom
When: 3 Saturdays, new dates TBA
What Time: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Workshop Description:
Communication today feels broken. Public discussions on the news and on social media sound more like instances of mutual assault than mutual understanding. Everyday conversations with friends, family members, co-workers and neighbors too often spiral out of control into expressions of anger and accusation. Violence, it seems, is not just physical. It is alive in the way we speak to each other, too.
Marshall Rosenberg, in his influential book Nonviolent Communication, believes there is a way to re-connect with our natural compassion for each other and restore human bonds when they are broken. He describes the practical strategies by which we can (a) identify our emotional states and the human needs at the bottom of our words, (b) learn to express ourselves more authentically, and (c) come to understand each other more empathetically. With examples from his own work, he shows us how nonviolent communication practices can improve our relationships, enrich our lives, and help us to pursue a more peaceful existence.
In this workshop we will study, discuss, and find opportunities to practice the four elements of nonviolent communication — i.e., the articulation of observations, feelings, needs, and requests. In the process, we’ll work to raise our awareness of our shared vulnerability and humanity and find ways to take the fulfillment of our different and overlapping needs seriously.
The techniques of nonviolent communication have earned praise from counselors and conflict resolvers all over the world. They are useful for handling difficulties with friends and family, as well as problems in the work place, the local community, and the larger political arena. You’re gonna want to learn this stuff.
About Philosophy Workshops
Philosophy Workshops emphasize discussion, life experience, and practical application. They are led by philosophy professors committed to accessible language and open conversation. No prior philosophical training is necessary . . . just an open mind, a respectful approach to others, and a sense of humor!
About Your Workshop Leader:
Monica Vilhauer, Ph.D. is a former professor of philosophy and the founder of Curious Soul Philosophy. She’s committed to the practical value of philosophy for everyday life, and she’s always looking for ways to move philosophy beyond academic settings and into the community. She does this by offering workshops, retreats, and individual philosophical counseling through Curious Soul.
The Theory and the Lab:
There are two portions of this discussion-based workshop: 1) the Theory, and 2) the Lab.
In the Theory portion of the workshop (the first half of each session) we’ll work to understand key concepts from our reading for the day and from supplementary mini-lectures given by the workshop leader. In the Lab portion of the workshop (the second half) we will reflect on the ways in which the theory applies to our own personal and political struggles. We will devise “experiments” for putting key concepts into practice in our lives, and we will discuss with each other how our experiments work out.
Readings:
For this workshop, participants should purchase Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg.
The workshop leader is using the 2nd edition. The link above is to the 3rd edition, which has an additional chapter and a different Foreword, but either edition should be fine.
Order your book early to leave time for delivery.
Preparation:
For each meeting, participants should read in advance the selection of text we’ll be discussing, consider some questions Monica will send by email to help us focus, and come with some marked passages to talk about.
Cost per person: $175 (for three 2-hour philosophy sessions)
- The workshop has limited space. Register today to save yourself a spot!
- Deadline to register: TBA
- Register by clicking the button below and following instructions to use PayPal. If you do not have a PayPal account, PayPal still allows you to pay using a credit card.
Registration is now closed.