My Experience

I don’t suppose you would describe yourself as violent, would you?

I certainly didn’t until I read Marshall Rosenberg’s book ‘Nonviolent Communication – a language of life’. This gave me a new perspective. Although I wasn’t physically violent, I couldn’t say the same about my thinking. Like most people I know, there are times when lapses into blame and criticism (a form of violence) disconnect me from being compassionate.

This realisation was a personal and professional turning point. I applied myself to learning as much as I could about NVC and in 2002, successfully completed the Center for Nonviolent Communication’s ‘Certified Trainer’ process. Since then, I have developed my insights and skills in tandem with my other work as a trainer in soft skills for organisations, coach, researcher, courseware designer, pedagogical consultant and writer. Gradually, NVC has become the main focus of my professional life.

Workshops I have been running Foundation Trainings and now offer more advanced workshops on particular topics.

Private sessions Through personal referrals, I help couples to re-establish trust and connection in their relationship with each other. 

Projects A particular interest of mine is to share NVC for the benefit of the community. With this in mind, I co-led a project for young offenders in HMP YOI Reading and am currently collaborating with the Surrey Youth Justice Service and the RSPCA on a pilot project to provide challenging and meaningful activity to a group of young people on an Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme.

Background My academic background is in psychology. It fed my interest in people’s behaviour and taught me to think clearly about cause and effect. Nonviolent Communication has added a different dimension. It showed me how the way we think and talk has the potential to enrich or diminish our lives and relationships.

Current perspective I embrace NVC as a life-enriching invitation to connect with others by speaking from the heart, in ways that are compassionate, respectful, honest and authentic.