What is Nonviolent Communication?

​Nonviolent Communication (NVC), developed by Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D., is based on the principles of nonviolence—the natural state of compassion when no violence is present in the heart. NVC begins with the premise that we are all inherently compassionate and that violent strategies—whether verbal or physical—are learned behaviors fostered by prevailing culture.
NVC assumes that we all share the same basic human needs and that all actions are strategies to meet one or more of these needs. Practicing NVC has enabled people to achieve greater authenticity in their communication, increased understanding, deepened connections, and effective conflict resolution. The NVC community is active in over 65 countries around the world.

The Practice of Compassionate Communication

​The highest form of spiritual intelligence is expressing compassion and accessing wisdom through the combination of heart and head. If you've faced challenges in relationships and wish to express yourself more clearly with compassion rather than frustration, join Rev. Denese Schellink for an experiential workshop.
Whether you're new to the power of Nonviolent Communication or looking to enhance and strengthen your compassionate communication skills, this practice will truly enhance your learning and ability to have meaningful conversations that bring more connection and enjoyment to your relationships.

The Purpose of NVC

The purpose of NVC is to help all involved sharpen their awareness of language so they can express what really matters to them and hear what really matters to others. It involves empathic communication, attuning ourselves to both our own and others' real needs.
 

What is NVC?

Nonviolent Communication integrates four key components:

 

1. Consciousness: A set of principles that support living a life of compassion, collaboration, courage, and authenticity.

2. Language: Understanding how words contribute to connection or distance.

3. Communication Skills: Knowing how to ask for what we want, hear others even if in disagreement, and move towards solutions that work for all.

4. Means of Influence: Sharing “power with others” rather than using “power over others.”

 

Dr. Marshall B. Rosenberg founded and directed educational services for The Center for Nonviolent Communication. NVC, also known as Nonviolent Communication, is a practice.
 

Why Learn NVC?

"Most of us are hungry for skills that can improve the quality of our relationships, deepen our sense of personal empowerment, or simply help us communicate more effectively. Unfortunately, most of us have been educated from birth to compete, judge, demand, and diagnose; to think and communicate in terms of what is 'right' and 'wrong' with people. At best, the habitual ways we think and speak hinder communication and create misunderstanding and frustration. At worst, they can cause anger and pain and may lead to violence. Even people with the best of intentions can generate needless conflict without wanting to.
NVC helps us reach beneath the surface and discover what is alive and vital within us, and how all our actions are based on human needs we are seeking to meet. We develop a vocabulary of feelings and needs that helps us clearly express what is going on in us and understand what is going on in others at any given moment. When we understand and acknowledge our needs, we create a shared foundation for much more satisfying relationships.
Join the thousands worldwide who have improved their relationships and their lives with this simple yet revolutionary process. As Marshall Rosenberg said, 'The nonviolent communication process strengthens our ability to remain human even under trying conditions. It reminds us about what we already know—how we humans were meant to relate to one another—and assists us in living in ways that concretely manifest this knowledge. It is a way of interacting that facilitates the flow of communication needed to resolve differences peacefully.'" - Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D., Founder of Nonviolent Communication