NVC Level 2 Intermediate Training and Practice Group

### Dates

Feb 11, Mar 10, Apr 14, May 19, June 30 (not every 2nd Sunday of the month) 2.30pm-5.30pm GMT

### What’s an on-going and closed group?

People who’ve done at least a Level 1 Foundation Training (approx 13 hours) in NVC or equivalent join for a block of 5 sessions (meeting monthly) with the opportunity to continue after that. The groups are not open to people dropping in for the odd session.
This format allows you to meet with the same people over time, which helps to build trust, safety and community. Each group has up to 9 members, some of whom are new and others who’ve been there for a couple of years or more. So you’ll be joining an established group that shifts and changes over time. We will give you are warm welcome :-)
There's an option, but no commitment, to arrange extra peer-practice meetings in between sessions, with two or more of you.

### What are the sessions like?

In each session there is a brief guided meditation to support presence, a check-in round, input on a specific theme and an exercise to practise, in pairs, threes or the whole group. You get to practise and deepen the foundations of NVC and learn new skills and processes. Sometimes you get handouts to read in advance to make more time in the sessions for actual practise. There is an ongoing invitation to suggest topics and ways to practise. We want to support each other to integrate NVC into our everyday lives.

### What kind of topics do you practise?

A wide variety. Here are some examples: gratitude; mourning; meeting our need for love; staying open and curious when you disagree with someone; how not to annoy people with your NVC; street giraffe; expressing appreciation vs compliments and praise; role-playing difficult conversations; fingerprint needs; working with enemy images; self-appreciation. We regularly revisit the three essential modes of NVC: self-compassion; listening with empathy; honest expression.

### Location

We are hosted by one of the participants and meet in her flat in Elephant and Castle. The location of the group shifts from time to time and there may be an opportunity for you to host the group if you’d enjoy that.

### Cost

I have a sliding scale and ask for payment in advance for 5 sessions:
£300-£100

I ask you to consider your and my needs for sustainability, giving and receiving when choosing what to give me. I offer a scale in acknowledgment that disposable incomes vary. I’d like NVC to be affordable for everyone so please talk to me if this isn’t. If you are able to afford the high end of the scale, please know you are also supporting others who need to pay less. And if you can give only at the lower end, please trust that you are allowing me and others to support you, so meeting our needs for giving and contributing.

For transparency, NVC is my only source of income and is taxable income; I am paying a mortgage and don’t have dependents.

### Booking

There are two intakes per year for new members, beginning February and September.
If you’re interested in joining this round from Feb 11th 2024 please get in touch via my Contact page

### Testimonials

• “I’ve been in an on-going NVC practice group lead by Cath for a while now. I’ve found this an excellent way to keep the practice of NVC alive for me. By meeting regularly with the same group we build trust. Cath provides tasks and exercises which involve us all and help us grow our ability to use NVC. The depth of listening and attention we provide each other is extraordinary. Even if I arrive cut off and unsure I leave feeling moved, connected and heart warmed!! I’m sure all of this is enabled by Cath’s gentle present leadership” Sam
• “Cath warmly and gently holds the space for NVC learning, clearly introducing the topic and then using full group discussion and a variety of smaller group exercises. She demonstrates NVC in action in her organisation of the meetings, balancing the varying needs of individuals in the group.” Katie
• “Cath creates a space where we feel safe, playful, tender and experimental. I like our group which is not a drop-in but closed for five months so we can get to know each other and build support gradually and at a natural pace. I like the way she provides plenty of opportunities for us to explore our everyday (challenging) life experiences, which I found really valuable for learning (the safe atmosphere helps) and also gives us enough time to really get intimate with our feelings.” Asako