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Compassionate Communication (NVC) Level 2 Spring Retreat


Compassionate Communication (NVC) LEVEL 2

--- In Person Workshop in Duncan ---

WHEN

Friday March 1st at 6:30pm to Sunday March 3 at 4:30pm
Friday 6:30pm - 9:00pm

Saturday and Sunday 9:00am - 4:30pm

WHERE

Address given upon registration
10 min drive to Duncan on Vancouver Island, BC

WHY PARTICIPATE?

Integrating NVC into your life is a journey. It has many twists and turns and most definitely pitfalls along the way. The level of results you’re getting is in direct proportion to how much time and energy you invest. Empathy buddies, practice groups and continued training are some of the most efficient ways to further your path of integration and more importantly improve the relationship(s) with yourself and those you care about. In our experience consistently showing up to NVC communities particularly in the foundation building phase of learning NVC is very helpful in maintaining momentum and being able to really use it in your life as a daily habit.

In this training we are getting into it! Reinforcing the foundations of empathy skills and NVC consciousness but also exploring how to navigate the more nuanced and complex dynamics that can arise in work/home/romantic/friendship relationships.

Come join us in taking steps towards better more fulfilling relationships! And having some genuine fun while doing it! Like usual we will do our best to weave in aspects of movement, imagination, simple arts and good old fun times :)

Overall topics we will explore:

  • deepening our skills in empathy and self-empathy

  • embodying the consciousness of NVC through movement

  • intensity: communicating in the heat of the moment

  • saying no, exploring boundaries and assertiveness

  • emotional responsibility / concepts of projection

WHAT IS THE APPROACH?

The workshop isn't theoretical: after each piece of new information, concrete exercises will help the participant to integrate and apply it to their daily lives. Myriam and Warren affectionately refer to themselves as ‘creative facilitators’. This means fusing their facilitation with highly interactive, imaginative and artistic approaches. Myriam and Warren have accumulated decades of experience in interactive theater and movement based learning and use exercises that include improvisation, playback theater, visual arts, rythm and songs. No experience in theater or dance is necessary, and there will be a lot of choice around how to engage in the exercises. 

REQUIREMENTS

We asked participants to have done at least 10 hours of interactive NVC training to participate. If you don't meet this requirement, please get in touch with us and we can discuss what is possible (for example one-on-one or group virtual sessions). We strongly recommend starting with taking the level one course in February:

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/reconnect/1047931

SCHEDULE

We would like to create an immersive experience with opportunities to connect and have fun outside of the training time.

Here is the overall plan:

Friday

6:30 - 9pm: training time

Saturday

8am: community breakfast

9:30am- 12:30am: training time

1pm-2pm: lunch time

. 2pm - 4:30: training time

. 4:30 - 6:00: relaxing time

. 6:30 - 7:30: community dinner

. 7:30pm - 10pm: storytelling / games

Sunday

8am: community breakfast

9:30am- 12:30am: training time

1am - 2pm: lunch time

2pm - 4:30: training time

WHAT PAST PARTICIPANTS HAVE SAID

" Myriam's passion for her work really shone through and got me excited about NVC! She incorporated such a variety of activities in her workshop that I was always interested and fully engaged for the two days."

"Myriam and Warren are a strong facilitation team who embody the authenticity and compassion that they teach through NVC, with each other, with themselves and with all participants. In such a challenging time in our collective story, these two set a diverse group of people at ease with caring and consideration that allowed us all to access the learning and dive deep within to understand ourselves better in the context of interactions with others. It was a privilege to learn with them. They wove together powerful personal stories, references to supporting research, knowledge of the histories of NVC and many practical opportunities to bring the learning to life in a meaningful way. I found the workshop a uniquely safe experience that allowed me to be in touch with new layers of my vulnerabilities. Their work with us also supported the growth of new connections to inner strength and each other with purposeful awareness that cultivates more compassionate communication."

" I experienced perceptual changes and deeper understanding of my needs and how to express them in just 2 days!

*****

LOCATION:

The retreat will be held in a gorgeous venue by a river 10min driving from downtown Duncan. The exact location will be confirmed upon registration:

ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD

Accommodation and food are booked and paid for separately .

ACCOMMODATION

The venue can accommodate people from out of town with four rooms and a communal sleeping loft.

Option 1: Guest Lodge - Private Room - Double Bed: $180 (2 available) [$90 per night]

Option 2: Guest Lodge - Private Room - Single Bed: $140 (2 available) [$70 per night]

Option 3: Guest Lodge - Shared, Dorm-Style Loft - Single Bed: $70 (4 available) [$35 per night]

MEALS

Our delicious, farm-to-table, organic meals are lovingly prepared and served family-style in our community dining room, allowing you to connect with other students from the workshop. We serve hearty, mostly vegetarian meals with gluten-free options and meat options.

Friday: No meals provided
Saturday: Continental Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Sunday: Continental Breakfast and Lunch (no dinner)
Includes: Coffee & Tea at meals and during the event
Cost: $120

To book your meals and room, or if you have any questions regarding food & accommodations at the event, email us at
info@avaloncowichan.org

*****

Cancellations

The retreat will happen following the restrictions in place during those dates.

Cancellation policy:

– More than 7 days before the workshop: 100% refund minus 15$ of administrative fees

– Between 7 days and 48 hours before the workshop: 50% refund

– Less than 48 hours before the workshop: no refund unless someone takes your place


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PRICING

Price for 14 hours of training:

Regular - $350

Supported - $200

Supporter or professional - $450

*** How to decide how much to pay? **

The money you contribute helps us to sustain our work. On average, I need each participant to pay around $350 to have those workshops sustainable. And I know this amount of money is not easily available for everyone. If you contribute more than $350, you help someone else come to the workshop who couldn't otherwise.

Here is some considerations to decide how much you wish to contribute:

Consider paying less on the scale if you.

- are supporting children or have other dependents

- have significant debt

- have medical expenses not covered by insurance

- receive public assistance

- have immigration-related expenses

- are an elder with limited financial support

- are an unpaid community organizer

- are a returning citizen who has been denied work due to incarceration history

Consider paying more on the scale if you:

- own the home you live in

- have investments, retirement accounts, or inherited money

- travel recreationally

- have access to family money and resources in times of need

- work part time by choice

- have a relatively high degree of earning power due to level of education (or gender and racial privilege, class background, etc.) Even if you are not currently exercising your earning power, I ask you to recognize this as a choice.

If 200$ is still a barrier, please communicate with us, we are sure we can find creative ways for you to contribute other than money :)

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ABOUT THE FACILITATORS

MYRIAM VERZAT

Myriam is a CNVC (cnvc.org) certified trainer in NonViolent Communication based in Nanaimo, BC, Canada. She has a Master’s degree in communication, a certificate in environmental education and five years of training and sharing NonViolent Communication. She shares her passion for NVC with individuals, schools and organizations around British Columbia and beyond. Her dream is to empower organizations and individuals to build a more compassionate and sustainable world. She is also a dancer and a nature lover.To know more about her, visit: http://www.myriamverzat.com

WARREN HOOLEY 

Warren Hooley is a 35-year old man from the (Okanagan) Territory in Penticton, British Columbia. Having mixed roots of Okanagan, English and Ukrainian and growing up in both western and indigenous worlds, Warren sees himself as a bridge, helping both sides move from polarity to deeper connection. For the past 10 years, Warren has passionately facilitated over 1500 workshops on the topics of Compassionate Communication, Indigenous ‘Allyship’ and Decolonization. Today, living in Vancouver BC, Warren is dedicated to helping create a world where everyone can thrive and succeed to their own definition. His work is focused on teaching the tangible skills for healthy, happy and sustainable relationships.