Skip to content

What is Nonviolent Communication?

Simply put, what is Nonviolent Communication (NVC)?

NVC is a practical and learnable model of communication. It involves attention on 4 steps: observations, feelings, needs and requests.

As a practitioner I can choose to listen or express myself. The model is holistic in nature, that is – it can be used anywhere. Often a conversation can be turned around even if I am the only person who knows NVC. Useful in conflicts, for giving and receiving feedback, expressing yourself with power and assertiveness AND with care and empathy.

spiral stained glass window from beneath

What happens in an NVC training?

We focus on our intention and uncover what motivates us to act, sometimes in harsh and critical ways- which we don’t want.

In  Nonviolent Communication Training we introduce the four basic ingredients: observation, feeling, need and request. We then learn to apply them in communication with ourselves and others. 

"The number one rule of our training is empathy before education."

– Marshall Rosenberg

The training produces the following results:

  • Self-compassion: discovering what is under your judgments and learning to be with ourselves with kindness;
  • Inner peace and balance: experience that your body and mind are in relaxation;
  • Connection with the other: expressing yourself clearly and being able to understand the other;
  • Progress and progression: learning to take responsibility for what you need;
  • Spiritual growth: connecting with your inner source and living it.

For participants and other interested people, a list of feelings and needs used in the training can be downloaded here:

The psychologist Marshall Rosenberg developed NVC after years of practice as a clinical psychologist left him determined to find a more connecting way to communicate. Inspired by Carl Rogers and humanistic psychology Marshall spent his left exploring what brings us together as human beings- so we can get things done!
Marshall said he didn’t invent something new- rather uncovered a compassionate way of being common to us all.

Nonviolence is a centuries old concept. A peaceful means to bring about change. Applicable in the boardroom, in families, in schools and prisons. Marshall Rosenberg recognised that our way of organising and working together left us all feeling dehumanised and getting cross with one another.
It’s not that we attack each other physically- but that we can loose sight of each other’s needs and start to see each other as enemies. We don’t want to but we go for attack or come from fear. We can turn this around and come from love.

Increased collaboration: so we can ALL work together in harmony and in alignment with our values. With practice relationships can be transformed and rebuilt. Using NVC allows us to find our authenticity AND empower us to ask for what we want, but not at the expense of others. WIN WIN is our aim.

What is the origin of Nonviolent Communication?

The psychologist Marshall Rosenberg developed NVC after years of practice as a clinical psychologist left him determined to find a more connecting way to communicate. Inspired by Carl Rogers and humanistic psychology Marshall spent his left exploring what brings us together as human beings- so we can get things done! Marshall said he didn’t invent something new- rather uncovered a compassionate way of being common to us all.

Why ‘nonviolent’ communication? I’m not violent??

Nonviolence is a centuries old concept. A peaceful means to bring about change. Applicable in the boardroom, in families, in schools and prisons. Marshall Rosenberg recognised that our way of organising and working together left us all feeling dehumanised and getting cross with one another. It’s not that we attack each other physically- but that we can loose sight of each other’s needs and start to see each other as enemies. We don’t want to but we go for attack or come from fear. We can turn this around and come from love.

What is the Purpose of Nonviolent Communication?

Increased collaboration: so we can ALL work together in harmony and in alignment with our values. With practice relationships can be transformed and rebuilt. Using NVC allows us to find our authenticity AND empower us to ask for what we want, but not at the expense of others. WIN WIN is our aim.

Dr Marshall Rosenberg discussing Nonviolent Communication

Part 1

He started with the question “how come some people find violence enjoyable and how come other people in same society get their joy in contributing to peoples well being?

Part 2

Be aware of our thoughts (about self & others) and transform them into compassionate listening & reframing.

Part 3

Dr Rosenberg talks about Teilhard de Chardin’s theories of human evolution which sought to return to a more natural way – one where no-one advances at the expense of another.