Compassion. Communication. Connection.
Peer support is grounded in communication, compassion, empathy and meaningful relationships. Our Peer Support staff have been training with Toni McErlane of the Centre for Non-Violent Communication Aotearoa, to strengthen our ability to communicate with compassion and understanding - so we can pass that on to others.
Toni has been studying non-violent communication for over five years, with experts around the world. She spent three years teaching NVC to women in California's Sonoma County jail, and three months training first-year nurses at San Franciso University.
Toni Mcerlane.
Counsellor, Ecotherapist, Mediator, Nonviolent Communication facilitator & Nature Connection Guide.
What is Non-violent Communication?
- NVC is several things all at once, and evolves as you get more experienced at using it. It incorporates principles that have been around for millennia, such as the nonviolent teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, or the visionary leaders of Parehaka - Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi.
- NVC is a practical toolkit that provides you with a set of concrete skills you can use to connect with yourself and communicate more effectively with others.
- NVC is sometimes referred to as compassionate communication. Its purpose is to strengthen our ability to inspire compassion from others and to respond compassionately to others and to ourselves.
- NVC stands for Nonviolent Communication. In this context, violence references the intent behind our communication rather than physical violence. Is it your intention to connect and understand? or is it to be right, judge or blame?
- NVC guides us to reframe how to express ourselves and hear others by focussing our attention on what we are observing,feeling, needing & requesting.