Is this you?
You have been practicing Mindful Compassionate Dialogue (MCD) or Nonviolent Communication (NVC), and you are ready to gain skill and consistency in dialogue.
You value both the intimacy and respect for each other’s autonomy that comes with communicating and connecting in this way.
You know that sometimes reactivity or old habits get in your way, and you would benefit from structured practice.
“I wasn’t sure I wanted to invest more money into communication training with my wife. The thought crossed my mind that perhaps a vacation to the ocean would be more beneficial than a 6 week couples training. Boy, I couldn’t have been more wrong. The tools LaShelle shared with my wife and me created more connection and a deeper level of understanding. LaShelle is a gifted trainer and was able to easily move us through conversations that would normally have exploded like dynamite. If you’re tired of running into the same walls with your partner and ready to have a breakthrough with parenting, money, or sex, I highly recommend working with LaShelle.”
What is it all about?
For this couples series on dialogue you will focus exclusively on dialogue practice, primarily using the Dialogue Dance Cards, but also practicing with tools for managing reactivity and accessing mindfulness.
This will not be couples therapy. You won’t be guided into past pain for healing work. Instead, you will be coached in using the process to communicate with your partner and staying focused on the present-moment experience. When reactivity arises, you will be coached to step to the ”anchor” card and find your center again. Most likely, you will be guided to anchor much more often than you might at home. This practice of tracking reactivity is essential in enabling you to effectively engage the dialogue structure.
What to expect:
Each class will begin with ten minutes of mindfulness. This will be an opportunity to practice your anchor and to contribute to the positive habit of bringing mindfulness to dialogue with your partner.
You will bring dialogue topics with you for each class. You will have a few minutes to prepare for dialogue individually. You will be guided through a variety of structured exercises to help you strengthen your communication skills and have effective and connected dialogues.
Other than icebreaker exercises, you will only work with your partner. You will have an opportunity to share what you’ve learned and ask questions in a whole-group debrief between dialogues.
Details:
Dialogue Coaches: LaShelle Lowe-Chardé, Sarah Zimmerman
When: 7–9 p.m. Tuesdays, May 21, May 28, June 4, and June 11, 2019
Where: Friends Meeting House, 4312 SE Stark, Portland OR 97215
Cost: $250 per couple