My name is LaShelle Chardé. I am passionate about helping people express their deepest values in their relationships and creating clarity and connection with self and others. This passion started with my family of origin. It was as rich with love as it was with loud arguments, explosions of anger, fear, and chaos. Growing up with a heart full of love and a mind wrought with confusion, I was highly motivated to find clarity and create the life of beauty and joy I knew was possible.
Ever since I can remember I have devoted myself to this search for clarity. At age six I had a vision of living in a monastery. At age eleven I started reading books on the life of the Buddha, the New Testament, the teachings of Don Juan, quantum physics, and whatever else I could find.
This quest continued through adolescence and young adulthood and led to a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in psychology. I worked in public schools as a school psychologist for nine years and also spent several years facilitating group healing work for adolescent youth labeled “at-risk”. During that same time I led leadership and teamwork trainings for businesses and organizations around Portland.
Along the way I found Compassionate/Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and began training with Marshall Rosenberg and other internationally known NVC trainers. I immediately knew that Compassionate Communication was the missing piece. It offers a deep and broad yet simple understanding of human nature along with a concrete set of tools to help us act and live from a place of clarity and compassion. For me Compassionate Communication is the hands and feet of spirituality.
In the last seven years I have worked as a counselor and NVC trainer. I am now beginning the next part of my journey and starting training as a Zen Buddhist Priest. I intend to maintain this website as a resource to support all who value wisdom and compassion in their relationships.