Connecting Communication Training

Do you find yourself avoiding difficult conversations?

Saying yes when you mean no?

Feeling responsible for other people's happiness?

Repeating the same painful conflicts, despite your best intentions?

Most of us were taught mathematics, languages, history, and science. Almost none of us were taught how to navigate disappointment, conflict, criticism, boundaries, guilt, anger, or vulnerability. We were not taught how to stay connected to ourselves while staying connected to others. As a result, many of us spend years people-pleasing, avoiding difficult conversations, suppressing our honesty, or repeating the same painful patterns in our relationships. Connecting Communication, also known as Nonviolent Communication, offers another way.

Developed by psychologist Marshall Rosenberg and practised by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, Connecting Communication offers a radically different way of relating to yourself and others. You learn to recognise the needs that drive behaviour, communicate honestly without blame, listen deeply, and transform tension into connection.

This is not about learning to communicate more politely or walking on egg shells. It is about bringing your honesty and yet learning to stay connected to yourself and to others even when it is difficult. It is a practical path towards greater authenticity, self-awareness, emotional freedom, and more fulfilling relationships.

During eight interactive evenings, we explore:

• Why conflicts arise and how connection can be restored

• Understanding feelings and needs as valuable sources of information

• Listening empathically to yourself and others

• Recognising the hidden message beneath criticism, blame, and judgement

• Expressing honesty without creating defensiveness

• Making clear requests without pressure or manipulation

• Setting boundaries and saying no without guilt

• Receiving a no without losing connection

• Transforming anger, frustration, and disappointment into clarity

• Building relationships based on mutual understanding rather than obligation

The training is highly experiential. We work with your real-life situations. Expect practical exercises, reflection, humour, depth, and meaningful conversations in a small and supportive group.

You will not leave with a mere intellectual understanding of the theory. The aim is to gradually integrate it into the way you listen, speak, think, and relate to yourself and others.

Why now?

In a world where conversations quickly become polarised, where many people feel lonely despite being surrounded by others, and where stress often disconnects us from ourselves, the ability to communicate with honesty, empathy, and courage has never been more relevant. Every conversation plants seeds. Seeds of misunderstanding or understanding. Seeds of fear or trust. Seeds of conflict or peace. By learning to communicate differently, we help cultivate the conditions for greater peace, both in our own hearts and in the world around us.

Overview:

Session 1

Discovering needs as the driving force behind human behaviour

Session 2

The gift behind judgement and the art of empathic listening

Session 3

Words are windows or they are walls: Observations, feelings, and the stories we tell ourselves

Session 4

Making requests that create willingness rather than resistance

Session 5

Self-empathy & emotional first aid

Session 6

Full dialogue: listening, honesty, and staying connected in difficult conversations

Session 7

Saying no and hearing no without losing connection

Session 8

Mourning & celebration of (un) fulfilled needs

Dates and times:

1. Sunday 1 November 18.30-21.30

2. Sunday 8 November 18.30-21.30

3. Sunday 22 November 18.30-21.30

4. Sunday 29 November 18.30-21.30

5. Sunday 6 December 18.30-21.30

6. Sunday 13 December 18.30-21.30

7. Sunday 3 January 18.30-21.30

8. Sunday 10 January 18.30-21.30

Group: A maximum 10 participants

Location: In-person at Rooseboomstraat 47, Den Haag

Cost: 550 euro

Review:

"I joined this training because I wanted to improve my communication. What surprised me most was that this training more than about communication. It was about understanding myself. I began to notice how often I ignored my own needs, avoided honesty, and tried to keep everyone happy. The impact reached far beyond communication and into every area of my life.

What I appreciated most was that the training was very practical. We worked with real situations from our own lives, which made the learning immediately relevant. The atmosphere was warm, safe, and surprisingly enjoyable. There was depth, but also plenty of laughter.

The impact reached far beyond communication. I became clearer about what matters to me, more confident in expressing myself, and better able to listen without becoming defensive.

If you are looking for a training that helps you communicate more honestly, set boundaries with more ease, and create deeper connections with yourself and others, I highly recommend it." - Ellen Diepenbrock

Trainer:

Khawla Shehadeh is a CNVC Certified Trainer in Nonviolent Communication and a certified Mindfulness trainer. For more than 15 years, she has been studying, practising, and teaching communication, mindfulness, and personal development. Participants often describe her as warm, insightful, down-to-earth, and deeply present. Her trainings combine depth, practical wisdom, and humour, creating a safe space where meaningful learning and genuine connection can emerge.

Contact:

If you have any questions, please reach out at info@notanother.nl or by phone +31624234694