Empathy: Doorway Between Worlds
“The things that matter most in our lives are not fantastic or grand. They are moments when we touch one another.”
—Jack Kornfield
Every human being is an entire universe within themselves: of hopes, challenges, inspiration, fears, joys, and so much more. When we tap into empathy, we open the door to beholding the unfolding mystery within each person we encounter.
Join us for this workshop delving into both sides of empathy: the deep gift of being let into someone’s world and what it’s like to be truly seen, heard, understood, and welcomed as we are.
In this workshop, together we’ll:
🧡 Experience the core ingredients of empathy through embodied practices around attunement, spacious presence, hearing the deeper layers of each other's experience, and how to offer connecting & meaningful responses
💡Discover insights from our habitual ways of listening & the moments we find challenging to be empathic
🌱 Practice in a supportive environment, crafted for embodied understanding and living these practices in the moments they are needed
⏳ Move at a spacious & mindful pace, leaving room for reflection, integration, and connection
This is the 2nd event in my new series, Cross-Pollinating Authentic Relating & Compassionate Communication (NVC). Each session offers ideas and practices from these complementary modalities to merge cognitive understanding, embodied discovery, and applied practice―cultivating spaces that bridge what we learn & the values we hold with how we live.
“I liked AR and NVC separately, but it wasn't until Vanessa's workshop that I really appreciated how well they blend together. It was like learning that my favorite foods were somehow even more delicious when mixed together.
Deep, vulnerable NVC exercises seem easier for me to access if they're coupled with lighter AR palate cleansers. And Vanessa's gentle facilitation style gave the experience a calm yet playful vibe that felt like the workshop version of a warm hug.
I often reflect on Vanessa's unique observations about relating because their remarkable ability to be with others' experiences frequently leads me to re-examine old stories that I used to tell myself."
— Emmy K.
All experience levels are welcome.
This event will be limited to 14 participants.
Vegan-friendly snacks provided.
Cross-pollinating Authentic Relating & Compassionate Communication (NVC) Series
Authentic Relating is a practice of bringing presence and depth of connection into our everyday experiences.
Compassionate communication (NVC/nonviolent communication) is a framework for transforming any experience into self-understanding, insight, and a pathway to connection and collaboration.
I’m eager to share my discoveries on weaving together these modalities into a grounded and illuminating pathway to bring our inner aliveness and whole self to each moment and every area of our lives
Whether you're new to Authentic Relating and NVC or have experience with one or both, this series invites you into a fresh weaving of both approaches.
Upcoming workshops in this series - Foundations Pathway:
Dec 6 — Self-Awareness Laboratory 🧪
Each workshop stands on its own while weaving into a larger journey of learning and discovery, inviting you to connect insights across themes and deepen your practice with each experience.
Meet Your Facilitator: Vanessa
It means the world to me to offer a workshop on empathy.
Empathy—when we offer it to others, receive it, learn to look at ourselves with empathic eyes—is the soil that so much beauty in life grows from.
For years, my own capacity for empathy was buried inside me—an underground reservoir of connection, emotion, and depth of care, waiting for the chance to spring forth. I’m so grateful for my journey of unearthing it and how fundamental it’s been to self-discovery, connection, growth, and living in alignment with who I am.
I’m eager to explore together and share our experiences, contributing to a vast tapestry of shared awareness. A tapestry where all the glorious ways we experience the world have space to be expressed, to matter, to be listened to with deep care, and to enrich each other.
My own journey has led me through years of learning, personal practice, and ongoing discovery, shaping the experiences and practices I’m delighted to share through these workshops. My offerings draw from:
Compassionate Communication (NVC): 400+ hours of training, including Connecting2Life's year-long Embodying and Sharing NVC program and a Center of Nonviolent Communication International Intensive Training.
Authentic Relating: An evolving practice informed by an ongoing Master Facilitation Skills course with Authentic Revolution and ART International Levels 1 & 2.
A distinct perspective on the learning process: A lifelong exploration of how we learn, beginning at a young age through chess―a rich laboratory where decision-making, practice, and growth can be explored with unusually precise and consistent feedback―earning the National Master title in my 20s, and nearly two decades of teaching chess to people of all ages, complemented by extensive independent study of the neuroscience of learning and habit formation.
"Working with Vanessa has not only deepened my understanding of NVC but more importantly, has empowered me to make a positive difference in my relationships, both at work, and with family and friends.
Their thoughtful approach creates a space where everyone feels seen, supported, and safe.”
— Jade B.