Nonviolent Communication and Healthy Sexuality Across the Lifespan (3 days in Brno)

About the workshop:

In this interactive workshop, we’ll be exploring sexuality across the lifespan using the principles and practices of NVC. Participants will be invited to look compassionately at their own journey of sexual development, exploring what self-acceptance means for them personally. 

The workshop will cover information about sexual development in childhood which will have important implications for parenting and those working with children. During the workshop we will explore cultural messages that have shaped our sexual understandings throughout all stages of life.
Central to the work will be practices to build healthy sexual relationships in adulthood, including late in life.

How it’s going to work:

Consent is critical for not just all sexual behavior but also talking about sexual matters, so everything we invite people to do is truly an invitation. Participants ALWAYS have a choice about what exercises they participate in, what, how much or if they share anything from their own experiences. 

We plan to have journaling and solo reflection throughout the workshop as well as pair and/or small group connection. All exercises can be modified for someone to do on their own if they desire or to change the exercise to something that is more useful at the time. There will also be opportunities to share in the larger group. If participants come with others that they want to do the work with, that is an option to be paired together during exercises.

Key points in the workshop:

•     Looking at sexuality from personal, interpersonal and systemic perspectives.
•     Developing sexual self-acceptance 
•     Understanding sexual development in childhood for self-understanding and for parenting
•     Exploring cultural messages that shape our sexual understandings 
•     Understanding the variety of ways sexuality expresses itself.
•     How to cultivate healthy sexual relationships in adulthood 
•     How to cultivate healthy sexuality in late life

Trainers:

Kathleen Macferran

Kathleen Macferran is an author, facilitator and Certified Trainer for the Center for Nonviolent Communication. She travels internationally working with individuals, families, community groups, businesses, schools, and prison inmates.

Kathleen is the author of Calling In the Dawn: Shaping Our Future through Authentic Dialogue, and co-author with Jared Finkelstein of Choice: A Field Guide for Navigating the Polarization of Our World and Living Interdependently. Her two children’s books How Giraffes Found Their Hearts and How Giraffes Got Their Ears, and her CD Giraffe Tales can be found along with her TEDx talks on her website www.StrengthofConnection.com.

Bob Salt

Rev. Dr. Bob Salt has a Ph.D. from Purdue University and is a retired professor of Human Development and Family Studies. He has taught college classes on relationships, parenting, families, and human sexuality since 1987. Bob is also an Ordained Interfaith Minister, who leads worship honoring all religions and spiritualities.  Bob has written a book called “Soul’s Journey: Remembering Who We Are,” which discusses how to see life from a spiritual perspective. He is a student of Nonviolent Communication, learning many of its nuances from his beloved partner Kathleen.
Bob and Kathleen live in the US. Bob is the father of two amazing young adults, Josh and Emily.