Authentic Expression
&
Deep Listening
4 Sundays
into the heart of
Authentic Communication
A journey to deepen the way you listen, speak, and relate—both to yourself and others.
Why mastering Communication is so important
We all play different roles—partner, parent, friend, colleague, leader, facilitators—but at the core of every relationship is communication. The way we speak and listen shapes the depth of our connections.
Yet, despite our longing for connection, we often find ourselves stuck in painful patterns:
-
You express your feelings and then it turns into an argument.
-
Again you feel disappointed with your mother, who never seems to listen.
-
You shout at your child, even though you promised yourself not to.
-
At work, you avoid confrontation, but resentment builds.
-
As a coach/therapist you listen with care and presence, yet at times you feel drained, unsure if you’re really reaching the other person.
-
And then this critical voice in your head! That tells you you are never good enough what ever you do.
What if the way we’ve learned to communicate is keeping us from the connections we desire?
In this course you will discover a new way to communicate—one that fosters understanding, deepens connection, and transforms conflict into growth, healing and getting to know each other better.
Through Nonviolent Communication (NVC), you’ll learn how to express yourself with honesty and care for the other, you will learn to truly hear what people say, even if they use words that hurt you and navigate challenges with confidence and clarity.
This course isn’t about theory alone—it’s about practicing and embodying a new way of relating that allows both you and your relationships to thrive.
This is what you will learn in 4 Days
We all long for love and connection, yet we often find ourselves stuck in misunderstandings, conflict, or feeling unseen. What if the way we’ve been taught to communicate is actually what’s blocking us?
Morning – From Judgment to a Language of Creation (Jackal & Needs)
Have you ever felt criticized, blamed, or judged—or caught yourself doing the same to others? This is what Marshall Rosenberg calls “Jackal Language,” and it fuels 99% of conflicts. In this session, we uncover the one belief that kills love and learn how to shift from judgment to a language that creates understanding and connection.
Afternoon – Speaking the Language of the Heart (Feelings ≠ Thoughts)
Do you struggle to express what you truly feel? Or find yourself reacting instead of responding? Many of us confuse thoughts with feelings, which leads to disconnection. In this session, we learn to reveal our hearts, getting clarity on painful confusions around the language of feelings—an essential step toward authentic relationships.
How often do we misunderstand each other? Or take things personally when they weren’t meant that way? When we learn to truly listen—without reacting or assuming—we unlock deeper connection.
Morning – Listening Beyond Words (Empathy)
Have you ever felt unheard, even when someone was listening? Or struggled to stay open when someone spoke in a way that triggered you? Empathy is more than just listening—it’s the ability to hear what’s really being said, even when words are painful. In this session, we develop the skill of listening beyond words and tuning into the feelings and needs behind them.
Afternoon – Reality is Love (Observation ≠ Thoughts)
How often do we react to our story about reality rather than what’s actually happening? Misunderstandings arise when we mix facts with assumptions. In this session, we learn to separate observation from interpretation, giving us a powerful tool to stay present, defuse conflict, and communicate with clarity.
Day 3
From Problems to Possibilities
Day 4
Connecting in Conflict
& Fuel of Life
Many of us either give up on what we want too easily or push so hard that we create resistance. What if there is a way to express what we need while staying open and connected with others?
Morning – The Power of Needs (Need ≠ Strategy)
How do you stand up for what you need without pushing too hard or giving in too easily? Learn how to make choices from true freedom, without force or self-sacrifice.
Afternoon – Making Powerful Requests that Move Things Forward
Many of us either shy away from asking or unknowingly make demands. Learn to ask for what you want in a way that invites cooperation instead of resistance. You'll also discover how to hear a "No" without feeling rejected—turning it into a gateway for deeper trust and understanding.
Most of us avoid conflict because it feels overwhelming. But when we approach it with the right tools, conflict becomes an opportunity for trust, intimacy, and real transformation.
Morning – Connecting in Conflict (Self-Connection & Full Dialogue)
In this session, we learn how to stay connected to ourselves while communicating with others, using conflict as a tool for deeper self-awareness and stronger relationships.
Instead of avoiding or escalating conflict, we move between self-connection, empathy, and honest expression—transform conflict into an opportunity for deeper understanding.
Afternoon – Fuel for Life (Expressing Gratitude & Appreciation)
Do you struggle receiving appreciation? Many of us confuse compliments with real gratitude. Learn how to express gratitude in a way that nourishes both you and your relationships.
We all long for love and connection, yet we often find ourselves stuck in misunderstandings, conflict, or feeling unseen.
What if the way we’ve been taught to communicate is actually what’s blocking us to experience the connections we truly desire?
About the trainer
Hi, my name is Marije, I create spaces where our full humanness is welcome—where shame, fear, and strength are welcome, and where both pain and joy can be fully felt, expressed, and seen.
My work is about intimacy: with ourselves, with others, and with life itself.
Nonviolent Communication taught me how to embody the love that is in my heart—not just in moments of ease, but in the most challenging situations. Whether in conflict or facing my own inner struggles, NVC brings me back, again and again, to compassion
Since 2015, I have been guiding individuals, couples, and groups toward deeper authenticity, intimacy, and liberation.
Nonviolent communication
This course is based on the teachings of Nonviolent Communication developed by Marshall Rosenberg.
The NVC material carries an immense invitation for honesty, connection and compassion. Both with ourselves and the people around us.
Is a simple yet very practical tool to speak from our truth and be able to listen to others, also when they say something that is difficult and painful for us.
It provides tools to see humanity in the other, no matter what they do or say. And to let creativity, how to make life more wonderful for everyone, come from a place of effortlessness.
This course is fully embedded in NVC. This course is both open for people with and without experience with NVC. Although we will focus on the basic I see NVC not as a linear learning proces, rather I am constantly deepening my understanding and most of all my embodiment.
What You’ll learn:
-
Listen to judgment and blame (toward yourself and others)—understand the root of suffering and conflict, and learn how to transform them into opportunities for deeper connection and healing.
-
Learn the art of deep listening—so people feel fully heard and seen in your presence.
-
Express yourself honestly and clearly—even when it's scary.
-
Ask for what you truly want — in a way that invites cooperation instead of resistance.
-
Transform conflict into connection.
-
Strengthen self-connection — so you can respond from your values rather than react out of habit.
-
The power of No — expressing and hearing a No with clarity and care, so boundaries become a bridge to deeper trust rather than a wall or rejection-stories.
You won’t just learn a new way to communicate. You’ll experience a new way of being—one that brings more ease, honesty, and joy into your relationships.
Practical Details
Dates:
4 Sundays
11, 18 May, 15, 22 June 2025
Time:
10:00 - 17:00 (CET)
Location:
Wijk 7, Daalwijkdreef 7, 1102 RN Amsterdam Zuidoost
Investment:
Choose depending on free will and income:
€300 – Supported Rate (for those with limited financial resources)
€450 – Standard Rate (for those with a stable income)
€600 – Abundance Rate (for those with financial ease or employer support)
If you can not pay the full amount in 1 time, that is not a problem, I am very flexible with payment plans, please contact me with any questions or requests.
Material:
At the end of each session you will receive a written summary of the session and practices to do in between the sessions.
Support:
We will have assistants present at the course. They will support the practices and if needed they are there to offer presence and a listening ear.
"NVC is a way of keeping our consciousness tuned in, moment by moment, to the beauty within ourselves."— Marshall Rosenberg
Book your Place