Talk It Out: Communication Skills For Real Life - by Bonnie Laufer

COURSE

Talk It Out: Communication Skills For Real Life

With Bonnie Laufer

Communication can be hard—even when you really care about the person you’re talking to. This short, practical audio course is designed for anyone 15 and older who wants to feel more confident navigating conversations, conflict, boundaries, and connection. Each of the three segments is under 30 minutes and begins and ends with a brief mindfulness practice to help you arrive, settle your nervous system, and leave the space feeling a little more grounded. Grab a journal and pen, bring a favorite comfort item if you’d like, and find a quiet, comfortable place to listen and practice. You’ll build your skills one segment at a time, moving from everyday communication to navigating conflict and, finally, putting those skills together in more intentional conversations. You can listen straight through or take your time with each section—the goal isn’t perfect communication. It’s having a few more tools when things get complicated.

MindfulnessRelationshipsGroundingBreathingBelly BreathingEmotional RegulationAwarenessCommunication SkillsDbtAssertivenessSelf AdvocacyJournalingMindful Body AwarenessJournaling Exercise

Meet your Teacher

Bonnie Laufer
Philadelphia, PA, USA

Bonnie Laufer, M.A., RYT, is a mental health counselor, trauma-informed yoga teacher, and educator who has been teaching communication and coping skills for nearly a decade. With a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, additional training in trauma approaches and recovery, and years of experience supporting people through challenging emotions and relationships, Bonnie brings a warm, practical approach to communication. She believes communication isn’t about finding the perfect words—it’s about having the tools to slow down, speak up, listen, set boundaries, and navigate the messy moments that come with being human.

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3 Days

0 students

No ratings

22 min / day

Parenting

English

Lesson 1

Soft Communication Skills

Start by slowing down. This segment opens with gentle cleansing breaths and a brief body scan, giving you a chance to arrive in your body before we start talking about communication. We’ll explore soft communication skills you can use in almost any social interaction—from talking with friends and family to navigating school, work, roommates, dating, or everyday misunderstandings. You’ll begin building awareness around how you listen, respond, express yourself, and make space for another person. Bring your journal and pen if you’d like to jot down thoughts or reflections, and find a quiet, comfortable place to listen. We’ll close with another short mindfulness practice so you can pause before moving on.

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Lesson 2

Fighting Fair

Conflict happens. The goal isn’t to disagree—it’s learning how to move through disagreement without making things worse. This segment begins with a short mindfulness practice before introducing fair-fighting rules and practical tools for navigating conflict. We’ll start skill-stacking, building on the communication tools from Segment 1 and adding strategies for staying engaged when conversations become difficult, emotional, or uncomfortable. These skills aren’t just for romantic relationships. They can help with disagreements between friends, family members, coworkers, roommates, teammates, and anyone else you share life with. Have your journal nearby if you’d like to reflect or write as you go. We’ll end with another brief grounding practice before you step back into your day.

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Lesson 3

D.E.A.R. M.A.N

Now we put the skills together. This segment introduces DEAR MAN, a DBT communication skill designed to help you communicate clearly, ask for what you need, set boundaries, and stay focused during difficult conversations. While DEAR MAN is often taught in the context of romantic relationships, these skills can be useful in almost any situation where you need to advocate for yourself while staying engaged with another person. We’ll begin with a gentle face-pressure massage to help you settle into mindfulness before exploring the skill step-by-step. You’ll also have the opportunity to pause the audio and complete a written interaction, using DEAR MAN to practice putting the skill into action. Keep your journal and pen nearby, find a quiet space, and permit yourself to take your time. We’ll finish with a few mindful breaths to help you transition out of the course and back into your day. Under 30 minutes.

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