Nonviolent Communication Part 6: Language As Trauma & The Limits Of NVC - by Hans van Veen

COURSE

Nonviolent Communication Part 6: Language As Trauma & The Limits Of NVC

With Hans van Veen

‘Nonviolent Communication’ is the intention of seeing humanity in each other. Immerse yourself in the techniques and consciousness of connecting deeper within, and to others, with the mindful communication approach called ‘Nonviolent Communication’ (NVC). This, course 6, is a little bit different than the previous 5, so be prepared! We will arrive at the limits of NVC, and see beyond. Also, we will look at the hidden trauma traces in our everyday unconscious linguistics. And this course might the the only one of which I'd suggest you will need at least some basic prior understanding of NVC, for example through my earlier courses. I call NVC 'mindful communication', because this approach offers a conscious and helpful way of relating to our thoughts, feelings and needs in a way that creates both meta-awareness and Metta--as in loving kindness, for yourself and for others. NVC, at the surface, is a range of conversational techniques that are an expression of its deeper being: a compassionate nondual quality of awareness. In these courses, you will get to taste this awareness and see it in action in several domains such as listening, dealing with anger, enemy images, judgment-free relating, and much more. You'll get to practice the clarity that discerns strategies from needs, thoughts from feelings, demands from requests and observations from interpretations. And you'll see how this clarity can untangle and help dissolve our habitual split-second reactivities. Some notes: - For beginners, I recommend that you use the internet and search for an 'NVC feelings and needs list'. That will help you with some emotional and needs vocabulary, and also be useful for some of the exercises. - This course is part of a series of 6 courses on NVC, that can either be taken separately or in conjunction, although of course taking all 6 courses will give you a more complete picture of the material. - The ‘totality’ of NVC is a rich and living bouquet of ever-evolving practices, topics and insights, and these courses are not meant to convey that totality (nor could they); rather, I share here my deepest insights, coolest learnings and most useful practical tips. I dearly hope you find benefit in it and enjoy the course(s)! Thanks to Freddie Marriage Blue for the photo.


Meet your Teacher

Hans van Veen is a parent, Aletheia Method Transformational Coach, and communication trainer, as well as a certification candidate with the Center for Nonviolent Communication. His work is rooted in Nonviolent Communication and enriched by Nondual Tantra, Zen, Vipassana, and other contemplative practices. He supports parents, groups, couples, and individuals in cultivating empathy, self-acceptance, and authentic connection.

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2 Days

400 students

4.7 stars

22 min / day

Awakening

English


Lesson 1

Judgmental Language As A Trauma Symptom

Language, especially judgmental language, and even more especially when we are not mindful of its abstracted nature, can separate us from reality in a way we could call 'trauma'. Because it acts as a wound that separates us from nature, from life and each other. In this session, we look at the traumatic traces that can exist in our ways of thinking and speaking, drawing wisdom from art, science, and the likes of Edmund Husserl, Jeffrey Kripal, Thomas Hübl, Plato, Wittgenstein, David Abram, and more. This one is quite a trip, I hope you enjoy! Corrigendum: in the episode I mention that Thomas Hübl is German; he is in fact Austrian.

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Lesson 2

Freedom, Non-duality, And The End Of Nonviolent Communication?

Nonviolent communication, or 'mindful communication'as I call it, is all about speaking from and listening to needs. But what, I ask again, are needs? Do we truly need anything? And what does it mean to 'meet' our needs? Could we possibly meet any need inside of us, as well as 'out there' in the world? In this conclusion of my 6 initial series on mindful communication, I attempt to point at what I see as the deepest answers to these questions. At the end is an invitation to experience an often beautiful practice, that I learned from my teacher Yoram Mosenzon, called 'juicing the need'. I hope you enjoy it.

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4.7 (30)

Recent Reviews

Joe

Joe

October 12, 2025

Super interesting, and accessible in a non-intellectual way too as I felt some whole body resonance with some of the insights Hans shares. Also supported me to become more aware of how my use of language only reflects my perspective on reality. And that's beautiful!

Juany

Juany

July 13, 2025

Beautiful short and with a good inside.. Thank you dear!!!

Elizabeth

November 5, 2024

I enjoyed having Kant, Wittenstein, and Husserl mentioned in the context of nonviolent communication.

Mary

Mary

September 23, 2024

This is truly a powerful and provocative course, packed with content, references, and resources that are not only inspiring but also irresistible. I am looking forward to continued learning, both intellectual though reading/studying and practical through practice and meditation. Thank you 🙏

Deenise

Deenise

August 30, 2024

I love NVC. Day 2 had a thought provoking question . Was not always writing for the lay person but I got it

Marla

Marla

April 5, 2024

Excellent as usual! 👍🏻🙏🏻✨

Heidi

March 31, 2024

Thanks to you and John for the last session of series 6. I enjoyed how you made the connection of being in this world with NVC and yet how to extend beyond all of it to our desired place of not needing. I appreciate the explanations of exercises to try myself to help me reach that longed for state of being One.

Vicki

Vicki

March 23, 2024

I so appreciate Hans van Veen’s classes on nonviolent communication. His insights have changed how I interact with my work colleagues and my family. This series of courses is definitely worth the time to listen.

Valerie

Valerie

February 12, 2024

Thank you for sharing . I enjoyed listening to you speak of the subject , the poetry and your your words flow well.

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