Practice Groups provide a supportive space for ongoing NVC training to build skills for authentic expression and to engage in empathic connection. Many practice groups are free and some are not. The practice group list below is neither comprehensive nor necessarily up to date.
Some groups have requested NVC past experience, as noted in the description. Please note ending dates where they are posted.
Please know that New England NVC does not develop, provide or endorse individual practice groups. Practice groups operate with autonomy and with or without a trainer and offer a variety of approaches to the process. We suggest that you ask questions of a group regarding their process in order to best determine how your needs are met.
Sort By - Day of Week / Title / Location
MASSACHUSETTS / 01002 Amherst Practice Group: Robert and Sharon facilitate a meeting on the first and third Wednesday of the month at the Bangs Community Center from 6:00 - 8:00. It is for people who have had an introduction to nvc workshop, who would like ongoing support for their nvc practice. We utilize Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication as a guidebook, along with Miki Kashtan's Spinning Threads of Radical Aliveness, focusing on the 17 commitments.
Special Interest: Intermediate NVC
Occurs First/Third Wednesdays from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Contact: sharon raymond, 413-259-1748,
MASSACHUSETTS / 01301 Davis Street, Greenfield: We are a closed group. Our practice is NVC live, empathy and some exercises.
Special Interest: Intermediate NVC, Advanced NVC
Occurs Second/Fourth Fridays from 1:00 pm to 1:00 pm.
MASSACHUSETTS / 01301 Abbott St. practice group: We are currently going through Rosenberg's book, chapter by chapter, and are now on Ch. 6 (as of 4/13/09).
We discuss the book for half the time, and
do practice exercises, role plays, etc. for half the time.
Special Interest: Beginning NVC
Occurs Second/Fourth Wednesdays from 2:45 pm to 4:15 pm.
Contact: Karen Fogliatti, 413-773-8303,
MASSACHUSETTS / 02205 Boston Compassionate Communication Practice Group: Open to all!
We meet at:
Beacon Hill Friends House
6-8 Chestnut Street
Boston, MA
Nearest T stop is Park Street.
Special Interest: Beginning NVC, Intermediate NVC
Occurs Second/Fourth Wednesdays from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm.
Contact: Larry Dean, 857-360-0245,
MASSACHUSETTS / 02472 Watertown, MA Empathy Practice Group - Drop in: This practice group meets on 2 Tuesdays a month - the schedule sometimes varies as to which Tuesday, so for dates, email Gcarroll@rcn.com
This group started in Oct 2006 and is an on going, drop in group. Some NVC experience is requested. Having read Marshall's book, "NVC - a Language of Compassion" can be enough to get you started. The group is facilitated by NVC Teacher, Gail Carroll. There is a $15 requested contribution.
Occurs First/Third Tuesdays from 7:00 pm to 8:45 pm.
MASSACHUSETTS / 02556 North Falmouth, MA: Empathy Practice Group formed over the last few months. We request that anyone who would like to join us be committed to learning NVC and has some familiarity with the process by reading Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication, listening to CDs and or attended an introductory workshop. Currently there are four folks who regularly attend. For more information, please call 508-540-3259 before 9pm (and after 5pm on weekdays) or email nolanbab@aol.com. The host requests confirmation of intent to come as well as contact information prior to coming. In this way folks may be notified if the meeting is canceled and if no one plans to come, the host may do something else. The meeting is in a private home that has cats.
Special Interest: Beginning NVC, Intermediate NVC
Occurs Weekly on Mondays from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
NEW HAMPSHIRE / 03227 Sandwich, NH - NVC Practice Group: Meets Monday nights in Sandwich, NH, 7-8:30 pm. New session beginning April 27th, 2015.
Special Interest: Beginning NVC, Intermediate NVC
Occurs Weekly on Mondays from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
Contact: Beverly Woods, 603-941-4947,
NEW HAMPSHIRE / 03458 open to all levels: Peterborough NH Practice group forming now- with leader, time TBA, at Peterborough, NH. Looking for a few more members .Will be weekly and cost$8-15 per session [pays for professional leader.] Beginners and advanced all welcome.
Special Interest: Beginning NVC, Intermediate NVC, Advanced NVC
Contact: Mariah O'Neill, 978-287-0312,
CONNECTICUT / 06105 Hartford NVC Practice Group: “Non-Violent Communication” –or- “authentic connection and communication” Practice Group
Wednesday night NVC Practice group welcomes anyone who has taken an introduction class, or read the book, Non-Violent Communication, A Language of Life, by Marshall Rosenberg (or equivalent book introducing the elements of NVC).
The Practice group meets weekly from 7:15 - 9:00 PM, to enhance the understanding and usage of the NVC components. By “practicing” with each other using such activities as readings, exercises, humor, and sharing personal experiences, our intention together is to improve on our connection skills.
Facilitated by Jan Bennett. Interested in joining this group? Please contact the facilitator. (Note: See below for summer facilitator contact.)
Dates: Wednesdays Time: 7:15-9:00 PM
Location: Unitarian Society of Hartford, 50 Bloomfield Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105 Tel: (860) 233-9897
Fee: None
NOTE: Summer Contact (June to mid-September) Diana Heymann, 860-965-5166 or heydiana42@gmail.com
Special Interest: Beginning NVC, Intermediate NVC, Advanced NVC
Occurs Weekly on Wednesdays from 7:15 pm to 9:00 pm.
Contact: Jan Bennett, 860-817-4900,
CONNECTICUT / 06510 Greater New Haven Practice Group: The New Haven practice group that meets every Tuesday night from 5:30pm until 7:30pm. The purpose of this group is to support and grow our practice in applying and living NVC. It is our request that those attending have attended at least a basic workshop in NVC and/or have read one of Marshall Rosenberg’s books (Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, Speak Peace in a World of Conflict or Life Enriching Education.) We will generally use the first hour to do exercises, teaching or movie clips. We will use the second hour to practice our Giraffe ears in and Giraffe ears out. There is no fee to come to these session although donations are happily accepted.
Please call us to let us know you are coming. All are welcome.
Special Interest: Beginning NVC, Intermediate NVC, Advanced NVC, NVC for Parents, NVC at Work, NVC for Teachers, NVC in Health Care
Occurs Weekly on Tuesdays from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
Contact: Joe Brummer, (203) 782-3500,
CONNECTICUT / 06880 The Unitarian Church in Westport NVC Practice Group: This Practice Group has been meeting for about a year, supported by twice yearly NVC workshops also sponsored by the congregation. At least 6 hours of foundational instruction in NVC required for participation. Meetings are generally on T or W from 7-9PM on an irregular twice monthly schedule.
Call for schedule: 203-227-7205
Special Interest: Intermediate NVC
CONNECTICUT / 06880 Compassionate Communication/NVC Practice Group: The Unitarian Church in Westport. Our CC/NVC Practice Group generally meets for two hours on the second and fourth Monday of the month, from Sept. through June. We have space for and welcome additional interested participants. We request that participants have some familiarity with NVC: reading Marshall Rosenberg's books, workshop participation, video exposure etc. Please contact Lynn if you're interested to learn more and if you'd like to join us.
(NB The other listed practice group at the Unitarian Church is not current.)
Special Interest: Beginning NVC, Intermediate NVC, Advanced NVC
Occurs Second/Fourth Mondays from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Contact: Lynn Whitton,