Getting Better at Hard Conversations 2025 - A two day skills-based workshop

In person, in Wellington (location will be sent to participants once booked)


Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 February 2025 9am -5.30pm

Peace is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with it - Mahatma Gandhi

If you struggle with:

• being able to say what you mean when disagreement arises
• ‘dealing’ with disagreements (and your feelings about them) alone, because you don’t know how to do it differently
• hearing the other person when they get upset, angry or disagree with you
• being able to express yourself without constantly trying to please the other person
• staying connected to your own values in challenging conversations without “losing it” entirely
• avoiding conflict at all costs

Then join us for this hands-on and experiential, two day workshop. It’s designed for anyone who wants to explore how we can learn from moments of conflict, and how we can go through them, caring for ourselves, the other person and our relationship. 

The work we will do is applicable to both personal and professional challenging conversations and conflict situations. We will introduce concepts and frameworks, and you will be invited to experiment with ways of using them in your life situations - in dyads, small groups, and larger circle. 

Our work draws on methods and tools from Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and mindfulness, and our approach is practical. We will focus on offering tools you can immediately practise, and steps you can implement in your daily life. 

You will be provided with written materials, tools, and guides on practices that we learn. 

You will learn:

• How to listen to understand the meaning beneath what the other person is saying (or screaming, or silenting (let’s pretend that’s a word));
• What to do when you need to step away, instead of just “counting to ten”;
• What happens in our brain in moments of conflict, and how to come back from being overwhelmed;
• The difference between strategies, feelings, needs and thoughts - and why this matters in challenging conversations;
• To listen to yourself and the other person with empathy;
• Mindfulness and Nonviolent Communication (NVC)-based tools that can be used in tense and challenging conversations.

Previous attendees say:

The workshop with Anna and Helen... really filled me with so many insights about myself, about my growth, my views, the stories I tell myself... And how to make sense out of it. They have an incredible way to create a safe space for you to feel heard and seen, and for you to realise that what you think and feel matters.  They are very unique professionals in their own fields. (Dani, Wellington participant)

"I loved the ebb and flow of Anna and Helen's workshop. They created a warm, open-hearted space for self enquiry with NVC and Mindfulness, as well as time for group learning and sharing. I look forward to the next." (Nicky, Wellington participant)

Payment plans are available and we have limited number of scholarship placements. Get in touch to discuss.

Please note: Because of the nature of this workshop being so experiential, this workshop will go ahead with a minimum of 10 participants. Hosts will make a decision and notify participants with 5 days notice if the workshop numbers mean the event is not able to go ahead.