Is this you?
You are in a committed relationship and love your partner.* You want to build a foundation for a lasting relationship. Perhaps things are going well and you want that to continue. Or, perhaps you feel frustrated about getting caught in the same arguments again and again and can find yourself in blame and criticism. Either way, you are ready and willing to engage in experiential exercises with your partner to learn new skills that will support both a secure emotional bond and the ability to honor authenticity and autonomy.
How it works
You might have tried all sorts of ways to improve your relationship: spending more quality time, spending time apart, reading self-help books, and maybe counseling, and still return to the same conflicts, patterns of communication, or stuck places. You are not alone. Relating in a clear and self-responsible way requires many complex and subtle skills, very few of which have likely been modeled for you growing up. You need a comprehensive way forward that is concrete enough to make use of and subtle enough to adapt to your relationship.
Mindful Compassionate Dialogue (MCD) brings a comprehensive set of skills as well as a subtle understanding of relationship dynamics. MCD brings together concepts and skills from Hakomi (body centered therapy), Nonviolent Communication, and Mindfulness. The goal of MCD is to empower you to create the change you want in your relationships. It naturally supports you in creating a secure bond, while at the same time promotes healthy differentiation. MCD helps you cultivate self-compassion and a confident relationship to needs. You can learn to stay grounded through reactivity and set clear boundaries. When you and your partner make use of the guidance and structure of MCD, you will gain confidence in an understanding and set of skills that enable you to resolve conflict and build a loving and strong relationship.
What to expect
In this six week course, you will be introduced to the consciousness, framework, and tools of MCD. Each class will focus on presenting specific concepts and skills that you will get to integrate and practice with your partner in structured exercises.
We will do a couple of exercises in small groups to build rapport and safety in the whole group. For these small group exercises you can use examples from any part of your life and do not have to share something from your relationship. Other than these exercises, you will be working with your partner in 3-4 experiential exercises during each class. These exercises are highly structured to help you learn skills, address relationship issues, and remain nonreactive.
In this course, most students will be new to Wise Heart, but some may know one another from previous classes. Group size typically ranges from 8 - 12 couples.
Topics for this course include:
Appreciation: Learn how this tool of clear communication about what works that teaches you how to become more responsible and aware of your own needs as well as how to love your partner
Empathy: Learn to listen deeply while remaining self-connected
Honest Expression: Recognize and name feelings, needs, and reactivity, and take responsibility for your needs by making requests that open up a grounded and compassionate dialogue
Reactivity: Gain a basic understanding of how and why reactivity comes up again and again and how you can make a change
How to follow a basic dialogue structure
Details
Trainer: Ava Frank
When: 6:30-8:30pm Wednesdays, October 2 - November 6, 2023
Where: Multnomah Friends Meeting House
Contribution: $350.00 per couple
If you have any questions, please email ava@mcdtherapy.com
*Poly, non-dyad, relationships are welcome