Understanding Skill Levels

The skill level definitions below are offered to help you easily browse and select learning resources to meet your goals. Remember that learning NVC is about much more than skill building. In many cases, an individual can remain at a beginner or intermediate skill level because they are still working on developing the NVC consciousness. And in other cases, while we may have intermediate skills in one area (such as a general understanding of the process), we may still consider ourselves a beginner as we apply NVC in a specific area (such as in parenting).

As you assess your skill level using the definitions below, consider all of these parameters.

Introductory

Generally, we define an "Introductory" skill level as 0-16 hours of NVC training. An Introductory skill level assumes that you have little or no NVC experience, or that you want to be reminded of the basics (expressing honestly, empathy, and the core aspects of NVC consciousness), or that you want to observe how others teach introductory NVC courses.

Beginner

Generally, we define a "Beginner" skill level as 16 to 100 hours of NVC training. A Beginner skill level assumes that you are familiar with the basics of NVC (expressing honestly, empathy, and the core aspects of NVC consciousness), but have not had enough training to integrate the basics into your life.

If you have a Beginner skill level, you will have begun to understand the differentiation between feelings and needs, and will recognize that NVC is a process that could increase your connections with others and yourself. The basics of NVC will not be covered in Beginner courses, but they may be expanded upon.

Intermediate

Generally, we define an "Intermediate" skill level as 100-300 hours of NVC training and 1-3 years of experience integrating NVC into your life. An Intermediate skill level assumes that you know the basics of NVC (expressing honestly, empathy, and the core aspects of NVC consciousness), are having success at living NVC in some areas of your life, and are ready to learn and digest greater intricacies of the NVC process.

Some specific indications of an Intermediate skill level are having success at recognizing and verbalizing feelings and needs, and having begun to translate judgments into feelings and needs (recognizing that judgments aren't reality).

Advanced

Generally, we define an "Advanced" skill level as 300 or more hours of NVC training and 3 or more years of experience integrating NVC into your life. An Advanced skill level assumes that you are well versed in the NVC process, committed to living in NVC, and often demonstrate success in living NVC even in challenging situations or when triggered.

Some specific indications of an Advanced skill level are an ability to recognize and take responsibility for your actions / feelings / needs, to hear a "no" and stay in the dialogue, to express anger without blame, to receive people empathically even when they are expressing criticism or blame, and to live in a power-with paradigm.