Conflict Practice: Staying in Contact Without Losing Yourself – Donation based

A practice space with Kirstin Heidler exploring what it means to stay in relationship without losing ourselves.

How do I stay in contact with someone without losing myself?

This question often becomes most alive in moments of tension or conflict — when connection feels at risk, and something in us wants to appease, withdraw, defend, or override what is true.

It’s easy in those moments to lose touch with ourselves — our sensations, needs, desires, boundaries, and sense of grounding.

We long for relationships that feel mutual, alive, and intimate. Yet when things become emotionally demanding, we can find ourselves caught in patterns that move us further away from the connection we want.

This practice space aims to be experiential, reflective, and gentle — making space for the parts of ourselves that are often pushed aside in relationship and conflict.

Together we’ll explore:

• What happens in me when connection feels at risk?
• Where do I abandon or override myself to preserve connection?
• What does it mean to stay present and self-connected in conflict?
• What supports more honesty, depth, and resilience in difficult conversations?

We will explore through dialogue, guided exercises, role play, embodied awareness, and shared reflection.

This is not about “doing conflict correctly” or becoming perfectly regulated. It is a space to become more aware of our patterns, build relational capacity, and practice staying present when things feel difficult or emotionally charged.

The group is inspired by:

• Nonviolent Communication (NVC)
• relational and humanistic approaches
• conflict facilitation
• embodied awareness and authentic dialogue

You do not need to be experienced with NVC or conflict work to attend. Curiosity, willingness, and care for yourself and others are enough.

This month I’m offering the Conflict Practice Group on a weekday as an experiment in making the space more accessible.

Contribution

This gathering is offered on a donation basis. I offer these groups because I care deeply about creating spaces where we can explore conflict, relationship, and emotional honesty together. I believe it is meaningful beyond the personal. If you like what I do, please support me to take this further.

The suggested donation is £30, but you are free to choose what you give.

Donations support me in sustaining this work alongside raising my two children (11 and 8), continuing my development toward certification as an NVC trainer, and attending the International Intensive Training (IIT) in Durham, UK later this year.

Please contribute what feels possible and fair for you. Your contribution supports both the continuation of these practice spaces and wider community learning.

About the facilitator

Kirstin Heidler is a qualified counsellor who facilitates spaces exploring conflict, emotional honesty, meaningful dialogue, and relational awareness. She has been studying and teaching Nonviolent Communication since 2014 and has several years of experience facilitating relational practice groups, conflict engagement, and community processes. Her work is particularly informed by somatic awareness and nervous-system integration.

Practical details

14.05.2026
10:00am
Online – Link sent in booking confirmation.

Please arrive on time if possible, as the group works best when we begin together.

If you have questions, or would like one-to-one support around conflict or relationships:

https://kirstinheidler.co.uk