Immersive NVC Level 2 residential workshop with movement and dance
12th Aug 2025 - 17th Aug 2025
5pm start / 3pm end
Fixed cost: £350 or EARLY BIRD RATE of £325 if paid by 1st July + Sliding scale contribution (to be given at the end): £200 - £600. 1 bursary place available
Led by: Cath Burke | Contact Cath


Finding Your Flow: Getting Fluent In NVC
Summer workshop in Devon
Have you glimpsed the potential of NVC, but are forgetting or finding it hard to use in everyday life? Or have you been practising NVC for a while, but still wish you were more in your heart and less in your head? Are you daunted, trying to do things differently in a world that seems harsh and exhausting? Do you spend a lot of time online or alone, and are longing for community, whilst perhaps being a bit wary of it?
These 5 days offer a supportive space to learn and practise NVC, in an embodied way, in good company, whilst having fun, with time to relax and restore in nature.
It is an invitation to grow your confidence and competence in NVC and leave with greater capacity to meet whatever life throws at you with courage and love – including tough-love. You may end up more ok with yourself, more real, or readier to make changes at home or at work that feel aligned with who you are.
“Through the different practice activities, modelled roleplays and conversations with all the participants and trainers, I came to see how I could capitalise on what lives inside me to have open, authentic and engaging conversations with people holding ideas and opinions that go against my own and how this could easily turn a no into a yes. As a result, I have more faith in my ability to handle potential disagreements, am less afraid and avoidant of them and am also more likely to make requests which fully meet my needs.”
— Sandra, Wiltshire
What to expect
A group of about 12 people spending the mornings practising NVC. We will work with reflective and communicative exercises, role play and NVC kinaesthetic ‘dance floors’ (as developed by Gina Lawrie and Bridget Belgrave).
There’ll be a dance session each afternoon where you get to embody different aspects of NVC through movement. If you’ve never tried ‘conscious dance’ before you are especially welcome. No experience is necessary – you cannot do it wrong! And all ages, body shapes, abilities and fitness levels are welcome.
You’ll have the option to meet daily in small groups for an empathy exchange (a chance to be heard without judgment for anything at all and to practise listening to others with empathy), dyad enquiry (exploring needs) or further practice of your choice.
To keep costs down and NVC practice up, we’ll be cooking meals for ourselves 🙂 Menus and ingredients will be provided and you’ll be asked to cook a couple of simple vegetarian meals, alongside a couple of others, with the support and ‘supervision’ of an assistant.
There’ll be plenty of time between sessions when you’re not cooking to rest or walk in the beautiful surrounding countryside. We will have places where you can enjoy silence to support self-connection.
There’s also the option of a sauna and outdoor fire.
“This course is incredibly well structured and to the point. Cath teaches complicated concepts in a simple and funny way. The format of Finding your Flow NVC residential retreat course doesn’t only work for different learning styles but together they’re a powerful means to make you actually learn. I could feel my heart growing while doing the activities. I would gladly do the course again just for the teaching style alone.”
— Jean Pierre Szajniuk, S.E London
BOOK HERE
Theme: Getting fluent in NVC
It can take time to integrate an NVC mindset and have all the skills on the tip of your tongue when you need them. This workshop is an invitation to get stuck in to plenty of dialogue practice, getting familiar and fluent with the 4 steps of NVC as you listen empathically to others, connect with and express yourself. You’ll practise letting go of the ‘form’ of NVC and finding your unique version of ‘street giraffe’, that feels and sounds authentic to you and those you’re talking to. We’ll explore how to say ‘no’ with kindness and how to stay open and grounded when you receive a ‘no’, instead of losing your cool or withdrawing. The dance sessions are an integral part of deepening your embodiment of NVC.
Who’s it for?
Some NVC Training is required. If you haven’t completed a 12 hour Level 1 Foundation Training or equivalent, please get in touch to discuss. People come with a wide variety of experience and support each other. No ‘conscious dance’ experience necessary. Every body is warmly welcome. Whatever your age, body shape or fitness level. Whatever your ethnic or class identity. Whatever your first language or nationality. However you identify in terms of gender and sexuality. And if you are impacted by mental health, neurodivergence or disability I am committed to exploring together how this event can be accessible and welcoming to you.
Board & accommodation
All food & drinks are provided. Participants will prepare and cook meals (see ‘what to expect’ above) which will be simple, vegetarian and mainly organic. We can cater for special diets but PLEASE inform us of your needs IN ADVANCE.
You’ll be sharing a room with 1, 2 or 3 others, or have your own private space in a partitioned dorm. There are a few single rooms, allocated on the basis of need. You can also sleep in your own camper van.
“The combination of structured NVC exercises in the mornings and movement in the afternoons met the needs of both my mind and body every day. I came to the retreat to deepen my NVC learning and integration through practice. I definitely got that, but also so much more: movement, fun, self-awareness, connection with others, relaxation in the sauna, and nourishment from the delicious food and beautiful surroundings.”
— Ola, Finland
Cost
Payment for this event is in 2 parts:
a) Fixed cost: £350. Or EARLY BIRD RATE of £325 if paid by July 1st. The fixed cost is paid in advance as confirmation of your booking. It covers the basic expenses of running the workshop including accommodation, food, drinks, printing, basic expenses for Cath & one assistant. If it’s easier for you, please pay a £175 deposit to secure your place (including Early Bird place), and the remainder one month in advance of the start date. If you sleep in your own camper van the fixed cost is £285 or £255 EARLY BIRD RATE.
b) Sliding scale contribution: £200 – £600 to be given at the end of the workshop. You choose within the sliding scale what you are willing and able to contribute to Cath for her facilitation and all the organisation that goes into putting on such an event.
About the sliding scale
I offer a sliding scale for what you give to me because I want to reduce the financial barriers to attending my events. I am also open to payment being made in instalments that work for you. The sliding scale also allows those who are financially abundant to contribute according to their means, thus supporting me to offer lower fees.
Bursary
If any amount beyond the £350 fixed cost puts this event out of reach for you, please get in touch. I am willing to waive the sliding scale contribution to me completely for 1 person. I will use a lottery system if more than 1 person applies and make the offer 6 weeks before the start date.
Location and travel
Eden Rise Retreat Venue, Sandwell Barns, Harberton, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 7L J
Train to Totnes
Short taxi ride (about £10 / 10 minutes) to Eden Rise
If you drive there’s parking space
Cath works closely with London Certified Trainers – Ceri Buckmaster, Carolyn Davies, Daren De Witt and Tracy Seed. We are a collaborative group of London-based CNVC Certified Trainers working together to offer you clear learning and progression options to suit you. We are committed to creating community and a supportive network for those learning, living and sharing NVC in London. Many of our trainings are currently online, so if you live outside of London, you are welcome to participate. Follow this link to discover more