Training Day | Major Goals | Exemplary Exercises |
1 | ・ involvement in the topic ・ knowledge of the theoretical bases of empathy and the Empathic Short Circuit ・ reflection of individual empathic acting | ・ collecting associations with empathy after viewing a film clip with contagious laughter ・ mutual interviewing about recent emotional events and discussing empathic reactions |
2 | ・ knowledge of the four steps and differentiations of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) ・ ability to formally use these four steps to rephrase individual messages | ・ differentiating exemplary sentences into violent vs. nonviolent language ・ using both the feelings and needs inventory to specify typical messages by coworkers and patients as well as one’s own messages |
3 | ・ insight into the experience of being fundamentally understood and the ability to promote this experience in others by using the NVC pattern ・ ability to spontaneously apply the NVC pattern in conversations with others and for emotional self-clarification in or after emotionally intense situations | ・ having an argument about an actual disagreement first spontaneously and then by using the process of feedback to ensure that each single argument is truly understood before stating one’s counterargument ・ rephrasing another participant’s neutrally told story by filling it with assumed emotions and needs ・ retelling one’s own story with a focus on emotions and unfulfilled needs |
4 | ・ ability to use the NVC pattern in a complex scenario similar to the actual work setting with the dual focus on the experience of the other person and on one’s own experience ・ critical look back on the training and individual conclusions about the opportunities and limitations of NVC in practice | ・ example case as a role play taken from an actual situation with the responsibility of producing a positive outcome (i.e., the compliance of the patient) placed solely on the participant ・ discussion of pros and cons of the NVC pattern and its applicability |