Dao of Love

1. Group training sessions

Single day, Weekend, Extended Series.

On topics ranging from very specific, like ‘Listening Skills’, to general, like ‘Successful Intimate Relationships’.

2. Individual coaching sessions

As agreed – Timing, Subject and Location can be negotiated

3. Mediation for couples who are struggling in their relationship

Mediation is a structured process within which we assist the people to create a resolution that works for both – a win/win. It does not require either person to have done any training with us.

Mediation is normally needed in an acute situation where there is rarely the motivation to set about learning new communication techniques. What we do here is facilitate all of the parties of the dispute to hear what the other parties need and experience. In this situation we use and demonstrate the tools and methods we teach.

4. Emergency counseling

Do you have a problem and you have no idea how to sort it out?

Are you so upset by something that you just have to talk to someone about it?

Are you in a crisis and dont know anyone who can give you some guidance?

We are good listeners and are here to talk, and we can help you work out what to do.

5. Taster Sessions in your Organisation

We are available some afternoons and on some Thursday evenings to come to your office, club or group to do a taster session, up to a maximum of two hours. If you have an idea then please contact us.

So what exactly do we teach?

Here are some broad categories and an indication of the sort of things that we teach within each of those categories. There will be interactive exercises, role-plays, case studies and examples designed to enhance the learning experience.

1. Listening to others

· How to make sense of what somebody has said and work out what it means to them.

· How to control your own emotions when somebody says something angry, hurtful or emotionally charged.

· How to separate the facts from the interpretations in somebody’s words

· How to identify what someone needs from what they have said.

· Active listening – speaking back to others what they have just said in your own words, to show you have understood

· Creative interrupting

2. Speaking to others

· Working out what you want to say

· Saying what you want in a way that is likely to support you getting it

· I/you statements

· Things not to say

· The difference between demands and requests and why demands dont work

· How to make a request

· Apologizing

· Saying No

3. What goes on inside your own mind

· Is the story you are telling yourself the only possible explanation for the situation?

· Stories you tell yourself that hold you back

· Stories you tell yourself about others

· Looking at a situation as if you arent there

4. Self understanding and emotional self management

· Identifying your needs, your priorities, your preferences

· Anger management

· Fear

· Honesty – good or bad

· Difference between feelings and thoughts

· Love/Infatuation/dependency

· Difference between needs and strategies

· Optimism, patience, hope, depression

· Timing, pausing, breathing

· Psychology and the mechanics of the mind

5. Miscellaneous

· Creating a win/win

· Setting Priorities

· Mechanics of communication

a. Questions/Answers

b. Building

· Blending/Matching/Pacing/Building rapport

a. Common interest, shared past, common friends

b. Voice speed, pitch, style

c. Body posture

· Humour