Communication for a Better Life
Join us for one or more events; scroll down or click this button, for list of current offers
Experience a better life.
As the speaker and facilitator, David B. Alexander brings his experience as a psychotherapist, consultant, partner, and parent, as well as integrating a lifelong practice and teaching of meditation and Tai Chi Chuan.
David's therapy work is focused on individuals and couples, as well as organizational therapy for leaders and their teams, leading to connection, well-being, and achieving more of one's goals in life. He teaches communication skills especially to couples coming to improve their relationships.
The various presentations about and discussions of communication, especially Nonviolent Communication (NVC), are dedicated to making life better for group participants, through better understanding of self and other and through better communication choices
These events are enriching, safe opportunities for learning how to deepen relationships of all kinds through better communication, including through authenticity towards oneself, achieving more often the results we desire. As a psychotherapist, David has seen the value of these principles, and has guided numerous couples and individuals to improve the quality of their communication and their relationships.
Topics on core principles of Nonviolent Communication include:
Compassion vs. Labeling and Judgment
Observation vs. Diagnosis and Evaluation
Listening With Empathy
Feelings, Needs, and Requests
Expressing Anger's Core
Protection vs. Punishment
Liberation From Internal Programming
In addition to the introduction to NVC, webinars on specific communication topics from past years have included, for example, Expressing Yourself and Overcoming Inner Conflict; Enjoying the Difficult Conversation; and No Matter What, Appreciation and Celebration. These and others are being offered this year as well.
After presentations, there is always time for questions and answers as well as discussion.
Note: if any attendee does not wish to join in a discussion, but prefers to observe and absorb, that preference will be respected.
Events take place online via Zoom, and may in the future also take place in Long Island or Manhattan at announced addresses.
Webinars can be joined via ordinary phone, but for a full experience use of a computer will allow observing other attendees and those who are speaking. Attendees who do not wish to be seen can disable their video. Except when they are about to speak, attendees should mute their microphones so as to hear the webinar discussion and avoid adding background sounds.
"I thought the the webinar was outstanding. Although I have some familiarity with the concepts of nonviolent communication, I felt that the webinar greatly expanded my knowledge in this area and gave me useful information and techniques that I can apply to improve my relationships with my family and friends."
Ken Z.
The amount of information was terrific, dialogue was great. I wouldn't change anything. I thought meeting everyone was wonderful and having the dialogue. I am interested in attending more webinars.
Karen C.
Perfect. Very Comfortable interaction. A professional presentation. I liked listening to your personal experiences and those of others.
Michele F.
I thought it was very effective and constructive. I enjoyed the candor of presenters and openness to discuss concerns and clarify.
Karen S.
"I thought the the webinar was outstanding. Although I have some familiarity with the concepts of nonviolent communication, I felt that the webinar greatly expanded my knowledge in this area and gave me useful information and techniques that I can apply to improve my relationships with my family and friends."
Ken Z.
The amount of information was terrific, dialogue was great. I wouldn't change anything. I thought meeting everyone was wonderful and having the dialogue. I am interested in attending more webinars.
Karen C.
Perfect. Very Comfortable interaction. A professional presentation. I liked listening to your personal experiences and those of others.
Michele F.
I thought it was very effective and constructive. I enjoyed the candor of presenters and openness to discuss concerns and clarify.
Karen S.
Upcoming Commuication Events
To register for an event click "Buy now", or click the "Add" button for shopping cart to join more than one event
Saturday, May 2 · 11am – 1pm ET
Most of us were never taught how to actually communicate.
We were taught to be polite. Or, to make our case. To defend our position. Or to manage how we come across. But somewhere in all of that, something gets lost — the real, enjoyable, energized conversation that is waiting to be had. The one where both people actually feel heard and can fully express themselves. And it is not only about difficulties: when there are positive experiences to share, do we say and convey the feeling fully, so others can join us in appreciation and joy?
Nonviolent Communication is a framework that helps with genuinely connecting with others. Developed by psychologist Marshall Rosenberg and now used in everything from couples therapy to Fortune 500 boardrooms to international conflict mediation, NVC gives you a way to say what you actually mean — and to hear what the other person is really saying — without defensiveness, judgments, or shutdown getting in the way.
In this two-hour live, interactive webinar, licensed psychotherapist David B. Alexander will guide you through the core principles of NVC and how to put them to work in your real relationships and real conversations. You can participate as much or as little as you wish.
In this interactive webinar you'll explore:
- How we default to judgment and diagnosis — and how to shift to genuine observation
- Identifying and expressing what you're actually feeling (not just what you think)
- The difference between a request and a demand — and why that is so important
- How to make appreciation and joy a shared experience
- Inner conditioning that keeps us stuck in old patterns — and how to start moving differently
This isn't just a presentation. There will be short guided exercises, live discussion, and space to practice. You'll leave with tools you can use immediately — in your closest relationships, at work, and in the conversations with yourself that no one else hears.
About David
David B. Alexander is a licensed psychotherapist based in Roslyn Heights, NY, with a practice that draws on principles of gestalt therapy, existential therapy, and Nonviolent Communication, as well as drawing on decades of Zen Buddhist and Tai Chi Chuan practice and teaching.
He has guided individuals, couples, and leaders through the challenges that we all face in experiencing a better life despite what are felt as external setbacks or our own mental blocks. He brings to this work not just clinical expertise, but the kind of depth that only comes from a lifetime of practice and a life fully lived.
Psychotherapy sessions are available online across New York State, and in person in Roslyn Heights, NY. A free 15-minute consultation is available for those curious about individual therapy. All inquiries are confidential.
Saturday, May 2 · 11am – 1pm ET
Most of us were never taught how to actually communicate.
We were taught to be polite. Or, to make our case. To defend our position. Or to manage how we come across. …
Saturday, June 13 · 11am – 1pm ET
Our temperament and the influence of the family and social environments we grew up in, tend to stay with us. And in turn, who we are helps shape the world around us.
Our inborn temperament and our early family life affect dramatically how we perceive and act in the world. This includes the way we handle differences or conflict; how we express affection and love; what is able to stimulate anger in us; and how we handle needing something from another person, whether it is love, respect, or getting a business report. We learn early on what is safe to say and what "has to" stay quiet.
We carry all of it — into our relationships and marriages, our friendships, our workplaces, and ultimately, into the families we may build ourselves. We are all doing the best we can with what we were given. And most of us, at some point, find ourselves wanting to give something different that is better.
This workshop is for anyone who has ever thought seriously about what it means to be a conscious, healthy influence on the people in their lives, including children, and on society as a whole. We will explore how early experience shapes the way we see ourselves and respond to the world — and what becomes possible when we begin to understand that shaping.
We will look at what it actually means to model the values we want to pass on, especially in a time when the world outside our homes is sending so many competing messages. This includes answering one of the more pressing questions of this particular moment: when we encounter people — including people we love — who seem to have moved toward ideas we find harmful or confusing, what is the most skillful way to respond? Not the most reactive. The most skillful.
In this interactive webinar you'll explore:
- How our earliest experiences shape our habitual responses — and how unfolding awareness can change them
- What conscious influence actually on others looks like in practice,
- The difference between the values we hold and the values we model — and how to close that gap
- How to stay in genuine relationship with people whose worldviews feel foreign or even alarming
- Nonviolent Communication (NVC) as a practical tool for the hardest family and social conversations
This is not a parenting technique workshop. It's something closer to the root — an exploration of how we became who we are, and how that understanding opens up more freedom in who we get to be for the people around us as adults.
About David
David B. Alexander is a licensed psychotherapist based in Roslyn Heights, NY, with a practice that draws on principles of gestalt therapy, existential therapy, and Nonviolent Communication, as well as drawing on decades of Zen Buddhist and Tai Chi Chuan practice and teaching.
He has guided individuals, couples, and leaders through the challenges that we all face in experiencing a better life despite what are felt as external setbacks or our own mental blocks. He brings to this work not just clinical expertise, but the kind of depth that only comes from a lifetime of practice and a life fully lived.
Psychotherapy sessions are available online across New York State, and in person in Roslyn Heights, NY. A free 15-minute consultation is available for those curious about individual therapy. All inquiries are confidential.
Saturday, June 13 · 11am – 1pm ET
Our temperament and the influence of the family and social environments we grew up in, tend to stay with us. And in turn, who we are helps shape the world around us.…
What if changing the way you perceive and communicate could change everything?
Not just the words you choose — but the awareness that guides those words.
The ability to say what you actually mean and to hear what someone else is really saying. To move through conflict without shutting down or blowing up. To fully express love and appreciation. To show up in your relationships, your work, and your inner life with more clarity, more presence. In short, more of your true, best self.
That's what this series is about.
Over three Saturday mornings this spring, licensed psychotherapist David B. Alexander brings together two of the most powerful frameworks for human transformation available today: Nonviolent Communication and Zen Buddhist wisdom. Separately, each is profound. Together, they form something rare — a thorough understanding and principles for how to live and relate with authenticity, compassion, and true inner freedom.
The Series:
Session 1 — Introduction to Nonviolent Communication (NVC) Saturday, May 2: The practical foundation. Learn how to move from judgment and defensiveness to genuine expression and empathetic listening — in your closest relationships, at work, and in the conversation you have with yourself.
Session 2 — Zen and Buddhism 101: Finding the Source Saturday, May 30: The deeper ground. Explore the core teachings of Zen and Buddhism — the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, the Middle Way — and what they actually mean for your everyday life, your liberation from suffering, and your search for something more.
Session 3 — Childhood Influences, Our Inner World, and the World We Are Shaping Saturday, June 13: Our inborn temperament and our early family and social experiences affect dramatically how we perceive and act in the world. This includes the way we handle differences or conflict, how we express affection and love, and more. And through the messages we carry within us, we contribute to the nature of the society and world in which we live.
****************
Each session stands on its own. Together, they start to build something larger: a living understanding of how to communicate from your heart, from your wisdom, and not just from your surface.
Each session includes:
- Engaging presentation of core concepts
- Guided interactive exercises
- Live discussion and Q&A throughout
- Practical tools you can apply in your daily life
About David
David B. Alexander is a licensed psychotherapist based in Roslyn Heights, NY, with a practice that draws on principles of gestalt therapy, existential therapy, and Nonviolent Communication, as well as drawing on decades of Zen Buddhist and Tai Chi Chuan practice and teaching.
He has guided individuals, couples, and leaders through the challenges that we all face in experiencing a better life despite what are felt as external setbacks or our own mental blocks. He brings to this work not just clinical expertise, but the kind of depth that only comes from a lifetime of practice and a life fully lived.
Psychotherapy sessions are available online across New York State, and in person in Roslyn Heights, NY. A free 15-minute consultation is available for those curious about individual therapy. All inquiries are confidential.
What if changing the way you perceive and communicate could change everything?
Not just the words you choose — but the awareness that guides those words.
The ability to say what you actually mean an…
Not Able to Attend Any of These Dates?
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“David is a superbly gifted Organizational Therapist who is able to help guide entrepreneurs in growing their businesses while navigating the highly unpredictable environment that we find ourselves in.
Unlike many psychotherapists he has a long-established track record of working and advising in the real world, which allows him to help his clients deal with real world problem solving. If you have an established business which is coping with a changing times, or an entrepreneur looking to unlock growth and opportunities I would highly recommend David as a consultant.”
Michael Pinto
Entrepreneurial Product Designer and CEO of Very Memorable
“I had both the privilege and good fortune to first connect with David in 2019. In retaining his services, I found him to be highly professional, insightful, authentic, patient, and kind. I greatly appreciated his direct approach, thoughtful consideration, and engaging manner.
As it turns out, the feedback and insight he provided me turned out to be absolutely spot on, over the course of time. It is a pleasure to recommend David as a pragmatic, discerning, and intuitive counselor, therapist, and leader.”
Eben Wilson
Founder and CEO, Exaio Systems
“David recently did a presentation on non-violent communication on behalf of one of my clients, an HR firm. To say that he hit it out of the ballpark would be an understatement. He was engaging, used real-world scenarios and examples and provided the attendees with actionable take-aways to help them navigate the sometimes-tricky world of intergenerational workplace communication.
David is genuine and empathetic. Even during a brief training, his message resonated with this audience of business owners, HR managers and C-suite executives. We received extremely positive feedback from the attendees and highly recommend David for consulting and training in this area.”
Theresa Jacobellis
President, PrescRXptive Communications, LLC
“David is a superbly gifted Organizational Therapist who is able to help guide entrepreneurs in growing their businesses while navigating the highly unpredictable environment that we find ourselves in.
Unlike many psychotherapists he has a long-established track record of working and advising in the real world, which allows him to help his clients deal with real world problem solving. If you have an established business which is coping with a changing times, or an entrepreneur looking to unlock growth and opportunities I would highly recommend David as a consultant.”
Michael Pinto
Entrepreneurial Product Designer and CEO of Very Memorable
“I had both the privilege and good fortune to first connect with David in 2019. In retaining his services, I found him to be highly professional, insightful, authentic, patient, and kind. I greatly appreciated his direct approach, thoughtful consideration, and engaging manner.
As it turns out, the feedback and insight he provided me turned out to be absolutely spot on, over the course of time. It is a pleasure to recommend David as a pragmatic, discerning, and intuitive counselor, therapist, and leader.”
Eben Wilson
Founder and CEO, Exaio Systems
“David recently did a presentation on non-violent communication on behalf of one of my clients, an HR firm. To say that he hit it out of the ballpark would be an understatement. He was engaging, used real-world scenarios and examples and provided the attendees with actionable take-aways to help them navigate the sometimes-tricky world of intergenerational workplace communication.
David is genuine and empathetic. Even during a brief training, his message resonated with this audience of business owners, HR managers and C-suite executives. We received extremely positive feedback from the attendees and highly recommend David for consulting and training in this area.”
Theresa Jacobellis
President, PrescRXptive Communications, LLC