Communication for a Better Life
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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 for 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
Other meetings will have various specific topics. Past topics have included Solving the Roots of Conflict; Having the Difficult Conversation; and Communication in the Workplace.
Lastly, we will also be having unscripted meetings open to any issue of communication that participants wish to bring up.
After presentations, there is always time for questions and answers as well as discussion; some meetings are facilitated discussion only
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 person, 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, and those who do not wish to speak (or if there is background noise in the attendee's area) can mute their microphone so as to hear the webinar discussion without speaking.
You can call David B. Alexander at (718) 229-2609, if you have any questions.
“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.
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Saturday, December 7 · 11am EST (1h 30m)View more
Join this interactive, free monthly workshop dedicated to improving on important relationships and your own awareness and wel…
Read moreJoin this interactive, free monthly workshop dedicated to improving on important relationships and your own awareness and well-being.
Daily life often consists of small and fairly simple interactions that keep things running smoothly or at least meet needs of the moment.
In addition to those simple interactions, there are the conversations that involve important and perhaps challenging content: hurt, anger, and even feelings of love and emotional intimacy, which can be difficult to bring up or to fully take in when offered by another person.
And yet, these same conversations provide the opportunity to deepen mutual connection and strengthen relationships, as well as supporting one's own well-being.
Topics for discussion may include:
- The benefits of expression vs. silence: bring more life to your life
- Whose difficulty is it, anyway: understanding the real source of the problem
- Reframing the conversation: realizing that the negative is fundamentally based on a positive
- "Good" words / "bad" words: which words and phrases create more conflict, and which heal
We invite all participants to bring in their own real-life questions and challenges around the above topics, or other topics related to "difficult conversations."
There will be interactions in breakout rooms, although there will also be substantial full-group discussion.
Take a step back from the stresses and challenges of managing daily life, and re-connect with the building blocks that allow us to experience each moment and each day as a vibrant, satisfying experience.
The event is facilitated by David B. Alexander, Licensed Psychotherapist. In it, we will practice some interactive, experiential exercises to make it easier for us to use good communication in daily life. We will also apply Nonviolent Communication (NVC) to issues or questions that the attendees bring in, and David will facilitate the dialogue.
As a psychotherapist, David has seen the great value of these principles, and has guided numerous couples and individuals to improve the quality of their communication and their relationships.
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Note: it is recommended that people have their video / camera on during our session to asist in having more connection with others, especially during breakout room sessions.
The workshop meeting will take place online via Zoom. The meeting can be joined via ordinary phone, but for a full experience use of a computer will allow seeing all participants more easily.
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Other Resources for a better, more informed life
Escaping From Freedom ebook
In times of division and loss of understanding ("How can 'those people' believe in that?"), we need to look more closely, with an open mind and heart.
This 19-page ebook builds on the insights of Erich Fromm's iconic 1941 book Escape From Freedom, with updated observations by psychoanalyst David B. Alexander. Understanding human nature allows us to understand and to help heal the crisis of questioning what is real.
Make sense of and find peace in today's world through better understanding. See the table of contents, and download your copy.
Tai Chi Chuan Yang-style Short Form, in person in Long Island and Manhattan
Improve your well-being and vitality. You can do this through Tai Chi Chuan practiced with its full historical meaning and benefits. It is a martial art, a sport, and a health practice.
Those active in sports, dancing, and music performance have reported improvements in terms of lower tension and faster response times. Read articles and blog entries to find out more about the benefits and philosophy of Tai Chi Chuan. My teaching focuses on integrating the whole person: emotions and movement; brain, heart, and body.
Online Tai Chi Chuan Essence and Essentials, Monday December 2nd from 7:15pm to 8:15pm ET
This online class and discussion will discuss and practice the essential principles and specific forms and connections that make Tai Chi Chuan so valuable for mental and physical well-being.
This session is recommended for those with at least some exposure to Tai Chi Chuan, as well as for those who are already very familiar with a Yang-style Short Form, such as the Short Form of either Grandmaster William C.C. Chen or Professor Cheng Man-ch'ing. Those with an existing Tai Chi Chuan practice will understand the topic more completely, but the session is appropriate for all levels.
An Alcove in the Heart ebook or printed book
Sidney Diamond and Estelle Spero (my mother) had met before WWII and became best friends and sweethearts in early adolescence, and the way seemed clear to marriage—until Pearl Harbor.
Get Ebook Now Get Printed Book Now
Sid left college to enlist, but, determined to maintain the closeness of their relationship despite time and distance, wrote to Estelle almost every day. These letters, powerful, insightful, and moving, also reflect the humor that was part of Sid's nature.
Tai Chi Chuan Workshop - Sunday December 8th
Review and practice core components of Tai Chi Chuan: Short Form Refinement, Push-Hands, and Punching/Applications. Deepen your practice.
The workshop takes place from 3pm to 6:00pm, meeting at 440 Lafayette Street, Room 4G, New York 10003. Ring the buzzer "Playwrights." For weekly classes in LI, read here.
Four-session Intensive: Nonviolent Communication, starting January 11th
Join this interactive, intensive online workshop dedicated to improving on important relationships and your own awareness and well-being.
We will be meeting in four sessions of two hours each, on Saturdays from 11am to 1pm ET beginning Saturday January 11th (and skipping January 25th). Start the new year right!