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About us
How to make the couple work?
And not only "work" but experience meaning and passion and make the relationship deepen and grow over time.
In our upbringing we, like most of us, didn't learn how to do that.
Overtime we gathered and created tools that we want to share with you as we believe from experience it is possible.
Marije
I’m passionate about re-sensitizing and trusting my body, to follow her innate wisdom. Yet it’s not something I have learned while growing up. How to listen to my pain?
When I finished the art academy in 2009 I was feeling confused, insecure and too afraid to create anything…
I started practicing and teaching Yoga & Meditation. That brought a big shift in the relationship I had with my body; for the first time I started to hear her, notice how she was constantly talking to me. I became more aware of my thoughts too, that was confronting! The way I talked to myself created so much pain: “You are so dum”, “Again you didn’t finish your to-do list!” etc.
When I met NVC in 2014 I had a profound experience: “Life is not about feeling good. Instead my feelings are there to care for me.” This brought a sense of I’m welcome as I’m. I finally got the clarity on how to connect to life in me and in others. This clarity is making my life worth living, supporting me daily in connection with my children, my partner and myself!
In 2018 when my own relationship ended, I started teaching NVC and supporting couples and individuals. It made me realise many human-beings struggle in their relationships: (Unspoken) shame, guilt, expectations etc. seem to kill love and sexuality. Yet I also realised that deep down most human-beings long for a relationship where they feel fully seen, loved and supported. I find sexuality such a powerful and potent energy, I feel passionate to listen to the shame, fear, guilt and longings we might carry around sexuality and how we can use our sexual energy not only for pleasure but also to make love that reaches beyond the bedroom into all areas of our life.
Bonno
I was introduced to NVC by attending a workshop of Marshall Rosenberg’s in 2008. I was completely touched by his message. As if by accident I discovered a secret manual about how to live life.
Marshall’s principles on self-expression and listening to myself and others at first seemed so radically different from how I was educated. So different, that I thought this will never be realized for me, at least not in this lifetime!
Without much expectation I started to follow courses, the result being that I have been practicing NVC ever since. Now I teach NVC and I give private sessions and mediations.
I was born in Holland and teach in English and Dutch. I’m also a cellist and composer, an Alexander Technique teacher and a cook.