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from the July, 2009 issue of Kiai!
Communication for Harmony and Safety
By Marie O'Brien
Lights, Camera, Action! Participants in a "Communication for Harmony and Safety" class put on short plays in front of their colleagues, demonstrating the effectiveness of assertive communication in stressful situations. Participants were attending a class through Thousand Waves' "Alliances for Hope, Healing and Action" project, which provides a series of workshops for staff of agencies that work with survivors of violence.
Participants first tried their skills in small groups, and later had the opportunity to showcase their boundary setting or de-escalation skills in front of the larger group. Role-play included: intervening in a verbal argument between two clients; setting a boundary with a needy coworker; and calming down an angry client who feels disrespected.
The assertive communication class enables participants to build their skills in real life situations to lessen the potential for conflict and increase peaceful communication. Another workshop, "Stress Management and Wellness," encourages holistic self-care and stress relief through physical movement, visualization, and playful interaction.
Thanks to support from the Little Angel Foundation, Thousand Waves is partnering with the Association House of Chicago, Between Friends, Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network, and Healthy Families through this Alliances project. At a time when budgets for essential direct service agencies are being slashed, Thousand Waves is grateful to be able to provide some support to these hard-working professionals.
