Peer School – Empathy & Communication

Peer School – Online Workshop

Empathy and communication are about listening with your full attention to understand another person’s feelings and perspective. When someone feels seen, heard, and respected, an emotional connection forms. When there is a connection, your words have far more impact.

To gain a better understanding of empathy and communication, we will define the terms, discuss the importance of personal boundaries, and explore listening techniques to help improve communication. We will also delve into the topic of perspective taking and engage in exercises practicing empathy.

Empathy & Communication will be held as a Zoom meeting with interactive discussions, breakout rooms, and skill-building. 

This online workshop is part of our Peer School, which supports you in supporting others. So this workshop is open to anyone wanting to develop communication with empathy, or is supporting another person.

Empathy & Communication has been created in collaboration with CMHA Kelowna’s Peer Supporters and Education Team with contributions from people with lived and learned expertise.

What to expect:

• Online community workshop
• Held as a zoom meeting (not webinar format)
• 1 session,  2 hours long
• 2 Co-facilitators leading the workshop
• Interactive activities including breakout rooms, discussions, and practicing knowledge learned 
• Workbook with work-along activities
• Instructions on how to join are sent to your email before the session begins
• Recommended to have a pen and paper
• No prior knowledge needed

Learning Opportunities:

• Gain an understanding of what empathy is and how it is linked to compassion and communication.
• Become knowledgeable about boundaries, setting boundaries, and identifying what are clear and unclear boundaries.
• Discuss listening, what is listening and what does listening versus fixing look like.
• Discover communication techniques, such as what helps open dialogue and what can lead to communication ‘shut down’.
• Learn 1-1 communication techniques and group communication techniques. 
• Discuss barriers to being empathetic.
• Empower ourselves and know we’re not alone in this journey!