Services
I provide six primary services
1. I teach an interpersonal process called Nonviolent Compassionate Communication to groups of private individuals, to business, or to organizations.
2. I teach a marital skills seminar called PREP to all couples.
3. I provide counseling/psychotherapy to individuals and couples in my private practice.
4 I consult with corporations, government and organizations regarding management issues and concerns such as management development, employee morale, productivity, team building, restructuring, communication, conflict resolution, etc., and I provide training for any these issues when training is warranted.
5. I mediate disputes between individuals, couples, groups, and organizations.
6. I teach parents a parenting skills course called PET, Parent Effectiveness Training.
1. Nonviolent Compassionate Communication (NVC) is a model for transforming any relationship or conversation including those which are the most difficult into those which are harmonious and caring.
Most of us when confronted with another’s offensive behavior are limited in methods to influence the other to change. After asking politely we don’t know what to do, except to get angry, be sarcastic, threaten, call them names, (coerce them in some way), or put up with it.
This approach offers an alternative. It teaches you how to convey your negative reaction to someone or to hear their negative reaction to you in a way that transforms the communication from blame and punishment to openness and understanding. Frequently it works like magic—even though it is difficult to do and usually requires much practice!
Referred to as “the language of the heart”, nonviolent communication teaches each person how to disclose elements of their reaction (which at first are not apparent even to themselves), elements which are inherently both honest and at the same time non accusatory. So from the outset the climate is non threatening. And the response elicited is one of understanding rather than one of defensiveness.
I teach this within organizations and also to classes that I organize
My schedule of classes for 2008 is as follows: (All classes are in Chicago except as noted)
Weekend Class in May, 2008 over two days--Friday, May 9, 7 pm to 9:30 pm, and Saturday, May 10, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
In this introductory workshop (also open to those experienced with NVC) the behaviors, concepts, and mindset of NVC will be presented and demonstrated, and opportunities provided for each individual to practice these behaviors on their own real life situations through role plays. Initially the model is presented through lecture with examples, utilizing paper and pencil exercises so that participants may practice each step. Much discussion occurs. Then role plays for practice with coaching from the instructor follow.
Advanced Practice Class: the second Sunday of each month from 6 pm to 8 pm, must register for 6 consecutive months
Special Couples Only Class: (See PREP below)
The fee for the weekend class in May is $125 for early registration and $140 for late registration. Early registration is any deposit received 7 days prior to the start of the class.
The fee for the Advanced Practice Class is $180 for 6 consecutive sessions.
Registration: You may register for any class by sending a $50 deposit along with your name, address, phone numbers and e-mail address (for confirmation of registration) to Allan Rohlfs, 3743 N Drake Ave., Chicago, IL 60618
When I teach within organizations or business other time frameworks are possible such as a one, two, or three day long class. Contact me regarding fees for organizations or businesses.
2. PREP is a marital skills course which provides couples with a specific way to talk to each other when they have differences or conflict. Research indicates that how couples treat each other during conflict is critical to whether the relationship survives or dissolves.
Other skills are introduced such as how to present a difficulty in a nonblameful way (taken from Nonviolent Communication) and how to demonstrate caring to one's partner within their definition of caring. Typical differences between men and women in relationships are explored as well as how to identify hidden issues and how to differentiate issues which need discussion from those which need solutions. And more.
My schedule of classes for 2008 in Chicago is as follows:
March 8 from 8:30 am to 4 pm
September 27 from 8:30 am to 4 pm
The fee is $199 per couple including materials, for early registration (14 days before the class) and $225 thereafter.
Registration: You may register for any PREP class by sending a $50 deposit along with your name, address, phone numbers and e-mail address (for confirmation of registration) to Allan Rohlfs, 3743 N Drake Ave., Chicago, IL 60618
When a couple wishes this training, but their schedule does not permit them to attend on of my classes, then I offer them private instruction in my therapy office. Usually this takes four one hour sessions.
3. I've been a psychotherapist for over 30 years in private practice working primarily with individuals and couples practicing a form of therapy called focusing-oriented therapy. I utilize a sliding fee scale and see people at my office in Chicago. I am licensed by the State of Illinois as a Professional Counselor.
4. I consult with management regarding organizational issues of concern to management and then design programs to address those issues. Frequent issues are lack of management training and development, low employee morale or low productivity, lingering conflict from labor disputes, introducing change either in products and services, in production methods, service delivery, or in organizational structure, need for strategic planning, lack of clear mission, and more.
5. I mediate disputes regardless of the intensity or longevity of the conflict between individuals and groups or organizations. The issues may be custody for couples who are divorcing, or how to work out the divorce, or discrimination charges brought by an employee to their company, or family disputes spanning generations, or church disputes between different groups or between the pastor and the congregation, or between neighbors, or between landlord and tenant, etc. As a third party I bring facilitation skills to the interaction to help the parties talk to each other in a way which is most likely to result in an agreement which is acceptable to each party.
6. I teach PET upon request. It is a 24 hour course usually taught in eight 3 hour sessions. Parents learn skills called I messages, active listening, Method III problem solving, values collision alternatives, and more. Additional to these skills parents learn a new way of viewing and approaching relationships with their children. They practice the skills in class in role plays with coaching from the instructor.
