Cordelia Addison
Certified CNVC trainer and mediator, bringing the heart to communication.
A life-long practice of the heart
I am a certified trainer and mediator with The Center for Nonviolent Communication and have been learning NVC since 2010. NVC is the most powerful tool I know for creating ease and harmony with those around me. It is also the most powerful tool I know for mediating conflicts and creating peace. It is a life-long project for me to learn and embody this language of the heart and to share it across business sectors, schools, and in families in the Netherlands and around the world.
Here’s a little about my life: I was born in Scotland and grew up in Michigan, the United States. In 1994, I moved to Amsterdam. In 1998 I started a deep healing journey through homeopathy, yoga, and body-oriented psychotherapy. I worked for 15 years giving in-company English language coaching and training throughout the Netherlands. After having my two sons in 2002 and 2004, I became a doula and breath coach for 6 years, until the life-changing illness of my children’s father led me back to teaching. I am eternally grateful that NVC landed on my path — it has shaped my relationships with my family, children, partner, friends, and even strangers, and in all my working relationships!
Democratic school LIFE!
In 2015, I co-founded the democratic primary and secondary school LIFE! (Learning In a Free Environment). Frustrated by my children’s school experience, in 2013 we switched to democratic education, which is based on self-directed learning.
After long drives to a democratic school far from home, I decided to start a democratic school in the Amsterdam area — a heart-based school, based on the values of Nonviolent Communication. The Democratic School LIFE! has been running since 2015. In school year 2021-2022, we merged with the Guus Kieft School and moved to Amsterdam Sloten. Our new name is Democratic School Amsterdam.