Nonviolent communication: A systemic practice for care and support professionals

Nonviolent communication (NVC) is a tool fostering dialogue and cooperation based on language exercises. It develops awareness of the deeper issues at stake in a situation, empathy toward oneself and others, and cooperation to ensure that everyone’s fundamental needs are met. It is a systemic approach, which takes into account the plurality of voices present in a system (individual, family, team, institutions, etc.) and their contribution to the evolution of the system. NVC, also known as benevolent communication or empathic communication, has been increasingly used since the 2000s as a tool for personal development, pedagogy, mediation, team management, and institutional reform. The present narrative review explores nine articles discussing NVC for healthcare professionals. It shows that care and support professionals draw two main benefits from NVC. On the one hand, it is a tool that facilitates the empathic bond and the therapeutic alliance with those receiving support, and on the other hand, it is a practice of active self-empathy and empathy between peers that reduces the risk of empathic burnout.