AVP Canada

The AVP Basic Workshop

The Basic AVP Workshop is an intensive, three-day learning experience which teaches interpersonal conflict resolution skills through a series of step-by-step processes. These experiences in small groups and one-to-one interactions build a sense of community and trust through exercises focusing on:

• Affirmation -- Building self esteem and trust.
• Communication -- Improving both listening skills and assertive methods of expression.
• Cooperation -- Developing cooperative attitudes that avoid competitive conflicts.
• Creative Conflict Resolution -- Getting in touch with the inner Transforming Power to resolve violence. Role plays provide an opportunity to explore this power and learn new and creative ways to respond to real life conflicts in our lives.

AVP workshops seek to assist individuals in personal growth and change. AVP is not psychotherapy. Each workshop is limited to 20 participants.

The AVP Advanced Workshop 

The Advanced AVP workshop focuses on the underlying causes of violence, both in ourselves and in the world we live in. It is designed to give participants opportunities to rebuild community, review in depth the concept of Transforming Power and proceed to set individual and group goals for the focus of the remainder of the workshop.
Such a focus topic might be:

• Fear -- Reveals the hidden fears that usually underlie anger, jealousy and prejudice.
• Anger -- Results in a deeper understanding of the personal situations that trigger anger.
• Power -- (And powerlessness) Helps individuals understand power structures and get in touch with their inner power.
• Communication -- Develops the skills and the ability to communicate in tense and stressful situations.
• Forgiveness -- Builds the groundwork for true reconciliation and freedom from guilt.
• Stereotyping -- Builds awareness of stereotyping, bias and prejudice in personal relations.
• Man-woman relationships -- Explores issues of fear, anger, power and powerlessness.
• And others -- Whatever the group finds most compelling.

(Prerequisite: Completion of Basic Workshop) 

Becoming a Facilitator

AVP groups offer Training for Facilitator workshops.  To train as a facilitator you must complete at least one basic and one advance level workshop.  Typically one would be required to do several T4F's (training for facilitators) until the level of competence and comfort level of the individual will warrant a T4F certificate.  Each person learns and progresses at a different pace and so each person will require a different amount of sessions to quality as a facilitator.  Even after qualifying, certain minimum requirements should be met in order to maintain the status and keep current so that you are able to competently perform as a qualified facilitator.

Guide to Transforming Power