Nourishing Needs: Creativity & Discovery – Vanessa West

Needs hold the seeds of our deepest desires. They can be sources of motivation, inspiration, and hope. Yet, have you ever noticed an unmet need and felt a sense of longing and lack? I sure have. How do we bridge the space between discovering needs and finding strategies to nourish them?

I’ve found that a simple practice from my creative background can turn that sense of lack into portals of possibility.

This workshop offers a gentle, experiential space to explore creative ways of nourishing needs. Through guided group and individual practice, we’ll explore how unmet needs can become invitations for discovery rather than problems to solve.

You’ll leave with a simple, repeatable practice for finding fresh possibilities in everyday life.

What this workshop offers:

– A shared exploration of needs and possibility, drawing from lived experience and real-life practice

– Clear, supportive steps for meeting unmet needs with curiosity and creativity, turning longing into a process of discovery

– A gentle, easy-to-use practice for uncovering unexpected possibilities to nourish needs

All are welcome.

When: 6 March 2026, 20:00-21:30 CET (Berlin time)

How: ONLINE on ZOOM

Language: English

Cost: Participating in the “Time for Empathy” sessions LIVE is, as always, free. However, if you would like to have access to the recordings, you are welcome to buy them – a special offer is available while registering for the event. Please note that not all workshops will be recorded. We will do our best to indicate which ones will.

This session will NOT be RECORDED.

Registration: 

To take part in this workshop, register for the “Time for Empathy” event here: https://www.empathiceurope.com/time-for-empathy/

NOTE: Register only ONCE for the whole event and participate live in all “Time for Empathy” workshops organised between 1 and 8 March 2026.

About the trainer:

Vanessa West

I’m passionate about sharing the beauty and power of empathy & authenticity―and the deep personal transformation they make possible.

For years, I was searching for NVC without knowing it. I was baffled by conflict: How can sincere efforts at communication still lead to disputes? I devoured books on empathy and EQ, seeking answers.

When I discovered NVC, it was like lifting a veil. I began to see beyond conflict to universal common ground. I learned to listen to what’s in a person’s heart, instead of getting lost in their words. I learned to hear what’s alive within myself with much more clarity.

NVC has been so transformative for me that I feel inspired to share it with others. My path into this work is shaped by an unusual background: from the age of nine, I was immersed in the highly competitive world of chess. I competed nationally and internationally, earning the National Master title, have taught the game for nearly two decades, and worked as a chess journalist focused on learning, inclusion, and accessibility.

Through chess, I developed a deep understanding of how people learn, how to develop supportive habits under pressure, and how to apply complex ideas in real life. This background inspires my approach to facilitation, allowing me to support learning that is practical, embodied, and sustainable.

I have completed 400+ hours of NVC training with an emphasis on embodied practice. This includes a year-long training program in Embodying and Sharing NVC through Connecting2Life. I’m in the process of working towards becoming a certified trainer.

To learn more about my upcoming workshops and receive my occasional reflections on presence, empathy & connection, you can join my email list here.