Extended Bio

James Prieto is an author, poet, CNVC Certified Nonviolent Communication (NVC) Trainer, and nature-based Wild Heart guide. James guides toward connection through NVC workshops and “Wild Heart” nature-based depth-psychology personal development -- extending NVC through Wild Mind - Field Guide to the Human Psyche by Bill Plotkin, Ph.D. He’s passionate about the intersection of Animas Valley Institute inspired work with NVC as a way to contribute to Earth elder Joanna Macy’s “Great Turning” and Thomas Berry’s “Great Work.”

He started his professional career in electrical and computer engineering, satellite communications, and Agile development. He has collaborated on several technical journal articles and US technology patents in digital signal processing, artificial neural networks and satellite communications. See LinkedIn profile for details. After three decades in the technology industry, he experienced the need for compassionate leadership and a collaborative organizational culture.

After discovering NVC in 2002, he began his interpersonal growth journey, and began facilitating NVC workshops and groups in 2005. After attending his first intensive training with Marshall Rosenberg in 2007, he was inspired to pursue his NVC trainer certification from the Center for Nonviolent Communication, which he completed in 2014. His NVC practice is also inspired by several trainers including Mary Mackenzie, Jim & Jori Manske, Robert Gonzales, Kelly Bryson and others.

James is a certified NVC trainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC), an Agile coach, and offers multi-day online and in-person workshops for connection skills development, and personal growth. He enjoys facilitating dynamic interactive workshops with experiential learning, blending structure along with organic back and forth -- covering the material using improv.

His active area of research combines Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and nature-based depth psychology by Bill Plotkin. He's currently apprenticing in Animas Valley Institute's “Wild Mind Training Program” as a Personal Development Guide (completed L1, hopeful to finish in 2024).

He offers free quarterly online workshops to contribute to more compassion in the world, and as an introduction to his style of workshop facilitation: "Taste of Connection", "Transform Trigger Bullets into Bouquets" and "Empathic Dreamwork."

He currently offers three 10-week series for in-depth learning and practice: "Conversational Connection - Practical Skills for Communicating Compassionately", "Free Yourself From Reactivity" and "Wild Heart: Cultivating Wholeness for the Connected Self You Always Wanted."

He created the “Heart-Canvas” as a tool to support learning and practicing the language of the heart for compassionate communication. He authored and self-published the inspirational book “The Joy of Compassionate Connecting - The Way of Christ Through Nonviolent Communication."

Guiding toward connection is his passion and way of life.