UNLEASH THE
POWER OF PRESENCE
Supporting people, organizations, and faith communities in cultivating and practicing receptive communication.
Receptive communication harmonizes, heals, and propels people into creative action.
What People are Saying
“The intention of receptivity is helpful. The invitation to receive ourselves and others without judgment, and to focus on receiving with an open heart is an idea, an approach, I needed to hear, to receive.”
Elizabeth, Cherry HillNew Jersey
“I love the intention to be receptive, “To Receive”, and that is what I did these two days, I received.”
JamesPhiladelphia
“My perspective on life has changed. I can make a change in my world one person at a time when I observe life as feelings and needs.”
MarkPhiladelphia
“Most importantly, Stephen made real change in the lives of the prisoners in his program, as evidenced by their success upon release and their testimony.”
Jim CummingsJim Cummings and Associates
“His enthusiasm and commitment are profound and infectious. Stephen Michael lights up a room and helps take people into a space of openness and learning”
Dr. Chris FrancovichGonzaga University
“Thank you for bringing this wonderful new language AND AWARENESS into my life. I am eternally grateful.”
SusanNew Jersey
“The workshop has improved my relationship with my wife. I have empathy and love like I never had …my world has opened up to me like never before.”
RafaelPhiladelphia
“A great balance of content, participants’ input and exercises.”
LisbethPennsauken, NJ
“Stephen Michael Tumolo is an excellent facilitator, teacher, and guide. He embodies presence in a way that no other Nonviolent Communication teachers I’ve met have.”
CharlotteCamden, NJ
“We had deep conversation. I learned many new things and was fulfilled… I enjoyed all of our time together. I appreciated your presence.”
High SchoolerBoston, MA
Healing through Receptive Communication
Somatic Experiencing
Receptive Communication draws on multiple modalities that support the healing of persons and relationships. Our body’s natural capacity for healing is supported by Somatic Experiencing as developed by Dr. Peter Levine. If you are interested in learning more about healing through Somatic Experiencing click below for an introductory slideshow.
If you are interested in an appointment with Somatic Experiencing Practitioner Stephen Michael Tumolo or would like to request more information, click below.
Workshops, Trainings, Retreats
Cultivating our capacity for receptive communication
Organizations need leaders that are skilled listeners. Our training gives leaders and leaders-in-training the skills they need to build cohesive teams, transform conflict, and coalesce people around a shared vision.
Our workplaces are places in which each employee needs to know they matter and will be treated fairly. The Center for Receptive Communication equips team leaders with the skills needed to be a powerful empathic presence.
Consultation with Nonprofits, Faith Communities & Educational Institutions
Creative Collaboration: Birthing a New World
The CRC brings stakeholders together around common interests, supports them in developing agreements for collaboration, and develops a shared foundation of skills needed for creative, collaborative responses to pressing social issues.
The CRC then supports collaborators in:
- Identifying strengths;
- Identifying and prioritizing needs;
- Developing strategies in response to these needs; and,
- Developing structures that enable creative projects and social change to be sustainable.
Through the power of presence, a new world is birthed
Dialogue and Discernment for your Crossroad Moments
People and organizations all face crossroads moments – moments in which a direction into the future must be charted. In these times of rapid change, more of these crossroads moments are occurring.
The CRC helps people and organizations who are at a crossroads create the conditions that make dialogue authentic and discernment fruitful. Spiritual direction and transitions coaching supports personal discernment.
A trained CRC facilitator supports organizational dialogue and discernment in collaboration with the organization’s leadership. Each CRC response is tailor-made to suit this moment in the life of your organization.
Research
We can help you understand
The key to effective research is receptive communication – paying attention, listening well, absorbing the data and allowing it to speak. The CRC conducts research on behalf of and in collaboration with organizational partners.This includes researching best practices, needs-identification, and options for program development.
Prior to taking your next step – consider partnering with the Center for Receptive Communication in order to:
- Better understand the needs present in your context;
- Better understand what’s being done to address these needs; and,
- Better understand the key players, their strengths and gaps in services.
These are vital steps if we are to address social issues in ways that are needed, impactful, and lasting.
The Center for Receptive Communication, based in Hull, Massachusetts, is a project of Steve and Julene Tumolo Tegerstrand. Their work for the past two decades has sprung from listening well in a variety of settings and cultures. The Center for Receptive Communication offers trainings, retreats and workshops for individuals and organizations. We also consult with a variety of organizations – supporting collaborative project development, dialogue, discernment, and research.
What is Receptive Communication?
Receptive Communication is the way of life. All of life, humans, animals, plants, planets, stars, and more are communicating all the time. The essential quality of this communication is receptivity. It is a receptivity to “the other” and to all of what is alive interiorly. This inner-outer receptivity is the precursor to all speech and action. Nature is in harmony because of this quality of receptivity. Ecosystems flourish through receptive communication. Birds know when to migrate and when to nest. The earth itself is filled with life because of its capacity to receive warmth and light from the sun.
Yet we humans in the 21st Century are suffering division and violence. Our systems and structures seem to be furthering division and pain. If a new era is to be born, if humans are to pass through this time of intense personal, communal and societal strife, we must recover our natural capacity for receptive communication.
The good news is that this capacity is our nature. We are part of life. We have within us the natural capabilities of presence, empathy, compassion, and creative collaboration. The Center for Receptive Communication is here to support the recovery of these capacities. Our lives may depend on it.
Meet Steve Tumolo Tegerstrand
Steve is principal of the Center for Receptive Communication. In this role he provides trainings and consultations with leaders and team members of businesses, nonprofits, faith communities, and educational institutions. He is…
Meet Julene Tumolo Tegerstrand
Julene is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene and has a Master of Divinity from Nazarene Theological Seminary. She serves as the Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies at Eastern Nazarene College in…
Address:
115 Elm Avenue; Suite 4
Quincy, MA 02170
Phone:
(609)707-5900
Contact Us
WHEN PEOPLE ARE PRESENT AND RECEPTIVE...
Ideas are born and shared visions come into sight,
creative synergy emerges, and obstacles are overcome as conflict,
mistrust, and misunderstanding are transformed into teamwork
The Power of presence can
- Galvanize a team toward a common vision
- Create space for needs to be identified and creative responses to surface
- Transform conflict into win-win-win strategies
Receptive communication harmonizes, heals, and propels people into creative action.
Services are Designed for
- Businesses, nonprofits, and healthcare providers
- Educational institutions, faith communities, and government
- Correctional and criminal justice professionals and those impacted by crime and the criminal justice system
- Individuals, couples, and families
Allies
The Center for Receptive Communication considers the following persons and organizations essential allies in our mission:
Photo credits: John Smith, Heart-to-Heart: Comienzos East, Inc. – www.heart2heartinc.org