Description
Key Information
Online: $795 inc GST (early bird)
Course Summary
The Authentic Communicator is inspired by Dr Thomas Gordon’s model of effective communication and Marshall Rosenberg’s non-violent communication model. Thomas Gordon was nominated 3 times for the Nobel Peace prize for his work in communication.
This program is an intensive, skills-based training that develops interpersonal communication and conflict resolution competencies. Throughout this program you will learn, practice through role play and project, and understand when and how to apply a powerful set of tools that immeasurably influence peoples’ behaviours, habits and beliefs to enhance relationships. The result is more productive, efficient and fulfilling workplaces, families, and relationships. ET skills are equally effective for all ages and situations. These advanced skills are also used in UN negotiations!
Course Content
Fundamental skills to enhance your personal and professional effectiveness.
- Active & Empathic Listening
- Listening for Needs
- I Messages: Declarative, Responsive, Confrontive, Preventative
- Problem Solving using Method III
- No Lose Method of Conflict Resolution
- 12 Roadblocks to Communication
- Consulting Skills
- Conflict Resolution
- Assertiveness skills and role playing
- Leadership skills
- Dealing with Different personalities
- Values Collisions and how to address them
- Getting Your Point Across
- Enhance and Increase Personal Effectiveness
Want More?
- Discover why both passive and aggressive behaviour invites intimidation.
- Learn how to deal with aggressive people.
- Find out how to stand up for yourself, , and enhance your credibility.
- Manage situations better with people who are “difficult to get on with”.
- Avoid unnecessary aggravations and gain more support and cooperation.
- Attain new levels of self responsibility.
- Others gain confidence in you when you communicate openly and directly.
- Learn how to clean up your mistakes in a way that enhances and strengthens your relationships.
Trainer
Brenda Sutherland
Brenda Sutherland
B.Soc Sc (Psych) TAE, IICT, AHHCA
Brenda founded The Awakening Group P/L in 1993. Her clear vision was to empower each individual to live their true potential. Since then The Awakening Group has grown from counselling, to counsellor training to offer online webinars and programs for organizations and businesses bringing teams together, effectively communicating to deliver results across the board.
Brenda B.Soc.Sc.(Psych) is a Holistic Counsellor, Trainer and Consultant with her practice grounded in over 30 years experience. She is the founder and Director of The Awakening Group accredited training programs and workshops conducted throughout Australia.
Over the past 20 years Brenda has taught at universities, lectured at conferences, appeared on TV and radio, written for magazines and conducted seminars throughout Australia and NZ. She has facilitated many workshops for private, corporate and governmental organizations on personal growth and professional development.
Brenda is a dynamic counsellor and educator who employs her intuition and professional knowledge to gently guide every individual in living their truth.
Throughout her career Brenda has combined her personal commitment to her own self growth and extensive, yet unique, professional training including Psychology, EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization Reprogramming, Art Therapy, Tantra, Eco-psychology, Soul Centred therapy, Kinesiology, Family & Organizational Constellation with world renowned facilitators (Dr Gunthard Weber, Dr Albrecht Mahr, Dr Guni Baxa, Dr Ursula Franke, Jakob Schneider, Dr Jane Peterson, Ed Lynch, Stephan Hausner etc). Further Brenda has trained with Bessel van de Kolk (one of the worlds leading trauma experts), as well as Pat Odgen; body centred psychotherapy. She has also trained in The Work of Byron Katie and is a Effectiveness (Communication) Training instructor.
Brenda combines the latest neuroscience, attachment styles, arousal regulation, memory reconstruction techniques to return clients to a peaceful sense of self .
Furthermore Brenda is a PACT Level 1 Couples counsellor having trained with Dr Stan Tatkin, the Founder of the Psychobiological Approach for Couple Therapy.
You have the power within to transform and live your hearts desire. Brenda creates an opportunity to take you and your experience in relationships, life, sexuality, career and love a step further in authenticity to be the person you dreamed yourself to be. Discover and live new possibilities within yourself, relationships, career, sexually, health, with money and life.
Individual sessions, couple counselling and workshops are available (also via Zoom online) to support you in moving into the freedom of being. Issues of anxiety, fear, stress, anger, grief, sexuality, illness, relationships and much more are addressed with each session personally tailored to transform issues standing in the way of being the more of you.
Here’s what one client said:
“Thank you for today. I feel Amazing!!!”
Brenda has written for:
She has been quoted in:
and appeared on Channel 9’s Alternatives pilot program facilitating “Unmasking The Wild Woman” with guest Catriona Rowntree (Getaway presenter)
[ecs-list-events cat="brenda" limit="8"]
Brenda Sutherland
Brenda Sutherland
B.Soc Sc (Psych) TAE, IICT, AHHCA
Brenda founded The Awakening Group P/L in 1993. Her clear vision was to empower each individual to live their true potential. Since then The Awakening Group has grown from counselling, to counsellor training to offer online webinars and programs for organizations and businesses bringing teams together, effectively communicating to deliver results across the board.
Brenda B.Soc.Sc.(Psych) is a Holistic Counsellor, Trainer and Consultant with her practice grounded in over 30 years experience. She is the founder and Director of The Awakening Group accredited training programs and workshops conducted throughout Australia.
Over the past 20 years Brenda has taught at universities, lectured at conferences, appeared on TV and radio, written for magazines and conducted seminars throughout Australia and NZ. She has facilitated many workshops for private, corporate and governmental organizations on personal growth and professional development.
Brenda is a dynamic counsellor and educator who employs her intuition and professional knowledge to gently guide every individual in living their truth.
Throughout her career Brenda has combined her personal commitment to her own self growth and extensive, yet unique, professional training including Psychology, EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization Reprogramming, Art Therapy, Tantra, Eco-psychology, Soul Centred therapy, Kinesiology, Family & Organizational Constellation with world renowned facilitators (Dr Gunthard Weber, Dr Albrecht Mahr, Dr Guni Baxa, Dr Ursula Franke, Jakob Schneider, Dr Jane Peterson, Ed Lynch, Stephan Hausner etc). Further Brenda has trained with Bessel van de Kolk (one of the worlds leading trauma experts), as well as Pat Odgen; body centred psychotherapy. She has also trained in The Work of Byron Katie and is a Effectiveness (Communication) Training instructor.
Brenda combines the latest neuroscience, attachment styles, arousal regulation, memory reconstruction techniques to return clients to a peaceful sense of self .
Furthermore Brenda is a PACT Level 1 Couples counsellor having trained with Dr Stan Tatkin, the Founder of the Psychobiological Approach for Couple Therapy.
You have the power within to transform and live your hearts desire. Brenda creates an opportunity to take you and your experience in relationships, life, sexuality, career and love a step further in authenticity to be the person you dreamed yourself to be. Discover and live new possibilities within yourself, relationships, career, sexually, health, with money and life.
Individual sessions, couple counselling and workshops are available (also via Zoom online) to support you in moving into the freedom of being. Issues of anxiety, fear, stress, anger, grief, sexuality, illness, relationships and much more are addressed with each session personally tailored to transform issues standing in the way of being the more of you.
Here’s what one client said:
“Thank you for today. I feel Amazing!!!”
Brenda has written for:
She has been quoted in:
and appeared on Channel 9’s Alternatives pilot program facilitating “Unmasking The Wild Woman” with guest Catriona Rowntree (Getaway presenter)
[ecs-list-events cat="brenda" limit="8"]
Course details
Dates
- Online: starts 22 September 2026 Tuesday evenings 6.30pm-9pm QLD time for 10 sessions.
- Live interactive webinar format includes breakout groups, online classroom and assessment and online recordings available
Cost
- $795 GST incl, earlybird, $815 full price. plus postage of workbook and handouts etc
- includes course, workbook, online classroom access, Live webinar recordings and ETIA certificate on completion
- Discounts for groups
ACCREDITATION
- Effectiveness Training Institute of Australia Ltd – (ETIA Ltd) – course graduates can go on to become an Instructor in Parent Effectiveness Training, Teacher Effectiveness Training, Youth Effectiveness Training and Be Your Best programs.
- Gordon Training International
- Australian Counselling Association (ACA) professional development credits
- International Institute for Complementary Therapists (IICT) professional development credits
- Australian Holistic healers and Counselling Association (AHHCA) professional development credits
![Diploma in Holistic Counselling [2026] Revised](https://awakening-com.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/2018/01/iStock-519915601-300x300.jpg)
Bronwyn –
I highly recommend this course. It is insightful, interesting and will open your eyes to communicating in so many new ways.
Brenda is an amazing teacher! This course taught me about my needs and especially how i react to when my needs aren’t being met. I had no idea until after I completed this course. Was a game changer for me.
Brenda Sutherland –
Thank you Bronwyn, it is truly wonderful watching the transformation these communication tools create in your relationships, and with oneself.
Danielle Heger –
This course has made a big impact on my life, it has empowered me to communicate my feelings and needs, to even identify what my feelings and needs are, to problem solve with others and to be able to express how I am feeling without anxiety or doubt in myself. Could not recommend this course more.
Brenda Sutherland –
Thank you Danielle, it has been a true delight watching you take these skills out into your world and relationships.
Sandy Harp –
I would recommend completing the Authentic Communicator course as it deepens your understanding of how you communicate with others. The resources used throughout the program have been immensely useful at home and at work. By practicing these skills, I have adapted how I listen and respond to others which has been very helpful in my professional life.
The utilisation of Zoom as the mode of delivery facilitated greater accessibility for me and the opportunity to collaborate with individuals from other states in Australia.
Pauline Macdonald –
I feel blessed to have found this course. The mode of delivery suited my lifestyle as I am raising a family and working full-time in the day. The course content relates to all walks of life and professions. Our world would be a better place if we all adapted the skills and concepts in the course.
Tina Zenou –
This is an excellent course that is so useful for any setting – at work, with family, friends and annoying neighbours. A great set of skills to communicate better and learn everything from setting boundaries, disclosing your own feelings and needs to solving conflicts and working with goals. Great facilitator, excellent course material and really fun practicing with other students. I would highly recommend.
Graham Wood –
I really feel that the authentic communicator course is a really helpful tool for anyone from all walks of life. It is so helpful in enabling you to speak with conviction and self disclosure while also getting your needs met. It has practical tools for conflict resolution and active listening skills which are a real game changer as regards to all your conversations. I highly recommend it.
carla de Kretser –
I really enjoyed the authentic communicator course with Brenda. It was clear, engaging, and has tangible tools for effective communication in counselling as well as in life. The structure of the course is very helpful in not overwhelming the student all at once, you go through step by step each tool / technique and Brenda does a great job of making sure everyone gets it, not only through listening but practically running through each exercise and implementing it into your life so its learnt at a practical level. Highly recommend.