Families, neighbors, and communities are experiencing deep divides in our country today as politicians and the media fuel political debate with partisan talking points. People of good will and temperament seem unable to understand each other or bridge their political, racial, gender, cultural, and religious differences. As a result, there are high levels of anxiety, and any sense of progress feels frustratingly stalled.

However, experience shows us that people with widely different perspectives on big issues can have productive dialogues, find agreement, and collaborate.

With Difficult Dialogues, Alan Forrest, Ed.D., LPC, LMFT will cultivate an environment which evokes our full capacity for empathy and understanding, deep listening skills, and authentic compassion, to create a climate where our full potential for growth can be realized.

Through trusting in each participant’s good intentions, resourcefulness, and self-direction, we can develop the faith that each of us has the potential to become more open-minded, accepting, kind, and compassionate.  Ultimately, we aim to tap into the recognition that the deep differences between us can be healed.