Introduction to Listening BEARS™
Welcome to the Listening BEARS™ Foundation Course, designed to cultivate core inner listening skills that foster compassion, curiosity, and silence, enabling you to become fully present with yourself and cultivate compassionate listening. It is a 6-week experiential practice programme.
The Listening BEARS™ framework is a practical tool for building a healthier relationship with yourself by strengthening inner bonding and enhancing self-communication with greater empathy. It is ideal for parents, educators, professionals, carers, young people, and anyone seeking deeper inner listening skills for everyday life.
Throughout the course, you will learn the five core Listening BEARS™ skills through five step by step sessions, followed by a final integration session that brings all five BEARS skills together for everyday practice. The five BEARS skills include:
B - Being With: Being present with your body in silence.
E - Exploring: Exploring your body’s messages with empathy and curiosity.
A - Acknowledging: Witnessing what your body has been carrying without judgment.
R - Restoring: Rebuilding an attuned and compassionate relationship with your body and yourself.
S - Speaking: Speaking to yourself with kindness and genuine warmth.
The course emphasizes learning to be fully present and listen to yourself first, strengthening self-awareness and self-compassion. This foundation equips you to extend these skills towards others with patience and empathy.
Using guided practice, silence, and reflective activities, the course supports the integration of BEARS skills into your inner dialogues, helping reduce self-criticism, foster meaningful self-relationships, and build confidence and emotional resilience for everyday challenges.
Key Learning Outcomes:
Understand the Listening BEARS™ framework.
Learn the five core BEARS™ listening skills step-by-step through guided practice.
Strengthen self-awareness and inner understanding through compassionate listening and communication.
Acquire practical strategies to improve active listening skills.
Build a healthier relationship with your body and yourself.
Apply the Listening BEARS™ approach confidently in everyday life, especially during stressful moments when feeling unheard or misunderstood.