About Us
Berkowitz Civility Group was founded in 2012 with a clear mission to help individuals and organizations build processes to increase the quality of engagement by focusing on:
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Developing communication skills for high trust, reliable, and competent communication.
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Reducing negative self-talk that gets in the way of authentic expression.
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Encouraging honest conversations that cultivates transformational leadership in the workplace.
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Navigating personal and professional relationship dynamics with greater ease and understanding.
At Berkowitz Civility Group, we believe that constructive communication leads to stronger relationships and more thoughtful, skilled, and resilient conversation partners.
Steffi Berkowitz
Steffi Berkowitz, founder of Berkowitz Civility group, supports growth-focused individuals navigate complex conversations as more informed decisions-makers and competent communicators and guide organizations to set up conversation process improvement systems to cultivate constructive employee engagement and more competently navigate interpersonal conflict leading to a more collaborative work environment.
Drawing on decades of research in neuroscience, communication, and conflict navigation, Steffi’s work equips leaders and teams with practical strategies to reduce conversational distress, build conversational fairness, and resolve both relational and transactional challenges.
An award-winning educator, author, mediator, and executive coach, Steffi has presented at over 200 national and international conferences, mediated hundreds of disputes, and is currently writing a workbook on Turning Around Negative Self-Talk for better decision-making in personal and professional conversations.
Outside of work, Steffi is a glass fusion artist, photographer and adventurer—most recently traveling to Churchill, Manitoba, to photograph polar bears and beluga whales.
Education Highlights:
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Master of Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University, School of Law Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution (MDR)
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Master of Communication and Hearing Disorders (MEd)
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Bachelor of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
Concentration: Psycho-Neurolinguistics, University of Miami (BEd)
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Certified Trainer of Trainers in Workplace Conflict Resolution, Eckerd College
Alissa Ballestrin
With over 10 years of experience in conflict navigation, communication, and resilience training, Alissa brings a fresh perspective to communication coaching.
As a Tai Chi educator and somatic coach, she helps clients manage the physical sensations that often block clear thinking and communication during high-pressure situations. Alissa’s unique approach combines body-mind strategies to empower individuals to handle challenges constructively and strengthen personal and professional relationships.
Education Highlights:
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Certified Trainer of Trainers in Workplace Conflict Resolution (Eckerd College)
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Conflict Dynamics Profile Practitioner (Mediation Training Institute)
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Body-Oriented Coaching (The Somatic School)
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Tai Chi instruction under Master Zhao Guoshun and Master May Chen