Healing Circles is not a classroom with teachers and students, experts and novices. It’s a learning community. The only requirements are to bring your soul, commitment, and creativity to the work. The prerequisites? We all meet them, whether they’re easily accessible or hidden for the time being. They are the life experiences that make us uniquely human and uniquely capable of supporting one another.
Oren Slozberg
Module One Training
How to Host a Healing Circle
We’re delighted to announce that we’re now accepting applications for our online Healing Circles training.
All training takes place live online. Participants spend half their time in instruction and the other half in small circles. Because this circle experience is irreplaceable, participation in all sessions is required.
Our goal
Our goal is to train people who have a strong and sincere motivation to host healing circles.
Healing circles help participants experience the powerful benefits of social support by providing a safe space, attentive listening, community, and resources.
We’re looking for compassionate listeners who can bear witness to the suffering and joys of others without thinking they’re responsible for finding a way out of them.
If that describes you, this training will prepare you to host healing circles in your community or through our global platform.
Why now?
Social support has always been a critical component of health and well-being. According to research, it’s even more important than diet, sleep, and exercise.
And during this pandemic, the ability to safely gather with others and support one another through these uncertain, stressful, and often isolating months is even more important. We have the technology to do it. Now, we’re looking for the hearts.
Our circle hosts derive great meaning from being able to help their fellow humans.
What are the course objectives?
In this training, you’ll:
- Discover the key concepts and format of a healing circle
- Improve your capacity for attentive listening and compassion
- Learn how to create a safe space online
- Participate in a healing circle
- Practice hosting a healing circle
What does it cost?
There is no cost, but we gratefully accept donations to Healing Circles Global to help further this work.
What experience do I need?
The best experience is to have already participated in a healing circle. Essential is the ability to work effectively in small group settings, to know or at least sense that you have the skills to do circle work, to self-regulate in groups so you can share time generously with others, to be comfortable with silence, to have a fundamental sense of personal humility, and above all to be willing to speak from your heart.
What happens after I register?
You’ll receive an email message confirming your acceptance into the program. Because of space limitations, you might be put on a waiting list. If you’re unable to attend a program you signed up for, please let us know as soon as possible, so we can free up a spot in the training for someone else.
To help us make the best use of our time together, we’ll send links to resources to review before the training begins. This will free you to enjoy the experience rather than taking notes.
Thank you for your interest! Please share this page with others who would benefit from this training.
Register now
We invite you to participate in our How to Host a Healing Circle training, which takes place over three sessions. Please plan to attend each one. This training provides an important orientation to the Healing Circles Global process and culture.
Training is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.
Module Two Training
Practicum and mentoring
The practicum is a six-session series for those who would like more practice after they complete Module 1: How to Host a Healing Circle.
It’s designed to provide:
- Practice in serving circle roles
- Awareness of oneself in the circle process
- Confidence in meeting difficult circle challenges
- Community with fellow practitioners
About half the training time is devoted to practice, in which participants conduct circles as hosts and guardians in a safe and supportive environment. The other half of each session is devoted to reviewing principles of practice and addressing questions.
There will be approximately two hours of between-session homework each week that involves some reading and engaging in a circle of two with a learning partner. Circles of two help participants gain more circle experience and develop connection and community with one another.
Participants who register for a practicum are asked to commit to the entire series. Experience shows that full participation facilitates group cohesion and maximizes individual development. At the end of this series, participants are encouraged to remain connected to Healing Circles Global, whether through joining one or more teams or guiding circles in their own communities or organizations.
The prerequisite for the practicum is Module 1: How to Host a Healing Circle (see above) or hosting experience in one of our centers with a recommendation from an HCG team lead.
Gain experience as a host or guardian
This circle provides an opportunity to practice while being supported by experienced HCG hosts. It’s designed for those who are participating in, or have completed, Module 1 (How to Host a Healing Circle) or Module 2 (Practicum and Mentoring).
Take advantage of this opportunity to gain comfort, experience, and confidence in the role of host and guardian while enjoying the magic of participating in a healing circle. Grab your candle and bell and come ready to volunteer as a host or guardian, or sit on the rim as a participant in this safe, supportive circle.
Circles will be 50 minutes long and will conclude with a 10-minute debrief.
Practice Circle 2
Practice Circle 3
Practice Circle 4
Reflections from our community
Questions?
Please contact us if you have any questions about this circle.
Watch
The practice of healing circles
This guide is a great place to get started. You can work through it on your own, with a partner, or sign up for online training.
To download the guide, click the image below.
