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
Level 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’e 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.
How to Host a Healing Circle - HCG 1.16
Level Two Training
Practicum and mentoring
The Level Two Healing Circles practicum is a six-session series designed to provide participants with:
- Practice in serving circle roles
- Awareness of oneself in the circle process
- Confidence in meeting difficult circle challenges
- Community with fellow practitioners
The practicum runs for six consecutive weeks (adjusted for major US holidays). During each session, about half the time is devoted to practice in which learners 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 learners’ questions. Between each session, there are approximately two hours of homework in which learners are paired up to conduct circles of two, gaining circle experience and beginning to develop connection and community with one another.
Participants who sign up for this 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 joining one or more of the Healing Circles Global teams or guiding circles in their own communities or organizations.
Prerequisite for level two training: Level one training (see above) or hosting experience in one of our centers
Healing Circles Practicum and Mentoring (HCG 2.10)
Reflections from our community
Questions?
Please contact us if you have any questions about this circle.
Watch
How to Host a Basic Circle
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.
