Learn how to facilitate circles

Introductory 3-hour online workshop

When I started my Red Tent circle, I had been part of circles at retreats and workshops, but never been a participant of a regular, monthly talking circle. I just knew I wanted to attend one and there were none near enough.

I would have loved a workshop to get me started but I learnt through trial and error. I created the structure, decided on the guidelines and figured out how to market it by myself. Eight years later, I have a wide experience of running different circles for varied groups: monthly, quarterly, one-offs; for different ages groups; in different settings (in my living room, in a yurt, a yoga studio, at a festival).

In this content-packed workshop, you will:

• consider the long history of talking circles and intentions behind them

• examine an example schedule for a two-hour circle

• share ideas on how to physically and energetically set up the space

• review considerations around venue suitability

• try and discuss different icebreakers

• reflect on the guiding principles for circle holding and boundary keeping

• try a settling practice and think about how you can use your existing skillset

• understand what a listening partnership is and experience one

• discuss the importance of integration and closing

• problem-solving common issues

• discuss a trauma-informed approach to holding circles

• consider your particular population or interest focus and adjustments to your circle process

The whole workshop is created to model running a talking circle. As well as the experiential element, there are handouts.

Upcoming 2026 dates: TBC soon