CIRCLE FACILITATION TRAINING WITH ANNIE RICHARDSON
The art of holding circle
Learn to hold space with presence, awareness and confidence.
Explore the foundations of meaningful circle facilitation and discover different ways to develop your skills through online learning, in person immersions and private training experiences.
Different ways to learn. Your own way to facilitate.
BEYOND GATHERING PEOPLE
Holding space begins with awareness
A circle is more than a gathering of people. It is a living, breathing experience shaped by everyone who enters it.
The art of presence
Facilitating a circle asks us to listen beyond words, notice what is happening within ourselves and the group, and respond with care rather than simply follow a plan.
It means learning to recognise when to guide, when to pause, when to offer support and when to allow space for something unexpected to emerge.
Confidence grows through practice
Confidence doesn't come from having every answer. It grows through self awareness, practical skills, experience and an understanding of the responsibilities that come with facilitating others.
This training invites you to develop those foundations, discover your own facilitation style and learn to work with the group rather than feel responsible for controlling every moment.
WHAT WE EXPLORE
The foundations of facilitating well
At the heart of meaningful circle facilitation is a combination of self awareness, practical skills and the confidence to respond to what unfolds.
Whether you're gathering people for connection, healing, learning or shared experience, these foundations help you create spaces where people feel welcomed, respected and supported.
01
Presence and self awareness
Understanding yourself, your values and how you show up when holding space.
02
Safety and the container
Exploring boundaries, consent, inclusion and trauma informed approaches.
03
Group dynamics and facilitation
Learning to listen, guide conversations and respond to what emerges.
04
Finding your own way
Developing your voice, confidence and personal approach through practice and reflection.
YOUR JOURNEY, YOUR WAY
Many ways to gather.
Many ways to learn.
Women's circles, men's groups, grief and healing spaces, mothers' circles, matrescence, children's groups, community gatherings and everything in between.
There are endless reasons to bring people together, and just as many possibilities for what a circle can become.
But while the possibilities might be endless, our confidence isn't always.
Perhaps you feel called to gather people but aren't sure where to begin. Perhaps you're already facilitating and want to deepen your skills, understand group dynamics or feel more comfortable navigating the unexpected.
Or perhaps you're simply curious about what it means to facilitate a circle well.
The way you learn matters just as much as what you learn.
Some of us love learning alongside others, sharing experiences and practising together. Others prefer the intimacy of individual guidance or the opportunity to immerse themselves in a shared, in person experience.
There is no single pathway into this work. The invitation is to deepen your awareness, develop your confidence and discover your own way of holding space.
The choice of how you get there is yours, and yours alone.
Choose your learning experience
Different pathways, shared foundations. Explore the way of learning that feels right for you.
Online learning cohorts
Three intakes per year
Eight weeks of structured online learning, live group sessions, personal guidance, practical exercises and reflection.
In person immersion retreats
Three days, twice per year
An immersive, in person experience to explore the foundations of circle facilitation through shared practice, connection and experiential learning.
Minimum four participants.
Private and small group training
By arrangement
Personalised training for individuals, existing groups and organisations who would like a more tailored learning experience.
THE PERSON BEHIND THE TRAINING
Meet Annie
I'm Annie Richardson, a counsellor, somatic IFS and EMDR practitioner, teacher and facilitator who believes that holding space begins with our capacity to know ourselves.
My work brings together counselling, trauma informed practice, somatic awareness and experiential learning. Through facilitating circles, workshops and group experiences, I've come to appreciate that knowing what to do is only one part of facilitating well.
The other part is learning how to be present, how to listen, how to recognise what's happening within ourselves and the group, and how to respond when things don't go to plan.
I love creating spaces where people can explore, practise, ask questions and discover their own capacity to guide others. This training is an invitation to develop practical skills while also deepening your relationship with yourself as a facilitator.
My role isn't to teach you to facilitate like me. It's to help you discover how to facilitate as yourself.
GUEST FACILITATION & SPEAKING
Bring the art of holding space to your gathering
Planning a retreat, workshop, professional development day or community gathering?
I'd love to bring the conversation about holding space and facilitating well into your world. Whether you're gathering practitioners, parents, community leaders or people who simply want to deepen their capacity to hold meaningful spaces, we can shape an experience around your group's needs.
Half day workshops
An engaging, practical introduction to the foundations of holding space, with opportunities for reflection, conversation and experiential learning.
Full day experiences
A deeper immersion into presence, group dynamics, boundaries and the practical skills of facilitating well, through discussion and shared practice.
Guest speaking
Invite me to speak, share or facilitate meaningful conversations about holding space, self awareness and creating supportive group experiences.
Every gathering is different. Let's create something meaningful together.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Ready to explore what's coming up?
Discover upcoming circle facilitation training, online learning cohorts and in person experiences. Explore the possibilities and find the learning experience that feels right for you.
