Facilitator Preparation Program

Is it possible to become more intentional about creating spaces—in relationship, in community—where our fearful shadows can emerge into the light to be seen for what they are, where the truth and love within us can appear and make a claim on our lives?

We obviously are expert at creating spaces of other sorts. We know, for example, how to create spaces that invite the intellect to show up, analyzing reality, parsing logic, and arguing its case. We know how to invite the emotions into play, reacting to injury, expressing anger, and celebrating joy. We know how to invite the will to emerge, consolidating energy and effort on behalf of a common task. We know beyond doubt how to invite the ego to put in an appearance, polishing its image, protecting its turf, and demanding its rights! But we seem to know very little about creating spaces that invite the soul to make itself known.

Parker Palmer

Creating Circles of Trust: Facilitator Preparation Program is a two-year leadership and mentoring program for preparing facilitators to lead retreats and other programs based on the principles & practices of the Circle of Trust® approach. The Center for Courage & Renewal (CCR) carefully prepares facilitators who have the qualities, capacities and skills required to hold and guide a process that allows people to engage their deepest hopes and fears in a community of shared exploration. CCR prepares facilitators to do in-depth work with all persons who wish to live and work more wholeheartedly and to act with courage and integrity. We also welcome facilitators who wish to work specifically in serving professions such as education, healthcare, law, religious life, and non-profit and community leadership.

In addition to planning and facilitating retreats, the facilitator plays a crucial role in introducing and establishing this approach in their community. Once prepared, facilitators find ways to create institutional and/or community partnerships from which to “grow” this work (i.e. they do not “work” for CCR). Thus, being a Circle of Trust facilitator combines leadership and facilitation with responsibility for program development in the facilitator’s community or profession. Once an individual is accepted into the Facilitator Preparation Program s/he also joins other Circle of Trust facilitators around the U.S., in Canada and Australia in a network called the Courage Collaboration. The Courage Collaboration is a resource and leadership-rich group that operates as a community of learning and practice with and for each other.

Steps To Becoming A Circle of Trust Facilitator

  1. We have found that the more personal experience of this approach that a potential facilitator has, the better. Those interested in becoming facilitators must have attended one or more introductory Courage to Teach®, Courage to Lead®, or Circle of Trust retreats.
  2. Attendance at a Gateway Retreat for potential facilitators. The Gateway Retreat scheduled for October 14-17, 2010 is full. We will be holding another one in the Fall of 2011, and will post information about it in early 2011. Please check back then.
  3. Application to the Facilitator Preparation Program. Please click here for more information.
  4. If selected, participation in two 5-day facilitator preparation retreats and an ongoing community of practice with cohort members and mentor facilitators.