Welcome Affiliates! Together we are spreading help and hope to the world by providing HANDLE services. Here are some resources to help you grow your practice, connect, communicate, and collborate with other Affiliates and expand your understanding of HANDLE.

The HANDLE Institute is governed sociocratically. Sociocracy is a governance system that focuses on creating self-organizing, psychologically safe, and productive organizations by using consent-based decision-making within smaller groups called circles. It emphasizes inclusivity, shared power, and efficiency, aiming to empower individuals and groups to make decisions together. Below is a diagram of our circles.

 Why Sociocracy? Values, Principles, Roles, Responsibilities

 The Four Roles: Leader, Facilitator, Logkeeper, Representative

Proposals: Picture Forming and Proposal Shaping

Decision by Consent: Questions and Clarifications, Reactions and Changes Objections

Aims & Domains, Steward Circle, HANDLE Holding, Sociocracy Cheat Sheet, Values of Sociocracy

One last thing to explain.

Have you heard of HANDLE Holding, LLC ?

HANDLE Holding (HH) is a separate company from The HANDLE Institute.

Judith Bluestone set up HANDLE Holding to ensure that HANDLE can endure beyond any particular organization designed to promote HANDLE. HH owns and is responsible for maintaining the legal protections for the Intellectual Property (IP) of HANDLE, and ensuring that those to whom the IP is entrusted maintain the integrity of the paradigm. The IP includes the trademarks, including the name HANDLE - to distinguish it from other treatments and training, and Gentle Enhancement®- a fundamental part of HANDLE; and the copyrighted written materials, diagrams, media, and derivative works.

HH licenses the use of the IP to THI. THI licenses the use of specific parts of the IP to individuals who complete each level of training, through the signed Affiliate Agreements. HANDLE Holding’s role is to maintain the integrity and value of HANDLE as it continues to evolve.

HH members are: Carolyn Nuyens, Sindy Wilkinson and Mary Robson. Carolyn and Sindy are the Managers of HH and have the responsibility of making the majority of decisions and day to day operations of HH. All member meetings are held as needed.

Just like in the SMII chart, the organizational component of HANDLE has various aspects that

need to be functioning as efficiently as possible, individually and ‘interconnectedly,’ HANDLE to flourish, expand and innovate. Within The HANDLE Institute (THI), Sociocracy provides an efficient, inclusive evolutionary organizational system.

Just as each of our neurodevelopmental systems has a different role or function, so do THI and HH. We have discovered that coming from a place of acceptance, respect, expecting goodness and engaging in regular, clear, and honest communication - supports the interconnective health of this relationship and the overall HANDLE system as a whole. Thus, our HH / THI Licensing Agreement begins as follows: “We enter into this agreement with trust and respect; understanding each organization has a focus that supports the overall direction to spread the value HANDLE offers around the world.” Just as each of our neurodevelopmental systems has a different role or function, so do THI and HH.

The HANDLE Institute’s (THI) role is to design courses and materials to teach and support others to provide HANDLE services. The HANDLE Institute is the vehicle by which this powerful material makes its way into the hands, minds, and hearts of people around the world.

The HANDLE Institute is also responsible for how this work will continue to evolve while still maintaining the quality of the HANDLE experience that continues to meaningfully serve clients.

THI ensures quality and current programs by:

● Only Affiliates in good standing have the right to use the name HANDLE and provide services that match the THI quality standards.

● Anyone who contracts HANDLE services receives a consistent experience of this approach and work regardless of geographic location, and the HANDLE materials are consistent beyond borders.

● Materials used and created are consistent with the HANDLE paradigm.

These factors help THI to ensure that the work inevitably evolves in creative and innovative ways, in integrity with the IP.