Notes form an Stress Empathy Circle
An empathy circle is a building block to relational empathy. There is a group of participants and
Preparation
Need much more preparation for the Circle
Agreements
we will say strictly with the agreed format.
Why?
breaking the agreed upon structure especially in conflict.
this is a practice, to build familiarity with the process, to feel the experience.
Issues
This feels awkward
This feels too structured.
For the safety of everyone.
not have you sharing interrupted. Allow the speaker to feel into themselves and come to a clear
Benefits
This is a easy to set up peer to peer of equal process. While a facilitator can help hold the process, It does not depend on a facilitator. We create a lot of tools to support participants in the initial process.
We start with a tight holding to the format
strong feelings can arise.
Don't interrupt
If someone asks a question. just reflect back
A new empathy circle can release a lot of pent up feelings. When people have had pent up feelings for a long time. Irritation, angers, resentments and then the space opens up to talk about these, there can be an eruption. Like the volcano blast, but then the steady flow of lava comes afterwards. We need to have a strong enough container to hold this energy. Some ways to build that strong enough container is to initially talk about positive experiences.
I've had empathy circles around how to create more empathic families. So much came out that is was overwhelm and the container started to fall apart.
Stories
Anne, Children's empathy circle. "I like empathy circles, let's do it again."