Advanced Training and Essential Skills for Facilitators
What is a listening circle?
Listening circles are a specific type of circle designed to help people process an event or issue that poses a challenge or harm to their communities or has impacted people in a significant way. They are voluntary, community-oriented forums aimed at providing an equitable opportunity for all attendees to have voice. Listening circles can be used in a variety of settings, including communities, workplaces, schools, organizations, neighborhoods, universities, and within families. They have roots in indigenous cultures and are backed by research in interdisciplinary studies.
They are not focused on problem solving, dialogue, or debating. They are meant for creating a space for expressing, listening, processing, and community building.
Why are skilled facilitators crucial for leading listening circles?
Just like any tool that is improperly used, harm can be done. Since listening circles cover topics that may evoke strong emotion from participants, having the proper training on crafting questions, keeping participants on track, and creating spaces for people to confidently express themselves is key. It is important to fully participate in the process. Please come ready to discuss your thoughts and feelings after reflecting on the following questions:
- Am I prepared to listen deeply to those I may not agree with?
- Am I prepared to share my experience and perspective even if others disagree with me?
- Am I prepared to sit in discomfort?
- Do you have an apprehension about attending and if so can you share it with someone?
- Will you be able to address the apprehension and still participate?
- Do I have support if I am unable to continue with the process?
- Do I have support after the process to connect with and share?
What are the benefits of listening circles?
- Opportunities to connect and increase understanding
- Space to process an event as a community
- Empowering community members to build capacity for listening
- Cultivating empathy and a shared sense of understanding
- Building emotional connection among the participants
Learning Format
In this highly interactive experience, you will learn the skills and important considerations to becoming a skilled listening circle facilitator. Led by two expert facilitators, the training interweaves learning, practice, and reflection and is accompanied by practical documents and tools, such as sample scripts and emails, to prepare participants. The training will focus on a real-life issue or challenge to make the experience relevant.
- Online: Two non-consecutive days of live instruction via Zoom with breaks included. The first session is 4.5 hours, and the second session is 2.5 hours.
(1 hour of pre-work required prior to the first session. Participants have two weeks to implement a listening circle and engage in threaded discussions between the first and second session.) - In Person: Two consecutive 8-hour days of live instruction (two breaks and time for lunch included).
Learning Outcomes
Participants will:
- Understand the importance of listening
- Describe the listening circle process
- Comprehend the fundamentals for leading effective listening circles
- Explore how to use listening circles in their settings
- Participants will prepare and facilitate a listening circle
This professional development learning experience is open to anyone, regardless of your prior familiarity with restorative practices.
Notes:
- The skill building and information presented in the Facilitating Listening Circles event is the same for each event. The only difference in each event is the example topic for the listening circle experience.
- This event considers the possible use of restorative practices in cases of traumatic situations. We strongly advise facilitators to consult and prepare with the utmost care in these cases. Participants in these highly sensitive circles should be urged to establish their own emotional support system while participating in this event.
Price: $475
Certificate of Participation
A general Certificate of Participation indicating 6 hours of instruction time will be provided by email at the completion of this professional development event. Participants are welcome to submit this Certificate of Participation to their accrediting body for Continuing Education Credit consideration.
Terms and Conditions
Join Individually (Online Events)
In order to help create the best learning experience for all learners attending, each registrant agrees to be logged in to their own individual device in a dedicated workspace while participating in this event.
Privacy and Intellectual Property
Registrants agree to respect the privacy of event participants and instructors by not recording video or audio or capturing still images of these learning experiences without participants' express permission.
The IIRP agrees to restrict its sharing of any recordings solely within the specific learning experience. Recordings will not be used for any other educational experience or public purpose. The IIRP’s free webinars, however, may be recorded and made available to the public.
Registrants agree to protect the IIRP's intellectual property by not recording audio or video of any part of the event or capturing still images of the IIRP's learning materials for anything other than a reference for personal use.
Cancellation Terms
We understand that emergencies happen and there are extenuating circumstances that may require you to cancel or change your registration. If an emergency arises and you need to cancel your registration:
- Up to 14 days before the event, you may submit your cancellation following the personalized link within your confirmation email. A $35 cancellation fee will be deducted from your refund.
- If you need to cancel within 14 days of the scheduled event, we are unable to offer a monetary refund or credit to use for a future event.
A request to change your registration to another event is considered a cancellation and a new registration. Therefore, the above cancellation terms and conditions apply.
If your registration is paid in full and you encounter an emergency, in certain circumstances you may substitute a registrant up to 10 days before the event. Due to the prework required and/or tasks related to managing our events, we are unable to accept substitutions within the 10-day window. If you would like to request a substitution, please email the details to
If you are owed a refund and registered with a credit card, the refund will be automatically credited to your card. If you registered with a purchase order or another method, please contact our finance team at
Upcoming Events
Please Note:
All events require pre-registration to attend. Event capacities are limited, and seats are reserved as payments are received.
If you require the use of a purchase order, it must contain the following information:
- The learner’s name
- The name of the session they are looking to attend
- The approved amount
- It must list the IIRP as the recipient.
- If it requires a signature from someone in your organization, it must be signed by the appropriate staff member.
Once you obtain the purchase order, you can visit our website and register for your desired session. You must upload a copy of the purchase order at the time of registration. If you need a quote to obtain a purchase order, please contact us at
