What is Circling?
Circling is facilitated group process that is intended to create experiences of being seen for who we authentically are, right here in the present moment. A primary goal of Circling is to discover and celebrate each person for the unique qualities of being they bring to the world, providing them with a sense of feeling genuinely seen and accepted. Circling provides a place to intentionally practice deeply seeing each other beyond our conditioned assumptions, and can be a fun and deeply gratifying way to develop our capacity for connection through attunement and pluralistic consciousness.
Circling is sometimes referred to as a relational meditation practice. In meditation, we might focus our awareness on something specific such as our breath or a point on the floor. If our attention wanders, we bring it back to the present moment with curiosity and non-judgement. In Circling, the thing we focus our awareness on is another person and our relatedness with them in the present moment. What makes Circling unique is how it takes the form of a group conversation that unfolds organically. It can be creative, surprising, and fun as participants experiment with both contributing to and being receptive to the group experience.
The following video by Circling Europe offers a good taste of what Circling is all about:
How can Circling Help Autistic Adults?
Autistic adults have a natural way of relating that can be different from neurotypical people. Having had no choice but to form their social identity within a neurotypical world, they may not have had the chance to fully explore their social identity via their natural way of relating. Autistic adults often report feeling alone and/or chronically misunderstood. It can be difficult for others to understand how they tick, their way of processing emotions, and their sensory challenges. It can be easy to assume that autistic people aren’t good at empathizing with others, when in fact they can have a very deep capacity for empathy once they understand what is going on within another person. Sometimes, autistic people just need things to be spelled out more explicitly, and that’s exactly what Circling asks us to do: Name what is happening inside ourselves in the present moment instead of over-relying on our subjective interpretations of each other, which are prone to misunderstanding.
Autistic adults also have unique struggles that are understandably hard for others to relate to, which gets in the way of receiving empathy. For example, masking, autistic burnout, internalized ableism, alexithymia, and rejection sensitive dysphoria. Many people mistakenly think of autism as a relational deficit, never considering that folks on the spectrum might be perfectly capable of thriving in a different relational mode that is more natural for them. These Circling groups are intended to provide exactly that.
Jeremy Walker, PCC is an autistic certified professional coach who specializes in working with neurodiverse clients. Jeremy has lived through the challenges of late diagnosis himself and through his coaching practice, helps autistic adults to find well being through self-acceptance, values clarification, compassionate inquiry, and shadow work. As an alternative to one-on-one coaching, these groups can provide a more affordable way to reap similar benefits.
What Previous Participants Have to Say
“I found that the circling experience was one of the most beneficial groups I have ever participated in. Being only recently diagnosed as neurodiverse about 5 years ago, and now age 60 it was a pleasure to finally get to share experiences with people similar to me. I have come to realize there are many folks like me, I always said I think differently than other people, but I hadn’t really met anyone face to face and conversed with them.
I truly feel this was a life altering experience and something I highly recommend to anyone who identifies as neurodiverse, autistic, aspergers or whatever you wish to call it. And even if you are scared of opening up to others about your individual experience just give it a try, I am confident your fears will melt away fast and you will feel an overwhelming feeling of acceptance like you may never have in the past.”~ Fred, May 2023 Participant
How Does it Work, Exactly?
Groups of 3-7 participants will be organized to meet weekly for 6 consecutive sessions. Each session will be 90 minutes long, and will start with some centering and icebreaker activities. The first two sessions will also include introductory training in how to do circling. The remainder of each session will consist of 2 or 3 circles, lasting 20-40 minutes each.
For each circle, a participant volunteers to be the circlee. When Circling is done in person, the circlee is the person who sits in the center of the circle. On Zoom, everyone simply focuses their attention on this person’s video. The circlee shares what is present with them here and now. They may share context about something that is going on in their life in order to invite everyone into their world, to see through their eyes.
The other participants practice being present and listening fully, and may engage by either a) asking the circlee an open question in order to further explore and understand their experience, or b) sharing impact, which means to share how being present to the circlee’s experience is affecting their own experience in the present moment. Advice is not to be given unless asked for. While the conversation might drift into problem solving, or talking about the past or the future, everyone is encouraged to practice bringing the conversation back to the here and now, including whatever thoughts, emotions and body sensations they are observing in themselves. It is OK to share our interpretations of each others experience, as long as we own them as such. The facilitator takes care of enforcing the guidelines, participating in the circle itself, watching the time and bringing each circle to a close gracefully so that at least 2 or 3 participants get a chance to be the circlee in each session.
All participants will be required to sign a participation agreement, which includes agreeing to maintain confidentiality of all information shared by other participants during the group sessions.
Who is this a Good Fit for?
These Circling groups are intended for growth-oriented autistic adults (ages 18+) who either have an official diagnosis, are self-diagnosed, or suspect they might be on the spectrum but aren’t sure yet. Participants that are a good fit for these groups have an interest in expanding their self-awareness and relational skills and are open to exploring this together with like-minded individuals in a safe and confidential environment. Circling requires some degree of willingness to be vulnerable and take the risk of being seen, which can be both uncomfortable and deeply rewarding. Participants are free to choose just how much they want to share, and are free to step away if they need a break.
Knowing this, if you have a longing for deeper connection in your life that feels worth challenging yourself to grow for, then these groups are definitely intended for you. Since you will not only be participating for the sake of your own growth, but also to help hold a container for others, it is important that you can commit to doing your part to make these groups a safe space for everyone.
It is also important that participants can make a strong commitment to do their best to attend all 6 sessions, since the quality of each circling group depends on the consistent attendance of all participants.
How Much Does it Cost?
Participants pay $170 USD for the entire series of 6 sessions (90 minutes each), payable upon booking. For those in need, a sliding scale is available to make it more affordable, starting at $105 USD.
Refunds are available upon cancellation, at 100% of the cost if cancellation is requested 7+ days before the start date, or at 50% of the cost if cancellation is requested less than 7 days before the start date.
Upcoming Circling Groups
Please note that these upcoming groups are listed by date of the first session, but all six sessions (weekly at the same time) are included in the price. Group size is limited to 7 participants, and if a group is full you will be added to the waiting list.
Upon booking, first-time participants will be required to meet with Jeremy for a free 15 minute screening call over Zoom, to ensure a good fit. Jeremy will reach out to you via email to schedule the screening call within 2 business days of booking.
Autistic Circling Group – 6 Weeks Beginning May 24th, 2024
Have a Question?
If you have any questions about these circling groups, or would like to meet Jeremy face-to-face for a free 15-minute screening call before you commit, please submit the following form and Jeremy will get back to you. Important: Please check your SPAM folder for a response within 2 business days!