You Have The Power
Healing Circles
Have you been impacted by a crime or wrongdoing?
Do you know someone who has been harmed?
Have you harmed someone or the community with your actions?
We specialize in sensitive and complex cases but Healing Circles are for anyone who has been impacted by a crime or wrongdoing. It is a place for victims, offenders, family, friends and community members, to come together to heal the harm caused.
We’ll accomplish this by using peacemaking circle process which is steeped in Native American and indigenous people’s practices throughout Canada and the United States.
The healing circle is guided by a trained circle keeper who creates a safe, non-hierarchical place where everyone has the opportunity to speak without interruption with the use of a talking piece. The circle upholds values such as, respect, compassion, honesty and confidentiality.
Because of the circle process many people find that the deep listening and ability to speak without interruption brings healing, understanding and transformation.
Criteria to participate:
Because of our commitment to not cause further harm we request that every participant take part in the following process:
Survivors need to:
- Complete an interview
- Have appropriate motivation and expectations
- Commit to participate in the entire process
- Have a support system
People who’ve caused harm need to:
- Take responsibility for the harm caused by their action(s)
- Complete an interview
- Have appropriate motivation and expectations
- Commit to participate in the entire process
- Have a support system
Community members need to:
- Complete an interview
- Have appropriate motivation and expectations
- Commit to participate in the entire process
- Have a support system
Here’s what some participants had to say about Healing Circles:
“Thank you so much for doing this. I can’t even begin to explain how important this experience has been. I am happier now than I have been in months and I am so intensely grateful.”
“I found so much comfort being around people who could understand what I was going through. It was such a relief to me to be able to tell my story and share my feeling without the fear of being interrupted, judged or belittled.”
“I don’t blame myself for my sexual assaults anymore and feel the shift in my body that I never realized before.”
“After the first night I felt like we were a whole bunch of damaged individuals. By the end I saw resilience and hope.”
“Now that I have heard the story of one offender my feelings have really shifted. I believe in redemption and know that being angry doesn’t fix anything.”