Become a Climate Circle Host

Join us for a hands-on and participatory training session online to become a Climate Circle host.

A Climate Circle provides a confidential space for individuals to share all the emotions they feel in relation to the climate and nature emergency, among peers and within a community of support. It offers an opportunity to shed some of the emotional weight we may have been carrying with us for some time, particularly when we do not feel comfortable talking about climate emotions with friends and family. Climate Circles promote open-sharing and deep-listening, which means that all emotions are welcome, and participants agree to simply listen in, not to judge nor to 'fix'.

Climate Circles are inspired by the practice of Indigenous “talking circles” from North America, and build upon the following principles:

• Creating a space for deep listening and being heard

• Honoring all voices equally

• Telling stories and sharing experiences

• Generating mutual understanding, respect and support

• Honoring the gifts, knowledge, talents and experiences of each member

• Building community

The training sessions are open to all people who have experienced the impacts of climate change on their emotional wellbeing and are open to feeling the emotions that come with the ecological crisis. You do not need to have expertise in psychology or mental health to become a Climate Circle host. Your role is to facilitate peer-to-peer support with presence, empathy, trust, and humility.

We particlularly encourage young adults to take the training, as well as members of marginalized communities, owing to the disproportionate impact that the climate crisis is likely to have on your lives. Feel free to make use of the different payment options, or to join for free if you belong to a marginalized community. If the quota for free options has been used, you can always contact us at: [email protected] and we will find a way.

During the training, you will learn about:

- The vision and science behind the Climate Circles

- How to run Climate Circles, and practical tips to be a good host

- Your responsibilities as a Climate Circle host inside and outside of the Climate Circles

- Complementary resources provided through the We are One Resilient Earth online community

- How to help support the climate change and emotional and mental health agenda long term

The training will include the experience of being a participant in a climate circle, as well as break out group exercises and opportunities to ask your questions to the hosts.

The training is co-hosted by Autumn Trainor and Laureline Simon, with the support of Anne Wulfhorst who volunteers with One Resilient Earth.

Laureline Simon (she/her) has been working on climate change mitigation and adaptation at the international level since 2006, including with the French Development Agency and the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat. She is the founder of One Resilient Earth. Without adequate emotional and mental health support, her climate change work contributed directly to massive eco-anxiety. After restoring her own emotional wellbeing, and determined to support others, Laureline has been hosting Climate Workers Circle weekly for the past 3 years. She also helps build emotional and mental wellbeing in relation to climate change through various educational activities undertaken by One Resilient Earth.

Autumn Trainor (they/she) is a mental wellbeing and climate justice advocate, researcher, and activist from Mi'kma'ki (Nova Scotia) and residing in Tiohtià:ke (Montreal). They have been active in the climate and social justice movements for over a decade. Autumn has taken the knowledge they have gained from their studies and activism, and are working to raise awareness of the effects of the climate crisis on mental wellbeing. They hope to help foster a better understanding and expression of our emotions and enable a healthy progression to regenerative cultures through art-making and care.

You will fill out a short assessment survey to obtain a certificate of completion for the training. In case you would like to become a certified One Resilient Earth climate circle host, we will tell you more about the process that entails hosting a minimum of 10 climate circles, collecting impact data through surveys, and reflecting with us upon your host experience.

All proceeds of the sales and all donations we receive will be used to organize more Climate Circle Host training sessions, so that we can help support the emotional wellbeing of many more people and communities around the world, and build their climate resilience with this simple tool.

If you cannot afford any fee nor make donations of any amount but would still like to attend the training, please contact us: [email protected]

Please see the following video of a presentation we gave about the benefits of Climate Circles on participants' wellbeing.

If you have questions: [email protected]

Banner Image : Nick Fancher via Death to Stock, Arthur Poulin, and Medley Foundation

Host or Publisher One Resilient Earth