Facilitation and Transformative Consulting

Those of us who've been in a few know: Good Gatherings, wether we call them assembly, meeting or caucus aren't easy - especially if they are about working through emotionally charged topics or dissolving convoluted structural debates under pressure. Almost instantly, tension rises; participants react strongly or mentally check out. When everything is said and done things seem even less clear than before and the people in the room a little less isolated. Recognize yourself in that description? I have been in my fair share of these in my 15 years of attending.

But then there are some, that differ: Everyone's nervous in the beginning, the tasks at hand seem impossible, different positions in the room incompatible and some hours later suddenly there is a clear road map of how to go on and a feeling of community, of having grown from challenge together. Obviously, there is still a lot to do but we know what it is and we feel trust with each other.

A good facilitation is one of the most important factor in reaching this outcome. In my work as facilitator I draw from decades-long experience of experiencing, incuring and creating these kinds of gatherings: all the skills and tricks I learned during that time as well as a grown intuition about what a space needs at any given moment. I hold space for the feelings in the room, be they heavy or light and I know how to make partition giant topics into approachable segments - all without ever loosing my sense for both humor and humans.

At the beginning of my facilitations is a free consultation to get clear on the goals for your gathering. I then work these into an agenda tailored to your needs. On the day of the event you can hand over running the event to me and instead focus on being a part of the work. You only pay the hours of the gathering itself. An overview of my pricing can be found here.

For some topics having a plain meeting just isn't enough. Especially, when the topics concerned are complex or heavily interwoven with the group. Often we face questions rather than ideas: How can we talk to all the different positions in the room? How can we lessen tension rather than heighten it? Where can we go on? Do we need more information or spaces to experience? Difficult questions, especially when a false anwer threatens to feel like time wasted, tensions heightened and feelings of powerlessness deepened.

I can help you avoid these pitfalls. The workshops I hold are informed by a rich and diverse experience in community organizing but also somatic work, organizational theory and psychology. As a skilled facilitator I can easily offer clarity to the room, adapt to the feelings that are present and improvise with empathy, mindfulness and humor - while moving us closer to our goal.

At the beginning of my facilitations is a free consultation to get clear on the goals for your gathering. I then work these into an agenda tailored to your needs. On the day of the workshop you can hand over running the event to me and instead focus on being a part of the work. You only pay the hours of the workshop itself. An overview of my pricing can be found here.

Most transformations take longer than just an afternoon. They want space and time, want to happen and be formed, want to grow. Transformation is not a goal we reach but a way, made to walked continuously. We do not always choose to engage in transformation. And even if we do, usually that is because a lot is at stake. It's almost always challenging. All the more reason to engange well with it.

The paths, that groups and organizations want to take can take on different shapes: sometimes it's about adapting our structures to changes in our environment, sometimes about how to hold true to our values in the face of challenges. It can be stormy and chaotic or someones is trying to, quietly but all the more tense, suppress necessary changes. The goal can be to handle violence and harm in a way that allows for healing and growth. Or to reshape the own structures in a way that delegates power to those it is meant to serve. To manage departures and successions in a way that harmonizes the old and the new instead of pitting them against each other. All this can overwhelm relationships and groups - or help them to become stronger, more adaptable and vital.

I can be your companion in walking your path. I offer road maps and bring snacks, I plan different legs for the trip and what comes after them. If you are requesting me as an ongoing consultant we will first have a long consultation session, free of charge, in which we set the intentions for our process. I then work these intentions into a concept. Over a period of time I create meeting with you and your group in which I will offer you space and tools to walk your way, orient and find agency. I continuously adapt my work to the process. You pay for session time. An overview of my prices can be found here.