Support Group Information
The aim of the Women’s Circle is to create a secure, confidential space in which to talk about whatever is on their minds or happening in their lives. The meeting encourages healing and respect for the things that unite all women, whilst also recognising our differences. Sometimes things related to specifically to being a woman and the female perspective are discussed, but attendees are encouraged to speak about anything they choose.
What you can expect:
1. Safety and Authenticity:
Many of us struggle to live up to unfair or unattainable standards of physical beauty, career achievement, motherhood, being a partner, and more. We encourage you to openly talk about what you're going through without having to present a certain idealised image to the world.
2. Understanding and Empathy:
As you listen to the experiences of other participants from diverse backgrounds and share your own, you’ll be reminded that you’re not alone in your struggles while building skills for understanding and empathy.
3. Support and Camaraderie:
Through regular meetings, we become pillars for one another, offering encouragement, advice, and guidance in times of need. This strengthens resilience and gives you the tools to face life's challenges with greater confidence.
4. Opportunities for Growth:
By engaging in open discussions about relationships, career aspirations, and mental health, you’re exposed to new perspectives and insights. This facilitates personal growth and self-awareness.
5. A Lifelong Journey:
Being part of our Women’s Circle is a commitment to ongoing growth and community. Over time, you’ll develop a sense of accountability to yourself and your fellow group members as you contribute to the group.
All welcome:
Our Online Women’s Circles are open to all of us who identify as women and who want to nurture personal growth and build meaningful bonds. We celebrate diversity and inclusion.
About the facilitators
Claudia Colella
Art, psychology, and philosophy are the backgrounds to my practice. I studied literature and philosophy at university in Italy and then photography in the UK. I can say that art had and has a big influence on my life and made me the person I am. It was when I first started to write poetry, a precious aspect of my entire life, that I first learnt to explore and open up to my own person.
The study of psychology as part of my university course, contributed to my understanding of behaviour and conditioning. I always knew I wanted to work with people and support them on their life path. I have always been fascinated by the way our body responds to life’s events and how we could learn to listen to it more carefully.
I have been practising yoga and various forms of meditation since I was a teenager but I only came across sophrology while in France, struggling with insomnia. I started to practise some of the techniques suggested by a sophrologist there and it truly amazed me how quickly and well it worked. Those techniques also supported me enormously and built up my resilience even while caring for my father in hospital during his battle with cancer until his death.
I qualified as a sophrologist after studying with Florece Parot at The Sophrology Academy in the UK. Since then, I worked with people from various walks of life in the UK, mainland Europe and Thailand: some recovering from burnout, some from addictions and some from traumas, all battling with a day-to-day anxiety.
It was in Thailand that I learnt about another method that has had an enormous impact on me, either professionally and personally, TRE. TRE, which stands for trauma and tension release exercise, gave a new level of understanding on how we can work with trauma and stress. I immediately knew the impact it could have on my clients and of course, on me. I studied with TRE trainer, Steve Haines in the UK and I am currently working with students as a mentor.
As well as developing my private practice, in the last few years I have been working for various charities and organisations like Happy Baby Community and Solace which respectively support refugee women and survivors of domestic abuse and violence, which is an area I am very passionate about.
I am also currently studying integrative counselling and psychotherapy at the CPPD school in London. My aim as a therapist is to provide people with tools they can use anytime they need, to help them develop a sense of resilience and adaptability and with that improving their ability to cope with stress and anxiety.
https://www.yoursynergyroom.com/sophrology/
Dahlia Raz
Dahlia was a counsellor at New Life in 2020. `She is a qualified Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, Arts Therapist, and certified Wellbeing Practitioner in London. She works both with individuals and in group settings. She has a passion for personal and spiritual growth and development, the arts and creativity, nature and community living.
https://www.instagram.com/theartswellbeingproject
Kathleen Burgler
I've been a health and wellness coach since 2011, with a National Board Certification in 2018. In addition to working with diverse clients in my own business, I've worked in a medical setting since 2020, where I help patients make sustainable and impactful health changes.
I recently became a Certified Divorce Coach to help people navigate the upset of divorce in a clear and empowered way. Coaching is very meaningful and fulfilling for me; I am always honored to be able to walk alongside someone as they grow and learn new ways of being.
My yoga journey began with my first teacher training in 2011. I have studied with many amazing master teachers but am most aligned with Judith Lasater and her restorative yoga approach. My passion is helping clients learn to access their nervous systems to create calm in the midst of turmoil or increase energy when in a downspell. I believe our bodies know first and it can take the brain a while to catch up.
CDC, NBC-HWC, CNTP, RYT500, E-RYT200, Y12SR, Yoga for Parkinson's, Level 2 Rest & Renew Restorative yoga teacher.
Additional Information:
Recurring: Every 2 weeks, alternating between Dahlia, Kathleen, and Claudia.
Time commitment: Ideally we would ask you to commit for 3 months to encourage a sense of safety and create continuity, although we don’t expect everyone to be able to join every single session. Of course, you can join for longer than 3 months if you’d like! If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch.
Cost: FREE
Session Structure
Begin with a body scan/meditation
Check in/introduction
Open the floor
End of session with meditation and check out
October 23, 2023