Grief Circle Facilitation

for inclusive teams and organizations in social work, mental health, community & social services, advocacy and non-profit sectors

who include or serve women, queer, neurodivergent, immigrant &/or BIPOC populations

in Ontario, Nova Scotia or Alberta

What Is a Grief Circle?

Based on & adapted from the teachings of Anima Leadership, a Grief Circle (aka. Listening Circle) is a structured experiential communication practice that creates a structured space for teams or groups to share and be heard during times of crisis, rapid change or heightened emotions, whether in response to internal issues or world events.

Its purpose is to foster psychological safety, connection and collaboration — helping teams move forward together, even when challenges cannot be neatly resolved.

Participants are invited to reflect on a Guiding Question, sharing their own perspectives and experiences, while listening deeply to others without judgment, debate or the need to respond.

Four women sitting around a table in a coffee shop, engaged in conversation, with warm lighting and brick walls in the background.
Let's Get Started Together

Why Facilitate a Grief / Listening Circle?

  • To hold space for teams during conflict, transition or crisis

  • To foster connection, safety and belonging in diverse groups

  • To allow people to be fully heard, without interruption or judgment

  • To help teams build resilience and move forward with more clarity and care

What to Expect in a Grief / Listening Circle

Grief / Listening Circles typically run 90 minutes to 2 hours, depending on group size (up to a maximum of 15 participants).

A facilitation session includes:

  • Welcome & Opening of Session

  • Gentle grounding (movement, breathing, reflection, intention-setting)

  • Quick introductions (name, pronouns, location)

  • Overview of guidelines

  • Two rounds of structured sharing (up to 2 minutes per person per round)

  • Group debrief reflecting on the experience

  • Closing of Session

All Grief / Listening Circles are offered virtually (through Zoom) to professional teams and organizations across Canada.

Participant Guidelines

Grief / Listening Circles are most impactful when co-created with mutual respect and psychological safety.

Participants are asked to:

  1. Speak from the Heart and Your Personal Experiences & Perspectives

  2. Practice Compassion& Non-Judgement

  3. Welcome Emotions

  4. Respect Confidentiality

  5. Offer Full Attention to Others

  6. Respect the Structureof the Exercise

  7. Know You May Passon Your Turn

  8. Ask Clarifying Questions Early

Participants are also welcome to bring what helps them feel grounded (e.g., a blanket, a cushion, a warm beverage, a snack, or something to doodle on).

Fees + Logistics

  • Up to 10 participants:

    • $375 + HST (90-minute facilitation)

    • $180/hr + HST for prep (1–2 hours, including planning meetings with the organization)

  • Up to 15 participants:

    • $500 + HST (2-hour facilitation)

    • $180/hr + HST for prep (1–2 hours, including planning meetings with the organization)

All Listening Circles are offered virtually (through Zoom) to professional teams and organizations across Canada.

Learn more about Me:

Learn about my Approach:

What Participants Are Saying

  • Three people standing outdoors, facing away from the camera, holding each other's arms with colorful jackets and a camera hanging from one person's neck.

    Building Connection Before Crises

    Participants wish they had engaged in a Grief / Listening Circle sooner — not only after challenges arose, but as a preventative way to strengthen trust, communication & empathy within their team.
    Participants recognize the value of having structured spaces to check-in with one another before tensions or misunderstandings grow.

  • Multiple people placing hands together in a circle, showing unity and teamwork, with some wearing colorful sweaters and rings.

    Reducing Isolation & Strengthening Understanding

    Participants discuss the challenges of feeling “out of the loop”, and anticipating each other’s needs when team members & leaders are busy or working across different departments or regions.
    Participants appreciate that the Listening Circle offers a rare opportunity to be seen & heard outside of formal meetings, helping them better understand & support one another.

  • Rusty circular sculpture with the word 'Listen' cut out, against a background of leafless trees and a bright blue sky.

    Experiencing Power of Structured Listening

    Participants emphasize the positive impact of Grief / Listening Circle’s intentional, guided format.
    Clear guidelines & a focused question created psychological safety & depth, allowing for meaningful reflection rather than reactive conversation.

  • A blue arrow painted on an orange brick wall with the words 'YEAH THAT WAY' written inside the arrow. There is a white fire alarm above the arrow and a pipe running horizontally above it.

    Learning through Skilled Facilitation

    Teams noted the benefit of having a trained facilitator hold space for the process.
    Participants appreciated the modeling of trauma-informed & anti-oppressive communication practices, and the opportunity to learn skills they could take back into their own leadership & team environments.

  • Person holding a sign that says 'GRATEFUL' in front of their face, with a blurred background including holiday lights.

    Appreciating Depth & Impact

    Participants describe the experience as rich, grounding & surprisingly connective.
    Participants leave with a renewed sense of appreciation for their colleagues & gratitude for having the time & space to slow down, listen & reflect together.

Virtual Grief / Listening Circles available to organizations & teams across Canada

Book a Grief / Listening Circle:

To explore whether a Grief / Listening Circle is right for your team, please email me OR complete this form to arrange a FREE 30–minute video consult to discuss your organization’s needs, group size and goals, before scheduling your session:

Frequently Asked Questions

  • I’m a Registered Social Worker (RSW) in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Alberta.

  • I work with women, queer, BIPOC, immigrants and neurodivergent folks between the ages of 18–55, as well as organizations that include &/or serve these communities.

    I specialize in supporting marginalized and minoritized people whose experiences and identities are often overlooked by dominant systems.

  • I provide:

    • 1:1 Clinical Consultation

    • Group-based / team-based Clinical Consultation

    • 1:1 Leadership Coaching

    • Listening Circle Facilitation

    • Educational workshops (on select topics)

    *for professionals, leaders and teams in the social work, mental health, community & social services, advocacy & activism sectors.

  • I most often support professionals and teams navigating chronic stress and burnout, including:

    • Vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue

    • Ethical or spiritual pain

    • Systemic barriers and oppression

    • Challenging workplace and team dynamics

    We go beyond stress management to:

    • strengthen clinical, communication and leadership skills

    • navigate ethical dilemmas

    • address team conflicts

    • explore workplace accommodations

    • explore professional development goals

  • My work is:

    • Trauma-Informed

    • Anti-Racist and Anti-Oppressive (ARAO)

    • Intersectionally Feminist

    • Neurodivergent Affirming

    • Queer Affirming

    • Sex Positive

    • Harm-Reduction-Based

    • Strengths-Based

    I use a holistic, eclectic and integrative approach – drawing on multiple modalities to meet the unique needs of each professional, team and organization.

  • My background includes:

    • Undergraduate &/or Graduate Degrees in Psychology, Cultural Anthropology and Social Work

    • Clinical Training in:

      • Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

      • Internal Family Systems (IFS)

      • Mindfulness

      • Narrative Therapy

      • Sex Therapy

      • Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

      • Somatic Attachment Therapy (SAT)

    • Leadership Training in:

      • Anima Leadership’s DEI framework for navigating race, identity and power in leadership positions and the workplace

      • Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead™ program

      • Julie Diamond’s Diamond Power Index (DPI™) framework and 360 leadership assessment

    • I have worked in a variety of roles and organizations in Toronto’s nonprofit sector (2012–2021) and in my clinical private practice since 2017.

    • I speak Farsi fluently.

  • I’ve provided consultation, coaching and workshops to:

    • Athena’s Sexual Assault Counselling & Advocacy Centre

    • Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS)

    • Egale Canada

    • Friends of Ruby

    • Indexing Society of Canada (ISC)

    • Rainbow Railroad

    • The Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver

    • and more…

    • For 1:1 Clinical Consultation or Leadership Coaching, click the BOOK NOW button to schedule a free 15-minute phone consult.

    • For team-based or organizational services, email me to arrange a 30–45 minute video consult to discuss your needs and budget.

  • My fees reflect the scope, care, preparation and responsibility involved in each service.

    I offer transparent pricing and tiered options to support accessibility for individuals and organizations, while also ensuring the sustainability of my practice.

    All services are provided virtually through a secure video platform.

    ORGANIZATIONAL & THIRD-PARTY PAID SERVICES

    When services are paid for by an employer or organization — either as a third-party payer for an individual or through a broader consulting engagement — organizational rates apply.

    Clinical Consulting

    • 1:1 Clinical Consultation — $150 to $180 / hr + HST

    • Group-Based Clinical Consultation — $200 to $300 / hr + HST

      (up to 10 participants)

    • Listening Circle Facilitation — $375 to $500 + HST
      (depending on group size; up to 15 participants)

    • Consultation on Organizational / Team Needs — $180 / hr + HST

    • Organizational Document Review & Analysis — $150 / hr + HST

    • Organizational Document Preparation / Creation / Customization — $150 / hr + HST

    Leadership Coaching

    • 1:1 Leadership Coaching (organizational rate) — $180 to $220 / hr + HST

    Rates are determined based on organizational context, funding capacity and scope of engagement.

    WORKSHOPS & WEBINARS (Organizations & Teams)

    Workshops are available as:

    • 3-hour interactive virtual workshop
      (up to 15 participants per session)

    • 1-hour condensed virtual webinar
      (up to 45 participants per session)

    I offer a 3-tier pricing model for workshops to support accessibility and sustainability.

    Fees include consultation on organizational needs, customization of materials, and facilitation.

    1-Hour Virtual Webinar

    • Accessible Rate — $850 + HST

    • Standard Rate — $1,050 + HST

    • Resourced Rate — $1,300 + HST

    3-Hour Virtual Workshop

    • Accessible Rate — $1,600 + HST

    • Standard Rate — $1,830 + HST

    • Resourced Rate — $2,100 + HST

    IMPORTANT NOTES

    • For larger teams or organizations, multiple facilitated sessions may be recommended to support depth, safety, and meaningful participation.

    • All services are delivered virtually through a secure video platform.

    • Full session fees are charged for sessions missed or cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice, regardless of whether payment is made by an individual or an organization.

    If you’re unsure which rate or service applies to you or your organization, we can discuss this together and find an option that feels ethical, sustainable and aligned.

  • I recommend meeting virtually every 2-6 weeks, depending on your availability, budget, goals and needs.

    Our work together can be short-term, time-limited / goal-specific, or long-term, depending on your professional goals and needs.

  • You can count on me to:

    • Be fully engaged, honest and compassionate

    • Share new perspectives and practical tools

    • Offer relevant books, articles, podcasts, videos and other resources

    • Encourage reflection and sustainable action

    • Bring warmth, humour and balance to our sessions