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How to Hold Space
THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM
Learn how to hold space for yourself and others, in community with people around the world.
Join our in-depth online personal development program for
life-changing skills and
meaningful connections.
Holding Space is for everyone who desires to
connect with themselves and others with open hearts,
compassionate support, presence, and
a willingness to be with what is.
Holding Space is a practice that will deepen your relationships, equip you for conflict in your communities, give you tools to navigate difficult conversations, and strengthen your capacity for self-reflection. When you learn to hold space, you’ll be able to navigate liminal space with more grace, wisdom and mindful presence.
Holding Space — a skill we all need.
Who is this course for?
Holding space is a critical skill for leaders, parents, teachers, pastors, therapists or… anyone in relationships of any kind. It’s a practice that helps us be better humans.
Learning how to hold space is for everyone.
At first glance, holding space is about supporting other people, but what we’ve witnessed again and again, and what people in our programs almost always reflect back to us, is that this work is at least 75% about the importance of our own personal development, self-awareness, self-compassion and capacity for navigating complexity and liminality.
At first glance, holding space is about supporting other people, but what we’ve witnessed again and again, and what people in our programs almost always reflect back to us, is that this work is at least 75% about the importance of our own personal development, self-awareness, self-compassion and capacity for navigating complexity and liminality.
That’s why, in our program, we have prioritised
learning to hold space for ourselves
so that we are equipped to hold space for other people.
“I learned how to step out of judgement and into deep curiosity of myself and others. I learned how to listen and be present to the experiences of others without overlaying my stuff on them.”
–Moze Crozier,
social services manager, Australia
Why should you learn to hold space?
Holding Space for
Yourself
The course may be for you if…
Holding Space for
Others
The course may be for you if…
In our How to Hold Space Foundation Program,
you will learn all of those things,
and many more.
We have designed a unique program with heaps of valuable resources and tools,
practical exercises and journal prompts, and lots of
opportunities for meaningful conversations.
You’ll have an opportunity to learn in community,
with like-minded people from
all over the world.
“This is an amazing course. We dive deep and hold each other bravely. If your heart longs for connection with the beauty of life lived in truth then you will find challenge, fulfilment and joy in this course.
It is nothing less than a vision of a new humanity.”
–Helena del Pino,
minister and yoga teacher, U.K
COURSE HIGHLIGHTS
START DATE
October 21, 2024
COURSE DURATION
8 Weeks to 8 Months
COURSE STRUCTURE
Unique Self-Study Program + Group Calls
COURSE SUPPORT
Weekly Integration Calls with the Teaching Team
Course Buddy to Practice and Learn with
One-on-One Access to Mentors & Teachers
Private Mighty Networks Community
COURSE MATERIALS
The Book ‘The Art of Holding Space’, by Heather Plett
Module Workbooks with Lessons & Exercises
Bonus Material
COURSE STRUCTURE
Unique Self-Study Program + Group Calls
COURSE SUPPORT
Weekly Integration Calls with the Teaching Team
Course Buddy to Practice and Learn with
One-on-One Access to Mentors & Teachers
Private Mighty Networks Community
COURSE MATERIALS
The Book ‘The Art of Holding Space’, by Heather Plett
Module Workbooks with Lessons & Exercises
Bonus Material
Modular Learning to Meet Your Needs
Module 1 - Holding Space — The Basics
- What does it mean to “hold space”?
- What is “liminal space”?
- What are the core principles of holding space?
- What gets in the way of our ability to hold space?
- What’s the opposite of holding space?
- How do I get past the feeling that I’m “doing nothing”?
- How do I adapt the practice of holding space to different situations?
- How do I help people erect boundaries without taking their power away?
- How do I let go of the outcome?
- How do I resist the urge to fix and give advice?
- When is intervention necessary?
- Is it possible to hold space for someone who doesn’t want you to?
- What is the place of ritual and ceremony?
- What is emotional labour?
- What is spiritual bypassing?
Module 2 - Holding Space for Yourself
- What’s the journey to authenticity and how does it help me deepen my practice of holding space?
- What personal practices help me maintain a balance of strength and compassion?
- How do I get my ego out of the way?
- How do I avoid taking on another person’s baggage, emotions, etc.?
- How do I learn to sit with discomfort?
- What do I do when I find myself triggered by what the other person says or does?
- How do I erect healthy boundaries that don’t damage my relationships?
- How do I get over my mistakes in holding space for others?
- When should I walk away?
- What are some body practices that help me hold space?
- Do I need to be authentic in front of everyone or can I be selective?
- How do I let go of self-limiting talk?
- How am I projecting my needs onto the person I’m holding space for?
- What if I burn out?
- How do I ask for help?
- How do I ask others to hold space for me?
- What if my attempts to hold space leave me deeply wounded?
- What are my unmet needs and how do they impact my ability to hold space?
Module 3- Holding Space in Community
- How do I incorporate the principles of holding space in my group facilitation work?
- What is The Circle Way and how will it help me hold space?
- What are the principles and practices of The Circle Way?
- What are the core leadership roles of The Circle Way and how do I practise them?
- How does shared leadership help in community settings?
- What is “the shadow” and how does it disrupt the circle?
- What are some practical ways that The Circle Way can transform conversations in my community?
- How do I work with co-hosts?
- How does the spiral of authenticity fit in circle? How do individuals & communities overlap?
- How might ritual help a community move through loss?
- How do I find others to help me hold space in community?
Module 4 - Holding Space in Complexity
- How do I hold space when there is trauma involved?
- How do I hold “brave space” when there are complex issues like race and gender being discussed?
- How do I address power imbalances without allowing them to control the outcome?
- Whose voices/stories should be at the centre?
- How do I know when it’s the right time for intervention? (ie. disrupting an unhealthy conversation, challenging racist comments, etc.)
- How do I hold space for conflict?
- How do I create a space where marginalised voices are centred? And how do I de-centre whiteness, able-bodies, etc.? And how do I support those resistant to de-centring their own voices?
- What do I do when things fall apart?
- How does our colonialist past get in the way of our ability to hold space?
- How do I protect the vulnerable without taking their autonomy/sovereignty away?
- What if people walk away?
- How do I challenge people without shaming them?
- What do we do with toxic people?
Module 5- Holding Space One-on-one (as a coach, counsellor, spiritual director, etc.)
- How do I incorporate the principles of holding space in my one-on-one work (ie. coaching, therapy, counselling, etc.)?
- How can I support people without trying to control the outcome?
- What is the goal of coaching?
- What are some of the pitfalls?
- How do I sit with brokenness?
- What about when someone is stuck in unhealthy patterns?
- What are my limits as a coach?
- What if someone keeps spiraling through the same stories?
- When do I share my own story?
- How do I deepen my listening?
- What are some tools and resources I can use?
- What in-the-moment practices help me stay present and balanced in the middle of an intense coaching conversation?
- How do I incorporate body work into my coaching?
| MODULE 1 Holding Space - The Basics | MODULE 2 Holding Space for Yourself | MODULE 3 Holding Space in Community | MODULE 4 Holding Space in Complexity | MODULE 5 Holding Space One-on-One |
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“I’ve deepened my ability to hold space for myself. Self awareness, mindfulness, claiming my right to be well. Setting boundaries for myself and those in my life. Shifting from self sacrifice to autonomy and authenticity. I’ve experienced a shift in what could be known as ‘ADHD’ symptoms or trauma patterns. As I deepen my practice, my ability to be focussed, present, mindful and organised has grown with me. This has really contributed to my ongoing efforts to move beyond simply surviving into thriving and loving my life. I got divorced. As I grew in strength and self awareness, I became much clearer about what I wanted and needed for me. It continues to be the groundwork that was laid to go deeper into myself and hold space for myself. This opens so many other aspects of this practice and has changed the quality of relationships in my life.”
–Former How To Hold Space Program Participant
Course Investment
Basic
Payment in Full
$670 CAD
REGISTER
Payment Plan
$234 x 3 CAD
REGISTER
Basic+
Payment in Full
$1,150 CAD
REGISTER
Payment Plan
$402 x 3 CAD
REGISTER
Facilitator
Payment in Full
$1,990 CAD
REGISTER
Payment Plan
$696 x 3 CAD
REGISTER
Coach
Payment in Full
$1,990 CAD
REGISTER
Payment Plan
$696 x 3 CAD
REGISTER
Leader
Payment in Full
$2,410 CAD
REGISTER
Payment Plan
$843 x 3 CAD
REGISTER
COURSE SCHEDULE
Starting the week of
October 21, 2024,
you will join our teaching
team from the comfort
of your own home.
Holding Space — Holding Space for Others
9 Weeks
October 21-December 20, 2024
Holding Space
for Others &
Yourself
6 Weeks
January 6 –
February 14, 2025
Holding Space in
Community
4 Weeks
February 24-
March 21, 2025
Holding Space in
Complexity
4 Weeks
March 31 –
April 25, 2025
Holding Space
One-on-One
(as a coach, counsellor, spiritual director, etc.)
8 Weeks
May 5-30, 2025
COURSE SCHEDULE
Starting the week of
October 23, 2023,
you will join our teaching
team from the comfort
of your own home.
Here’s What We’ve Heard from Past Participants About the Value
They Received from This Course:
How is This Program Structured?
The How to Hold Space Foundation Program is broken down into five modules. Depending on what you’re looking for (ie. basic skills, facilitation skills, coaching skills, or leadership skills), you can sign up for the course level that includes the modules you need.
Each module will run for 4-8 weeks . With each module, we offer two options
for an 1.5 hour integration weekly call (on Zoom).
This program can be fairly intense and soul-searching (and requires
approximately 3-6 hours/week commitment).
Self learning, from the comfort of your home, at your own pace.
How to Hold Space
Course Materials
We will provide you with:
The book ‘The Art of Holding Space: A Practice of Love, Liberation, and Leadership’, by Heather Plett (link) is your primary textbook for the course.
A workbook for each module: each week’s lessons will include a teaching on a particular topic, plus exercises additional educational content and writing prompts.
Bonus material in each module: video interviews with thought leaders on the topic, additional resource recommendations, etc.
All of the resources will be available in a private Mighty Networks group and you’ll have the opportunity to connect with us and other participants from around the world via video conferencing every week.
Support
We offer lots of support in the program.
Extra Help: in addition to the weekly calls, the teaching team will be available for occasional one-on-one calls.
Accountability: you will also be assigned a “course buddy” – someone else in the program with whom you can connect with regularly as you work through the material.
Connections: You’ll be included in a private group on Mighty Networks for conversations with the group.
Group Calls
In addition to the learn-by-yourself lessons, there will be a 1.5 hour integration call each week.
These calls are led by our teaching team.
In each call we’ll discuss the lessons of the week (which will be recorded, in case you miss it).
You’ll have 2-3 options for the calls (depending on the number of registrants) – to accommodate as many time zones as possible.
Current times for calls are Thursdays at 3 p.m. GMT and Fridays at 12 a.m. GMT, with a possible third one on Wednesday at 8 p.m. GMT (Compare your timezone to Greenwich Mean Time by clicking on each day’s links.)
Fun fact: Our program has attracted people from as many as 6 continents and 18 countries worldwide at a time, so the conversations are rich and diverse. Years later, many past participants are still connected to people they met in the program.
Equity Pricing
If you are a member of a marginalised group of people (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, etc.), you are welcome to claim a 10% discount on registration. It’s on an honour system (ie. you don’t have to prove anything to us) and anyone who feels they qualify can use the coupon code EQUITY10 in the registration form to claim the equity price discount at checkout for the Foundation Programs Payment in Full option — or EQUITY10PP at checkout for the Foundation Programs Payment Plan option.
If, on the other hand, you believe that you’ve had access to more privileges than most and wish to make a donation so that others can access this program and others like it (whether or not you are signing up) you can donate, or add it to your registration fee.
Corporate Discounts
If there are a few people in your organisation interested in registering together, contact us for a corporate rate. Also, if you are interested in exploring the possibility of offering this program within your organisation, visit our organisation offerings page to discuss licensing opportunities, etc.
Most Commonly Asked Questions About
The How to Hold Space Program
Is this a certification program? Can I become a certified coach or facilitator?
ANSWER: This program provides the foundational learning and you can go on to complete certification once this is complete.
What’s the refund policy?
ANSWER: If you register, and then something comes up, you can request a refund (minus a 15% admin. fee) up until a week before the program starts. Since registration is limited and it won’t be possible to add people after the program starts, there won’t be refunds later.
Will there be any opportunities for in-person learning?
ANSWER: There are several in-person opportunities listed on our Events page.
What is the investment in time for this course?
ANSWER: This program can be fairly intense and soul-searching; we recommend setting aside approximately 3-6 hours/week for the self-study lessons. Then we have the weekly group calls on Zoom which are 1h30 each. You can deepen your study and practice by having conversations and sharing questions and resources with fellow students, in the Mighty Network group that we will set up.
What if I can’t make the calls? Will I miss much of the teaching?
ANSWER: The calls are meant for integration (ie. conversation with other participants, story-sharing, collective learning, clarification of complex concepts, etc.) and we rarely offer new teaching that isn’t included in the material (though other participants bring in much richness with their experience and ideas). All calls will be recorded, so if you miss them, you can watch/listen later. Some who went through the earlier sessions said they felt a deep connection with the community even though they couldn’t make the calls and watched the recordings instead.
Will this be offered again?
ANSWER: Yes, we offer this program once a year.
What do you mean by "practical experience"?
ANSWER: There will be some assignments where you’ll be encouraged to practice the learning in a real-time conversation. For example, during the coaching module, you’ll be encouraged to find a “client” with whom you can practice. And during the facilitation module, you’ll be supported in hosting a circle of your own. We will also set up a buddy system where you can meet with another participant (on Zoom or Skype) to practice with each other.
Do you offer a scholarship program?
ANSWER: Yes. We have a limited number of partial scholarships available to subsidize a portion of the program registration fee.
Still Uncertain?
This program can be fairly intense and soul-searching (and requires approximately 3-6 hours/week commitment), so we want you to be sure it’s the right fit for you before you register.
If, after reading the above content, including what others have said about the program, you’re still not sure if this is the right match for you, you can book a FREE call with a member of our team and we’ll be happy to answer your questions. Send a request and we’ll arrange a call. No strings attached. That’s a promise.
