The CircleTalk™ Leader Course: Mastering Meaningful Engagement

Build Valuable Skills as a CircleTalk™ Leader.

Are you a professional in the aging industry looking for a way to bring older adults together for conversations that increase meaningful engagement and connection in small groups? CircleTalk™ can prepare you with valuable tools and resources!

~ Or ~

Are you looking to expand your work with older adults as a volunteer, an encore career or in another capacity?

  • Learn how to implement our successful CircleTalk ™ Curriculum, your guide to consistently create high engagement and meaningful conversations and connections in small groups. This curriculum contains all the steps and instructions for leaders to guide groups through activities.
  • Learn best practices in group dynamics and how to skillfully facilitate small groups! You will feel prepared with everything you need to lead engaging and participatory groups.

2 Ways to get Trained as a CircleTalk™ Leader:

1. The CircleTalk™ Leader Virtual Course: Mastering Meaningful Engagement.

Enrollment now open for the May 12th, 2020 course.

Course Format:

This course is available as a 5 module virtual learning experience. Participants will be guided in an asynchronous, virtual journey through presentations, engaging learning activities, demonstration videos and live coaching calls.

In each week of this course, Deb Skovron and CircleTalk™ guest faculty teach the content and lessons critical for learning how to implement the CircleTalk™ Curriculum through small group facilitation. Participant questions, practice activities and coaching happen through live, scheduled video calls. Course faculty provide important resources and demonstrations specific to leader skills.

Participants should expect to spend approximately 2 hours each week engaged in the course.

Course Content Includes:

  • Week 1: Orientation to the CircleTalk™ Leader Course.
  • Week 2: Why social isolation is a widespread epidemic and how CircleTalk™ combats social isolation. The “Safety Framework” for building healthy groups.
  • Week 3: Understanding leader presence, maximizing participation and engaging adults with mild cognitive challenges.
  • Week 4: The importance of the CircleTalk™ Curriculum design in facilitating meaningful conversations and getting circles started.
  • Week 5: Final questions, course wrap-up and graduation!

What you will get as a course participant:

  • Weekly presentations and CircleTalk™ Demonstration Videos.
  • 4 Live Coaching Calls for trainee coaching and practice of core leader skills with CircleTalk™ Master Trainers.
  • The CircleTalk™ Action Guide:
    • This valuable resource guides you through all content in Modules 2, 3 and 4. At the beginning of each module, you will need to download and print the Action Guide for that module so that you can easily follow along with tutorials and videos. This comprehensive book will continue to be an invaluable tool for you far beyond the end of the course.
  • CircleTalk ™ Curriculum
    • You will be mailed the CircleTalk™ Curriculum Chapters 1-12 and program materials as they are presented in the course. This is the first of three curriculum sets available to trained leaders. Each curriculum set contains 12 chapters with circle descriptions and non-repeating activities and discussion themes.
  • A Leader “Kit” containing supportive materials and activity props.
  • Two 30-minute consulting/coaching meetings with CircleTalk™ Master Trainers to successfully start and sustain CircleTalk™ in any setting.

Sign up for the course with the button below!

Pricing:

$495.00Add to cart

Training Testimonials

  • I just completed my first CircleTalk group and it went fabulously. The weekly meetings were the highlight of my work week!

    Amelia, Senior Services Support Specialist

  • Circle Talk is bridging the gap between isolated residents and providing an outlet to enjoy each other. The residents who have joined have learned about one another. They are no longer just faces in the dining room; they are friends. Thank you so much for this program. It is worthwhile.

    Jennifer, Director of Resident Enrichment

  • My group is going great and we all look forward to getting together every week! I have about 10 residents, male and female, ranging in age from 70-92. We were just going to do 8 weeks but everyone seems to be enjoying it so we are extending it. I think they are learning more and more about each other in a way they wouldn’t if they weren’t part of the group.

    Lynn, Director of Sales and Marketing

  • I want you to know that I am so proud of the work you and yours are doing.

    Bruce Volunteer CircleTalk™ leader

  • Thanks to everyone who made this a very special day, especially Deb and Cammie.

  • I learned a great deal about the process, others and myself–always such a meaningful endeavor!

    Mary , MSW

  • Based on a well-developed curriculum, the training was experiential, informative, and inspirational.  It prepared me for facilitating my first circle, which was highlighted by the participants enthusiasm and appreciation for CircleTalk.

    Ronnie Rosenbaum

  • I wanted to share with you what a WONDERFUL meeting I led yesterday!! Our group is connected in so many new ways in and out of CircleTalk! I notice that they now spontaneously gather and connect in small conversation areas throughout the assisted living community. These are new and real relationships forming and a gift to all and such gratifying work as a leader!

  • Really fluid training and loved the design of the CircleTalk method. Great day!

  • Dear Deb, I need to hurry up and get additional weeks of CircleTalk curriculum to continue our wonderful group. They are loving it, and so am I! Thanks so much.

2. The CircleTalk™ IN PERSON Leader Course: Mastering Meaningful Engagement.

The CircleTalk™ in-person training is an 8-hour, interactive training format. This is a high energy and engaging day with simulations and demonstrations as well as interactive activities and absorbing presentations. The content is delivered by experienced trainers.

What you get:

  • All content and instruction as described in the virtual course.
  • The CircleTalk™ Leader Action Guide.
  • The 12-week CircleTalk™ Curriculum.
  • A Leader “Kit” that contains supportive materials and props.
  • Two 30-minute consulting/coaching meetings with CircleTalk™ Master Trainers to successfully start and sustain CircleTalk™ in any setting.

Let us know how we can bring our live training to your organization or community. Or talk to us about customizing our successful group method and curriculum to meet the specific needs of your community!

Fill out the form below to begin planning a face-to-face training:

Update: CircleTalk™ is the proud recipient of a grant from the Next50 Initiative to expand throughout the state of Colorado. We are seeking requests for training scholarships from those of you who can bring CircleTalk™ programs to (1) low income seniors and low income senior housing, and, senior residential communities and community-based organizations that serve (2) ethnic and racial minorities, (3) LGBT communities, and (4) the homeless.

Note: CircleTalk™ can offer limited scholarships to course participants. Please contact us for further information.

Deborah Skovron
Director / Creative Director

Let's Talk!

Interested in learning more about CircleTalk™ or getting involved? We would love to hear from you. In building a better future for aging adults, we value all the ideas and feedback that you provide. Even if you just want to say hi, please reach out!

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