Intensive Restorative Circle Keeping Training
Building Safer, Stronger Connections in Professional Practice
School principals and other members of staff in leadership roles are dealing with an increasingly complex and often confrontational working environment, spanning across everything from straightforward calendar planning to budgeting, confronting teacher performance issues, dealing with conflict among staff and managing ever growing demands from parents.
Restorative Circle Keeping is a powerful, trauma-informed way to create safe spaces for honest dialogue, build trust, and strengthen relationships. It is an ideal tool for school leadership looking to take a facilitative approach to managing staff, resolving conflicts, and engaging with parents constructively.
You will experience the circle process and gain practical tools to:
• Reduce conflict and repeat incidents
• Foster genuine empathy and accountability
• Create psychologically safe environments in your daily work
• Support healing and long-term wellbeing
Three In-Person Circle Practice Days +
Three Online Review & Coaching Sessions
THE PROGRAMME
Day One – Foundations of Restorative Circles
• How Circle Practice is structured
• The Role of the Circle Keeper
• Key principles from Affect Theory, Polyvagal Theory and indigenous teachings
• Establishing shared values, agreements and psychological safety
Day Two – Going Deeper into Practice
• Understanding and working with the Dynamics of Shame in Circle
• Human Experience in Circle as a Ceremony
• Creating Balance and Stability in Circle
Day Three – The Scope of Circle Keeping
• The Dimensions of Harm through Circle Keeping
• The scope of Circle Keeping – from community building to addressing serious harms
• Reaching consensus, repairing harm and brokering solutions in Circle
Three Online Feedback and Coaching Sessions
Three 60-minute sessions (dates to be confirmed) between the in-person days for practice review, troubleshooting and ongoing support.
Dates:
Wednesdays, 30 September & 25 November 2026
and 10 February 2027
Times:
In-person at Athlone Family Resource Centre 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Online Coaching Sessions:
Three 60-minute support sessions between the in-person days for practice review and troubleshooting (evening Zoom sessions 7 - 8 p.m., dates to be agreed at first session)
Location:
Athlone Family Resource Centre - Parking available on site
Fee:
€690 for all three days + three online coaching sessions
Early Bird: €620 (if booked before 30 June 2026)
Group rate available on request, just send us an email
Limited to 16 participants. Participants receive a Certificate of Attendance. CPD accreditation application is currently in progress. This training represents approximately 21 hours of structured professional development. Early booking recommended.
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Meet Monica Monahan
Your experienced Circle Keeper and facilitator. Monica brings deep knowledge of restorative practice, trauma-informed work, and circle keeping. She helps create environments where honest dialogue, accountability, and healing can take place.
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Why Join This Training
Develop practical skills to create safer spaces, reduce conflict, rebuild trust after harm, and support healing in your work with children, young people and families. You will experience the circle process yourself and learn to facilitate it.
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Where and When
30 Sept. & 25 Nov. 2025 and 10 Feb. 2026
Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Athlone Family Resource Centre
Ball Alley Lane, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
Eircode N37 H6R2
Parking available on site. -
Secure Your Place
3 In-Person Training Days +
3 Online Coaching Sessions
Fee: €690
Early Bird €620
(before 30 June 2026)
Group Rates available on request