When you hear the term Women's Circle, you might imagine dancing around a fire in the woods with a full moon lighting the sky. That is not quite what we do here at CSC, but joining our women's circle may be a magical decision you can make for yourself and your wellbeing.
A place to land, not a place to be fixed
Our groups are a grounded consistent space for you to land each week and just be you. We are not here to fix, as we believe women are not broken. What a Women's Circle can provide is non-judgemental, supportive space through connection.
Why a circle?
We meet in a circle because it's non-hierarchical. The group is facilitated by social workers, and we are honoured to hold space for you. We bring structure, mindfulness activities and psychoeducation. We are here to support you, but the greatest growth comes from the other women in the room. Each session has a sharing circle followed by an intentional wisdom weave. The circle hears your words and reflects back strength, empathy and wisdom they’ve gained from their own experiences. It’s a place where we truly practice matriarchal values like equality, active listening and caring communication.
Growing your village
It’s well known that social interaction is good for our health. But did you know that the more varied that social contact is, the longer you live. Susan Pinker calls this the village effect and says, ‘much like gardening, cultivating a personal village comes naturally to some and takes more planning for others’ (Pinker, 2014, p.287). Perhaps you belong to the second group and want a little extra help to expand your village. A women’s group can be a safe space for you to form these connections.
The ripple effect
In group we cover many different themes. These include working with your inner child, transforming beliefs and exploring our identities as women living under patriarchy. The effects of this work can be a catalyst for great change in your life and in wider society. As you experience and practice active listening, this becomes the norm for how you show up in your relationships. A ripple effect is created as others in your life begin to do the same.
When we experience true equality in circle, it becomes difficult to ignore the lack of equality in wider society. We begin to consider how we contribute to that and what we can do to change it. In this way, coming to a women’s group not only benefits you individually, but it impacts our collective wellbeing.
Finding a voice
Ultimately, the greatest gift a women’s group can give you is voice. As you share your words, the group around you will listen deeply with no interruptions. When you are finished, we will say, ‘I hear you’. Our voices as women are often silenced and devalued. In the women’s group your experience is valued, your words are heard and your emotions are affirmed.
Gloria Steinem said, ‘Groups run by and for women are our psychic turf; our place to discover who we are, or who we could become, as whole independent human beings. Somewhere in our lives, each of us needs a free place, a little psychic territory. Do you have yours?’
(Gloria Steinem, Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions)
As women we exist in a world that is constantly demanding something of us. Beauty standards… motherhood guilt…navigating gender in the workplace. Stepping into a Women’s circle is like dropping that heavy weight at the door. When we quiet the noise of the expectations of the outside world, we are left with the freedom to explore the psychic territory of ourselves.
How to join
If you'd like to learn more, we'd love to hear from you. You can book an enquiry call with us, or join the wait list for our next circle.
Some of our groups at CSC are eligible for a Medicare rebate. Many people don't realise that a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) from your GP gives you access to up to 10 rebated group therapy sessions each calendar year. If you have questions, we're happy to talk you through how it works when you get in touch.
