The Organizer/Facilitator Resources Page
Compassion Course Online 2023
Organizer/Facilitator Monthly Meetings:
On the third Monday of each month, at 12:00 noon (US – E.T.), Thom will host a conference (up to 2-hours) each month that will help O/F’s learn the skills of compassionate facilitation.
The dates for the conferences are July 17, August 21, September 18, October 16, November 20, December 18, January 15, February 19, March 18, April 15, May 20, June 17.
Joining the Zoom meeting
Meeting ID: 830 4907 5245
Meeting Password: 1234
Listening to the Conference Recordings
This folder contains all the O/F conference recordings
Watching the Video Conference Recording
Watch Conf. 1,
O/F Directory and Group Form
Click Here for the group directory
Click Here for the O/F group information form. This is the form to submit with your group information
Feedback form for Practice Group participants
This feedback form can be shared with your practice group participants. Click Here to access it.
O/F Community:
We have created a private forum specifically for Organizer Facilitators. The group can serve as a place where we share information, stay connected as a community, and growing as a group. It is accessible from computer or mobile device.
Bookmark this link after you join.
Group Format Layout
There are many different ways to conduct a practice group. Ultimately, your group will develop its own set of favorite things to do, big groups, small groups, empathy sessions, practice exercises, role-plays and heart-connected discussion. All have a place in practice groups. The following is a typical format for an evening. Many groups have found it helpful to start with a general structure and then make changes based on the needs of the group from there. This way members get more learning and less "process" in the beginning and it contributes to harmony, ease and learning.
Starting - Creating a space to learn and practice Needs-Based relating can be challenging. Many groups find it helpful to take 30 seconds or a minute of silence to quiet the mind and become "present" to ourselves and the others in the room. Some groups like to use chimes/bells to mark the beginning of the group.
Check-in - Depending on the size of the group this can take 10 to 30 minutes. A check-in usually consists of a statement of how you're feeling and what needs and values are in your awareness. Many groups benefit by providing a timer and an agreement to take a certain amount of time for each check-in (like 2 minutes). It is helpful to keep check-ins simple by letting the person talk as opposed to asking questions and being conversational. This way is more supportive of using time effectively.
Practice. For each session you can use the previous Compassion Course lessons to discuss questions regarding the concept and story. You can also discuss how the practice exercises are going for everyone and even try them out in the group. When doing exercises, it is important to follow directions carefully. Facilitators almost always benefit from trying a "dry run" before hand, just to be clear for everyone else. Facilitators have also shared reading each weekly message keeps the group up to date and connected.
Harvesting & Reviewing. Harvesting and reviewing is a way to get learning from exercises and role-plays in your group. By sharing our learning and observations with each other we can often increase the insight and learning we get. Harvesting after each exercise contributes to deeper integration and learning.
Closing. Taking the time to "close" the practice group always feels better than when groups "unravel". Many groups find it helpful to take a moment of silence to end the evening. You may want to close by asking each person to check out (sharing a feeling and need).
Suggested Facilitator Preparation
Read the previous weeks’ Compassion Course lessons before the start of the group.
Having the Feelings and Needs list PDF handy.
Keep notes about things that stand out from each group session. You may have questions to bring to the next Organizer/Facilitator conference.
Organizer/Facilitator Agreement:
Practice Group Organizer / Facilitator (O/F) Agreement
1) The Organizer/Facilitator (O/F) agrees they have previously completed the Compassion Course Online.
2) The O/F agrees that groups will consist of people currently registered in the course. Why? If people "pirate" or "resell" the course on their own, without requiring registration, it excludes participation in vital community features and undermines the economic model and sustainability of the course. It could turn our expansion into a collapse. Everyone loses.
3) We all agree it's OK to charge something for organizing or hosting a group. Why? We are happy to see people get some energy exchange for their work. A fee or donation in the range of $15 to $25 per session is often requested in our groups here in NY and no one complains :^)
4) O/F agrees to follow the curriculum and content of The Compassion Course in the order it is delivered. Why? The Course was written based on decades of experience, living and teaching the work in the course. Adding other ideas or taking the course out of order degrades the integrity and effectiveness of the course - so we ask that you work with us on this so we keep the quality in the course.
5) The O/F agrees to organize and facilitate the work of The Compassion Course exclusively. For example, the Week 5 practices are the exclusive practices for the group that week. Why? People are coming to the course and the practice groups with an agreement that they will be participating in the Compassion Course exclusively. This also contributes to keeping the community cohesive.
Organizing and facilitating are different than "training" or "teaching" where the leader takes responsibility for the curriculum and content. In the Compassion Course, that comes from Thom Bond through the weekly messages and monthly conferences. The purpose of the group is to clarify and practice the content and exercises.
6) O/F agrees to email coursecoordinator@nycnvc.org if they can no longer support and host their group. This helps the staff at the Compassion Course find a new group for those participants.
Reference Pages and Exercises: