Zeen Connect

Women's and Men's Circles: A place where no one corrects

Women's and Men's Circles are regular small group meetings with rules of confidentiality. Read how they take place, who they are intended for and how to.

A circle is a regular meeting of a small group of people who come together for a single purpose — to tell each other how they feel and to be listened to without advice, without judgment, and without trying to correct them. It sounds modest, but this is exactly the thing that is almost absent in everyday life. Our circles have expanded mainly as women's, but there are also men's and mixed ones, and they all work according to a very similar principle. Circles are regular small group meetings with rules of confidentiality and listening without advice. On Zeen Connect, you can find circle leaders and current appointments. Small groups with clear confidentiality rules. Regular monthly meetings or occasional workshops. Leaders can be compared by approach and meeting format. How the meeting is going. The circle usually meets once a month and consists of six to fifteen participants. The meeting lasts two to three hours. It begins with an introduction by the leader, who briefly repeats the rules: what is said in the circle, stays in the circle; no one comments or advises unless expressly requested; everyone speaks for himself and no one is obliged to speak. A round of sharing follows — everyone gets a few minutes to share their feelings without interruption. Many places use an object that the speaker is holding to make it clear whose space it is. The topic of the meeting can then follow: conversation, writing, movement, silence or simply continuing the conversation. The conclusion is often a short circle in which everyone says a few words about how they are leaving. Some circles involve a ritual or connection to the seasons, others are quite simple; both are legitimate. Why do people walk in circles. The most common reason is simple: because no one is listening. In the family, at work, and among friends, conversations quickly turn into counseling or sharing one's own stories, which is not the same as being listened to. People come during periods of change — after a move, divorce, birth of a child, bereavement, career change — or simply because they lack community. Many people mention that he benefits from saying something out loud to people who don't know him well enough to have an opinion. Circles can support a sense of belonging, relief and more honest contact with oneself. What Circles Are Not: Group Therapy. There is no therapeutic treatment, no professional diagnosis and no responsibility for your mental health. In more serious distress, the proper title is a psychotherapist or clinical psychologist, and a circle can be a welcome addition. For whom they are suitable and for whom less so. Circles suit people who want to meet regularly and are willing to share something about themselves — not a lot, but something. They work well for those who are comfortable with a group environment and who seek community more than solutions. They are less suitable if you expect advice or concrete help with a problem, because this is precisely what the circle does not offer. They're also not the right place to process a traumatic experience: if something difficult opens up, the leader in most circles isn't trained to safely contain it, and there's no framework for moving on. If you are in acute distress, have suicidal thoughts, or are in the midst of severe grief, seek professional help. Many presenters say it themselves and make sure the rules are clear — that's a sign that you know where you're coming from. How to select a circle. Ask about the size of the group and whether it is a closed circuit that takes place for several months with the same line-up or an open one where you can come once. Closed circles are deeper, open ones are easier for the first visit. Check the rules: a good circle has them explicitly written down and repeats them at the beginning of each meeting. Also ask about the leader's education — formal education is not a requirement, but it is important how he acts when something difficult comes up, and whether he knows how to guide people forward. Be wary of circles that promise transformation, those where everyone is expected to share intimate details, and leaders who take the spotlight instead of the group. For the first visit, an open circle or a one-off workshop is the safest choice. On Zeen Connect, the workshops show the date, price and vacancies.

Informational content from the Zeen Connect editorial team; not a substitute for medical advice.

Last updated: 5 August 2026