Facilitator Preparation Program

We obviously are expert at creating spaces of other sorts. We know, for example, how to create spaces that invite the intellect to show up, analyzing reality, parsing logic, and arguing its case. We know how to invite the emotions into play, reacting to injury, expressing anger, and celebrating joy. We know how to invite the will to emerge, consolidating energy and effort on behalf of a common task. We know beyond doubt how to invite the ego to put in an appearance, polishing its image, protecting its turf, and demanding its rights! But we seem to know very little about creating spaces that invite the soul to make itself known.

Parker J. Palmer

The Courage & Renewal Facilitator Preparation Program is a two-year leadership and mentoring program for preparing facilitators to lead retreats and other programs based on the principles & practices of the Circle of Trust® approach. The Center for Courage & Renewal (CCR) carefully prepares facilitators who have the qualities, capacities and skills required to hold and guide a process that allows people to engage their deepest hopes and fears in a community of shared exploration. CCR prepares facilitators to do in-depth work with all persons who wish to live and work more wholeheartedly and to act with courage and integrity. We also welcome facilitators who wish to work specifically in serving professions such as education, healthcare, law, religious life, and non-profit and community leadership.


In addition to planning and facilitating retreats, the facilitator plays a crucial role in introducing and establishing this approach in their community. Once prepared, facilitators find ways to create institutional and/or community partnerships from which to “grow” this work (i.e. they do not “work” for CCR). Thus, being a Courage & Renewal facilitator combines leadership and facilitation with responsibility for program development in the facilitator’s community or profession. Once an individual is accepted into the Facilitator Preparation Program s/he also joins other Circle of Trust facilitators around the U.S., in Canada and Australia in a network called the Courage Collaboration. The Courage Collaboration is a resource and leadership-rich group that operates as a community of learning and practice with and for each other.

Steps To Becoming A Courage & Renewal Facilitator

  1. Prior experience with Courage & Renewal retreats: We have found that the more personal experience of this approach that a potential facilitator has, the better. Those interested in becoming facilitators must have attended one or more introductory Courage & Renewal retreats.

  2. Attendance at a Gateway Retreat for potential facilitators. Click here for more information. Dates for the 2012 Gateway are September 27-30, 2012. Applications are due June 15, 2012.

  3. Apply for the 2013-2014 Facilitator Preparation Program. Applications are due November 15, 2012.  Selections are made by December 15, 2012.  Click here for more information.

  4. If selected, participation in two 5-day facilitator preparation retreats and an ongoing community of practice with cohort members and mentor facilitators.