Forum

Forum was born in 1978 inside a community in Germany with a specific intention. As its inceptors describe it, Forum centers "the idea of laying the foundation for a new culture free of violence, in cooperation with nature and all beings." It grew from a desire for truth and healing, personal and collective. It has been evolving ever since. I learned it from students of the originators.

I came to Forum because it does something I hadn't found elsewhere: it makes the unknown known. Not the unknown you're trying to name. The unknown you didn't realize you were carrying until the circle invited it into the room.

What Forum is

Forum is a circle practice. One person stands in the center—the presenter—and shares what's alive for them. The group holds them with full attention. A facilitator (usually several) guides the process, following thread and instinct, intervening when something needs to be named or moved, and always with informed and willing consent. When the presenter finishes, others can step into the center to offer what they witnessed—a reflection, a resonance, something they felt from the outside. These are called mirrors. They're only brought in when the practice of sharing becomes familiar enough that reflection within the circle can be explored.

The three roles—presenter, container, facilitator—are always in relationship. The circle holds all of them simultaneously, though the facilitator is the authority. The caveat of that is the group's willingness to be led by the facilitator.

What makes Forum different from a group conversation is that it creates conditions for something to surface that wouldn't surface otherwise. The presenter gets to say the thing they came in with and find out, usually partway through, that it was covering something else. The group gets to witness that process and recognize themselves in it. The facilitator gets to hold the space between what's being said and what's trying to be said.

When a group has become familiar with Forum as a whole practice, it becomes a tool for conflict resolution, ideological exploration, and philosophical discussion. In its truest essence, Forum is about being able to stay present with the million different possibilities that may surface inside of the circle.

Seeing deeply is loving—that's from the source material, and it's also just true. Forum tends to produce that.

How I use it

My facilitation style, even when I'm not holding a larger circle, is borrowed from Forum. At this stage of my work, I'm still building toward the full expression of the practice with my groups—the extended circle, the depth of container, the trained co-facilitation. What I bring into my circles now is Forum-based: the structure of presenter and container, the movement, the permission for what's actually present to surface rather than what feels safe to present. I'm exploring more specific needs inside of the groups I've had the joy of supporting so far.

I lean toward intensity in facilitation. I also want the circle to hold sensuality and play. I want everyone present to have permission for all of it to be in the room, not just the heavy parts. Forum is for people who want to feel the stretch. Who want to say something out loud and have it witnessed rather than managed. Who are looking for a space where the discomfort is expected and held, not avoided.

The circle is also a connecting tool. Peers finding each other. Intersections surfacing. Stories touching in ways that produce something neither person could have reached alone. I center the curiosity to be present—here, now—as the most important thing anyone brings in.

Forum adapts to the bodies in the room. Some needs require more preparation on my end. If you have specific access needs, reach out before attending.

What People Say

"Each session is catered to what you need. She truly understands that it's not one size fits all when it comes to humans, and works to make sure you truly get what you need out of your session."

"I felt like a lot of the weights I'd been holding onto had been lifted. My actions feel more like I am doing them because I have the energy to do them and I can actually function at a level that is healthy."

"Rebecca helped me navigate my thoughts and provide clarity. I left feeling so hopeful."

Got questions? Find out more about Rebecca's use of Forum in the FAQ.

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