Empathy Circle Online Training: Providing Relief and Hope Around the World

Speaker: Bill Filler  (15 min)

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Transcript

https://otter.ai/u/YM5qrySop4I4Nb2QB9W0pRJG0gM?view=summary

Bill Filler, a retired special education teacher, discussed his work with at-risk children and the Empathy Circle, which he co-created in 2017. He emphasized the importance of understanding the communicative intent behind violent acts and addressing real needs, such as hunger, to reduce violence. Filler highlighted the success of the Empathy Circle training, which began in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has since trained over 1,000 people globally. He shared examples of the Empathy Circle in various settings, including political actions and refugee camps, and stressed the profound positive impact of empathic listening on individuals' lives.

Action Items

• [ ] Provide information about the Empathy Circle training and free Empathy Cafes.

• [ ] Consider adjusting the timing of Empathy Circle activities based on the age and attention span of the audience, such as using 30-second reflections for a kindergarten class.

• [ ] Explore incorporating Empathy Circle practices in a classroom setting, potentially with some calming and grounding exercises.
  
  

Outline

Bill Filler's Introduction and Personal Anecdotes

• Cara Wilson introduces Bill Filler, highlighting his 30 years of experience as a special education teacher and his involvement with the empathy circle since 2017.

• Bill Filler shares a personal anecdote about taking special education students to the beach, emphasizing the importance of providing them with enjoyable experiences.

• Bill reflects on his experience as a director of education for suicidal adolescents, noting the importance of understanding the communicative intent behind violent acts.

• He shares an epiphany from his teaching days, where addressing real needs like hunger significantly reduced violent behavior among his students.
  
  

Development and Impact of the Empathy Circle

• Bill Filler discusses the creation of the empathy circle facilitator training with Lou and Edwin, emphasizing the importance of giving participants an empathy circle experience.

• He describes the initial online training conducted in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on healthcare workers in Brooklyn, New York.

• The feedback from the training highlighted the significant positive impact of empathic listening on the participants' stressful work environment.

• Over five years, the training has reached approximately 1000 people from around the world, with consistent positive feedback on the benefits of empathic listening.
  
  

Empathy Circle in Various Environments

• Bill Filler shows slides of the empathy circle in various environments, including political actions, rallies, and climate actions.

• He shares a story about lifting a large man named Big Joe during a political action, illustrating the physical and emotional challenges faced during these events.

• The empathy circle has been successfully implemented in different communities, including Santa Barbara, California, and Phoenix, Arizona.

• Participants from diverse backgrounds, including those living in refugee camps, have found relief and hope through the empathy circle practice.
  
  

Challenges and Benefits of Empathy Circle Practice

• Bill Filler emphasizes the importance of being heard and understood, especially for those suffering in silence due to loneliness, health challenges, and emotional stress.

• He highlights the data showing the positive impact of the empathy circle on people's lives, regardless of their circumstances.

• The empathy circle practice has been shown to bring hope and relief to individuals in dire situations, encouraging them to join the movement.

• Bill invites the audience to participate in free empathy training sessions and empathy cafes to learn more about the practice.

Q&A Session and Additional Insights

• Cara Wilson encourages the audience to raise questions, and Bill Filler responds to a question from Sally about using empathy circles in a classroom setting.

• Bill explains the use of reflective listening techniques and therapeutic strategies before the introduction of empathy circles.

• Edwin Rutsch shares the origin of the empathy tent at Occupy Wall Street, emphasizing the goal of listening to everyone.

• Bill discusses the incorporation of calming and grounding exercises in empathy circle training, especially for school settings, and suggests adjusting the practice based on the age and needs of the participants.