William Filler

The Empathy Circle in the context of the Empathy Movement
Speaker:  Bill Filler  (15 min)
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Summary and Transcript

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Bill Filler, a retired special education teacher, discussed the Empathy Circle, a program he co-created in 2017. The Empathy Circle aims to foster empathy through structured yet flexible sessions, emphasizing emotional understanding. Filler highlighted the program's success, noting that 8 out of 10 students benefited over 25 years. He detailed the Empathy Circle Facilitator Training, which supports personal growth and empathy, and the development of handbooks to guide facilitators. Filler also mentioned outreach efforts, such as the Empathy Tent at events, and encouraged participation in the Empathy Movement to promote empathy and common humanity.

Action Items

• [ ] Send examples and questions to Bill Filler to be included in the upcoming handbook on strategies to introduce the empathy circle into business schools and other institutions.

• [ ] Provide letters of recommendation for the Afghani woman who took the empathy circle facilitator training and has been granted asylum in Australia.

Outline

Introduction of Bill Filler and His Background

• Cara Wilson introduces Bill Filler, highlighting his 30-year career as a special education teacher working with at-risk children.

• Bill Filler shares his goal as a special education teacher, emphasizing the importance of empathy in achieving success with 8 out of 10 students over 25 years.

• Bill mentions his transition to the Empathy Circle and his involvement since 2017, including co-creating the Empathy Circle Facilitator Training.

• He invites questions and provides his email for further inquiries, emphasizing the importance of understanding the Empathy Circle on both an intellectual and emotional level.

Understanding and Implementing the Empathy Circle

• Bill explains that the Empathy Circle aims to create an empathic experience through two major dynamics: being heard and understood.

• He describes the Empathy Circle as similar to therapeutic rapport, essential for influencing change in society.

• Bill shares an experience with a mental health professional who marveled at the rapid establishment of therapeutic rapport in the Empathy Circle.

• He emphasizes that the Empathy Circle provides the right amount of structure to keep participants focused while allowing flexibility for individual experiences.

Core Educational Themes and Empathy Movement

• Bill discusses the core educational themes of the Empathy Circle Facilitator Training, focusing on supporting participants' progress at their own pace.

• He highlights the importance of learning experiences that increase participants' awareness of their inner strengths.

• Bill shares his experience over seven years, noting that the effects of the Empathy Circle take time to be recognized, involving both intellectual and emotional understanding.

• He invites people to join the Empathy Movement by participating in the Empathy Circle Facilitator Training and emphasizes the importance of time and attention in the process.

Development and Distribution of Empathy Circle Handbooks

• Bill outlines the development of a series of handbooks to help expand the practice of the Empathy Circle.

• The first handbook covers the history, core philosophy, and practical advice for hosting an Empathy Circle.

• The second handbook focuses on online training, providing script templates and sample emails for facilitators and participants.

• The third handbook covers in-person training, adding theater games and role-playing to deepen the shared experience.

Empathy Tent Initiatives and Community Engagement

• Bill describes the Empathy Tent initiative, bringing empathic listening to farmers markets, street fairs, and political demonstrations.

• He shares examples of impactful interactions, such as listening to a woman fearing for her family in Palestine and an estranged older woman.

• Bill emphasizes the importance of being heard and the relief people feel when given a chance to unburden themselves.

• He mentions efforts to get people with opposing political ideologies to participate in the Empathy Circle, highlighting the transformative power of empathy.

Invitation to Join the Empathy Movement

• Bill invites attendees to take the first step in the empathic path by joining the Empathy Movement.

• He encourages participants to walk at their own pace and help remind others of the importance of experiencing our common humanity.

• Bill offers to answer questions about the Empathy Movement, the Empathy Circle, and the Empathy Tent initiatives.

• Cara Wilson thanks Bill and reiterates the importance of empathy and the availability of Empathy Circle Facilitator Training.

Q&A Session and Final Remarks

• Cara Wilson asks if there are any questions from the chat, but none are present.

• Bill clarifies that he is open to questions about the Empathy Movement, the Empathy Circle, and the Empathy Tent initiatives.

• Edwin Rutsch asks Bill about his most impactful experience in the Empathy Movement, leading Bill to share a story about an Afghani woman fleeing the Taliban who found relief in the Empathy Circle.

• Bill emphasizes the importance of being heard and the profound impact of the Empathy Circle in restoring human connection.