You hold the space. You set the pace. You make it safe.
Internal — Approved Volunteers Only"A circle isn't a meeting — it's a room where people feel safe enough to be honest." — Bryce Perry
As a Circle Host, you facilitate a small, intimate peer support group. Circles are the most personal space in The Club — where people share openly, build trust, and develop real friendships.
| What You Are | What You're Not |
|---|---|
| A facilitator who holds the space | A therapist or counselor |
| The gatekeeper — you curate who joins | Required to accept every request |
| A consistent, reliable presence | The person who talks the most in meetings |
| Someone who models vulnerability | Expected to solve everyone's problems |
When your Circle Host application is approved:
Understanding this difference is essential to hosting well:
| Clubs | Circles (Your World) | |
|---|---|---|
| Joining | Open — anyone taps "Join" | By request — you review and approve |
| Size | Large (20–100+) | Intentionally small (5–20) |
| Tone | Open discussion, activity-based | Deeper support, peer connection |
| Meetings | Optional, ad hoc | Regular Zoom (bi-weekly or monthly) |
| Membership | Come-and-go | Same people, building trust over time |
| Examples | Exercise Club, Recipe Club | Newly Diagnosed, Care Partners, Young Onset |
One of your most important jobs is curating who joins your circle. You're not rejecting people — you're protecting the space for everyone already in it.
| Good signs | Worth a conversation first |
|---|---|
| Their message shows genuine interest in the circle's focus | Very short or generic message ("I want to join") |
| Their profile suggests the circle is a good fit (e.g., care partner joining Care Partners Circle) | They seem like they might need one-on-one support more than a group (suggest Journey Guide) |
| They express vulnerability or a desire to connect | The circle is at capacity — better to start a waitlist |
Zoom meetings are where the real magic happens. The good news: the app handles the tech for you.
Every circle has a built-in Upcoming Meeting card right on the circle page. When it's time to meet, members just tap the blue "Join Zoom" button — no links to hunt for, no copy-pasting. The app takes care of it.
Welcome everyone. Quick ground rules reminder: "What's shared here stays here. No advice unless asked. Everyone gets space to speak. It's okay to pass."
Go around the group with a simple prompt: "In one or two sentences, how are you today — really?" Everyone speaks, you listen. No responses or fixes yet.
This is the heart of the meeting. You can have a theme ("medication challenges," "the emotional side," "wins this month") or keep it open. Your job: facilitate, not dominate. Ask follow-ups, connect threads ("Sarah, what you said about X reminds me of what Tom shared…").
"What's one thing you're taking away from today?" or "One word to describe how you feel right now." Quick, warm, everyone speaks.
Confirm the next meeting date. Thank everyone. Remind them the circle discussion board is there between meetings. End warmly.
You don't need to be a trained facilitator. These simple techniques will carry you a long way:
Silence is okay. When someone finishes sharing, wait a beat. Let the room breathe. Don't rush to the next person or offer a fix.
When someone shares something deep, reflect it back: "It sounds like that was really hard. Thank you for trusting us with that." Don't jump to advice.
If someone's taking up a lot of space, gently redirect: "I appreciate you sharing, [Name]. I want to make sure we hear from everyone. [Other Name], I noticed you nodded — did you want to add anything?"
One of the most powerful things a host can do: "Interesting — what you just said about medication anxiety is similar to what [Name] shared earlier about morning dread. You two might have a lot in common."
Whenever someone shares something vulnerable: "You're not alone in that. A lot of people in this room feel the same way." This is why circles exist.
Every meeting, gently invite anyone who hasn't spoken: "[Name], we'd love to hear from you if you feel like sharing." Always add: "No pressure at all."
The circle doesn't end when Zoom closes. Keeping a light presence between meetings deepens the bond.
Circles go deep. Here's how to navigate the tough stuff.
| Situation | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Someone cries | Let them. Say: "Take your time. We're here." Don't rush to fix or move on. Tears are okay in circles. |
| Someone shares a crisis | Acknowledge first: "I hear you. That sounds really hard." After the meeting, DM them with SOS resources and the 988 Lifeline. Flag to admins if needed. |
| Someone gives unsolicited medical advice | "I appreciate you trying to help. Let's remember to check with our doctors on specifics. What works for one person might not work for another." |
| Conflict between members | In the moment: "Let's pause. We don't need to agree — let's just hear each other." After: DM each person separately. If it continues, consult the Circle Hosts Circle. |
| One person dominates | "Thank you for sharing, [Name]. I want to make sure we get to everyone today." Then call on someone else by name. |
| Nobody's talking | Share something personal yourself to model vulnerability. Or try: "Okay, I'll start. Here's what's been on my mind this week…" |
| Someone stops showing up | DM them: "Hey, noticed you haven't been around — just checking in. No pressure, just want you to know you're missed." |
5–15 members is the sweet spot. Enough for diverse perspectives, small enough for everyone to be heard. If yours grows past 15–20, consider splitting into two circles or closing intake for a while.
In your first meeting (and in a pinned post), establish norms:
Circles can pause. If you need a break for holidays, health, or personal reasons:
If the circle has run its course (some do — and that's healthy):
The Circle Hosts Circle is your home base. It's a private, hidden circle only for approved Circle Hosts and admins.
Community → My Circles → Circle Hosts Circle
Bi-weekly or monthly works best for most circles. Weekly can lead to burnout for both hosts and members. Monthly still builds connection if you're active between meetings.
Be kind and specific: "It's not about you — it's about making sure the circle stays small and focused so everyone gets the attention they deserve." Suggest an alternative club or circle. If they persist, loop in an admin.
Yes, and it's encouraged! Co-hosting takes the pressure off and ensures continuity if one of you is unavailable. Have interested members apply through Community → Get Involved, and an admin can add them to your circle as co-host.
Post in the circle ahead of time. If you have a co-host, they can run it. If not, it's okay to skip one. Just communicate clearly and confirm the next meeting date.
Zoom — and it's built right into the app. When you create a meeting event, the app generates the Zoom session automatically. Members just tap the blue Join Zoom button on your circle page. No links to share or manage.
DM them privately first. Be honest but kind: "I've noticed [specific behavior]. This circle needs to feel safe for everyone. Can we talk about how to make it work?" If the issue continues, consult the Circle Hosts Circle and involve an admin if needed.
Yes! You can hold multiple roles. Apply through Community → Get Involved.
Every time you hold space for someone, you remind them they're not doing this alone.
That's what a circle is for. That's what you're for.
Do Life Today. 🤙