Have you recently been harmed, or possibly participated in causing harm—perhaps in your church, your workplace, your school or your neighbourhood? Are the impacts of that experience interfering with your life and the lives of other people involved?
Shalem recognizes that some emotional or mental health needs are best met in the settings where they are experienced, rather than in the counselling office. That’s where Restorative Practice comes in.
Restorative Practice is a way of thinking and being, focused on creating safe spaces for real conversations that deepen relationship and create stronger, more connected communities.
Restorative Practice offers a framework and a series of engagement practices designed both to build healthy relationships (prevent conflict) and to effectively deal with conflict when it happens (transform conflict). When discord occurs, Restorative Practice allows everyone involved to talk about what happened, identify the impact, repair the harm together and move forward. Restorative Practice invites people affected by conflict to talk openly and honestly to each other through facilitated circles and restorative conversations.
Shalem offers Restorative Practice facilitation services for workplaces, churches, schools and neighbourhoods. Our experienced team of certified trainers also focuses on supporting you to build the capacity of your setting to successfully sustain healthy relationships, through workshops, training, consultation and coaching.
I really didn’t know how you had been affected by all of this. I am truly sorry. Let’s get together for a barbecue. It’s time to reconnect.
Participant in a Shalem-facilitated restorative conference
Well done but more important, it is such critical information and practices. Thank you for providing it for others. There can never be enough people who understand and use this framework.