*Note* This scheduling program was not designed by folks who do a lot with APA Style and unfortunately it defaults to listing authors in alphabetical order. We cannot fix this for this online schedule, but the author orders are posted in the order submitted in the printed program available via pdf here.
The purpose of this workshop is to provide an overview of the use of peacekeeping circles as a unique supervision and training approach for therapists-in-training. The workshop will describe the peacekeeping circle process, its history, and its roots in the Restorative Justice model. Then, we will overview the model adopted by Northwestern University’s Mental Health Human Rights Clinic (MHHRC) as an example of peacekeeping circles in supervision and training. The MHHRC primarily serves clients who are immigrants, political refugees, and asylum seekers and who have survived traumatic histories by providing psychological evaluations and culturally sensitive counseling. Peacekeeping circles are utilized in supervision and training as a mechanism to build trainees’ awareness, skills, and confidence in order to increase comfort and competence in providing services to the clients. In this workshop, we will describe the structure and process used in the weekly healing circles as a mechanism by which trainees are able to explore their clinical work and experiences with clients. We will also overview current adaptations in different settings and the benefits and limitations of using peacekeeping circles as a clinical supervision and training model. Its target audience includes clinical supervisors, clinical trainees, educators, and individuals interested in the application of restorative justice based practices in counseling. The content will be presented via an interactive workshop with didactic and experiential components.
