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— FIVE-WEEK FACILITATION TRAINING E-COURSE —

A robust toolkit of frameworks and practices to hone your facilitation skills,
grow the impact of your groups & gatherings,
and deepen your vital changemaking work.

You’ll receive:

  1. Five self-guided modules with content dropped weekly.

  2. Written interviews with 16 facilitators across a range of disciplines.

  3. Audios, prompts and practices to make the learning come alive in your work.

  4. A generative foundation to support your space holding & facilitation.

“I have been guiding retreats and facilitating groups professionally for over seven years, but Holding Space has provided me with a treasure box of essential new tools. This course will absolutely change you — and your work — for the better!” —Lori Stone, Coach, Visibility Facilitator, Retreat Guide, Massachusetts

“This is an amazing example of a self-paced, online course that is still full of presence and immediacy!” —Bear Hébert, Radical Business Consultant & Social Justice Educator, Louisiana


Space holding is a vital skill set in our work of client & community engagement, personal & professional development, and culture change.


There is so much potential when we come together and yet so often the container isn’t created, the energy isn’t held, and the possibility isn’t fully realized.

Because leading powerful group experiences takes more than just gathering people in a room (or on a Zoom!).


While leaders, therapists, teachers, organizers, coaches, and creatives are well prepared in their areas of expertise, they are often lacking the training to create skillfully held and facilitated learning environments. Yet without a solid foundation, it is too easy to employ a one-size-fits-all formula expecting it to work for everyone, to ask our participants to journey too deep too fast, to skip over the essential steps of container setting and trust-building, and to either cling too tightly to our agendas or to forgo planning and simply “wing it” — doing a disservice — and potentially causing harm — to the communities we are aiming to support.

Skillful space holding is not just an intuitive gift granted to a select few. There are foundational techniques we can practice, facilitation frameworks we can explore, and scaffolding to build upon as we find our own unique and intentional ways of holding space.

This course offers a robust toolkit honed over 20+ years to support your essential space holding skills and tangibly grow the impact of your groups and gatherings. 


Because when we have the tools to establish containers that hold the complexity and breadth of our offerings, our participants go deep alongside us. When we create an aligned balance between structure and flow, we are able to be both present and prepared. When we better trust ourselves and our process, we can better trust the people in the room, and that’s when the true magic happens.

So, let’s sharpen skills that contribute to genuine, co-created community.
Let’s say goodbye to mundane meetings and design gatherings that make meaning.
Let’s actualize our visions for the liberatory ways we can lead, listen, and learn.
Let’s convene groups that celebrate our complexities and creativity. 
Let’s care for ourselves while we care for the collective.

Let’s hold space, together.

“I feel so inspired by the content (oh my goodness, it has been transformative!!) but also the beautiful layout and format of this class. It’s felt reflective, connecting, intentional, engaging — and I will use this as a reference point as I create my own classes.” —Krishna Avalon, Acupuncturist, Reiki Practitioner, Breathwork Facilitator, Oregon

What We’ll Explore:

There is no one way to hold space, but there are integral tools to practice and frameworks to engage. 

Through five weeks of dynamic teaching videos, inspiring written content, illuminating interviews, and energizing reflection prompts, you will generate tangible skills that you can immediately bring back to the communities you serve.


Holding Space provides a scaffolding rather than a formula — an invitation to both learn and unlearn, and find what works for you.

By the end of this course, you will have explored ways to:

  1. Create learning containers that support your desired outcomes

  2. Establish structure that encourages freedom

  3. Engage a justice lens in program creation + facilitation

  4. Convene brave rather than safe spaces

  5. Navigate conflict + challenging group dynamics 

  6. Increase self-awareness about what you bring to the room (skills, strengths, biases, stuck-spots)

  7. Center the voices and experiences of your participants

  8. Co-create rather than just “teach”

  9. Move from intention to impact (and know how to actually assess that!)

  10. Cultivate increased trust in yourself, your participants, and your process

  11. Befriend and integrate feedback

  12. Hold space for your own resilience, integration, and thriving in this changemaking work and ever-changing world


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“Anya helped me realize that holding space isn’t an esoteric gift. It can be learned! And even if you’re already a natural at it, there is a science to the art as well that can make your gatherings even more transformative. Anya is so good at breaking it down and giving structure to it while keeping art and spirit alive. Learning with Anya has changed the way I move in the world and impacted all my relationships and my work. This has truly changed my life.” —Adrianna Locke, Acupuncturist & Group Facilitator, Oregon


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“I’ve felt a lot of spaciousness and playfulness with this course. The tools and exercises have helped with my anxiety around ‘doing things right’ or wanting to have all the answers and being rigid. There’s such a beauty to the layout, the flow, the materials, and such love put into everything. It’s palpable. I also appreciate how spirituality and mindfulness are interwoven in the makings of the course. Holding Space is one of the most intentional online courses I’ve ever taken!” —Tavia Benjamin, Pattern Weaver, Connector, Organizer, North Carolina


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Why Before What — Clarity of Purpose

  1. Building Context that Supports Community

  2. Creating Compelling Intentions + Agendas

  3. Collective Space Setting

  4. Interviews with:

    • Alisha SommerFreelance Creative; Parfait BassaleMusician, Artist, Empathy Specialist; Christy Tennery-SpaldingMentor, Activist, Writer, Mama

Setting Powerful Containers — Finding Freedom in Structure

  1. Openings, Closings, + the Adventure In Between

  2. Establishing Boundaries

  3. Creating Culturally Rooted Rituals

  4. Interviews with:

    • Alan Wong Facilitator, Trainer, Educator, Artist; Nat JacobsComedian, Social Worker, Advocate for Systems Change; Lynzee Lynx MalsinArtist, Mama, Embodiment Instructor

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It’s All About You + It’s Not At All About You — Activating a Justice Lens

  1. How Our Stories Serve Our Work

  2. Calling in Our People; Recognizing Who Is + Isn’t In the Room

  3. Learning from Our Teachers + Finding Our Own Way

  4. Interviews with:

    • Caprice Hollins Co-Founder of Cultures Connecting; Ilsa GovanCo-Founder of Cultures Connecting; Andrea Leda — Life Coach, Spiritual Teacher; Robin Jackson — Musician, Community Arts Curator

Magic in the Mess — Navigating Challenge + Conflict

  1. Staying Present with Complex Group Dynamics

  2. Vulnerability, Trust, and Going Deep Together

  3. Rescripting “Perfection”

  4. Interviews with:

    • Kaya SingerWiser & Wilder Business Mentor, Author; Flora BowleyArtist, Author, Inspirationalist; Shanthi Klein-BalajeeYouth Activist + Organizer

Closing the Circle — Integration + Action

  1. Befriending Feedback + Assessing Impact

  2. Logistics of Leading (Setting Up Physical Space, Pricing Your Offers, Inviting People In)

  3. Galvanizing Our Visions — Deepening the Work

  4. Interviews with:

    • Michael RohdTheatre Artist, Artistic Director, Lead Artist for Civic Imagination; Jennifer LeeAuthor + Business Coach for Creatives; Dawn ThompsonCommunity Writing Workshop Facilitator

 
 
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“I was in a clunky space with my facilitation — recognizing how much I wanted to share but not knowing how to create and structure my programs for utmost impact. I felt like I was holding within me all of these beautiful gems but didn’t quite know how to deliver them into the world. These tools were exactly what I was looking for. I immediately started to apply the insights that I was having, and these tools have continued to deeply inform and impact my leadership style. This work helped me find my compass again.” —Kirin Bhatti, Healer & Counselor, Oregon


“This course has deepened my impact on my clients and helped me feel more confident in delivering my coaching services. I have used the skills I’ve learned in so many situations, both professional and personal. This course has allowed me to grow into a more mindful and skillful space-holder and as I put these tools into practice I can already see and feel the difference it makes. This has been so exciting, inspirational, and useful!” —Tina Koch, Money Mindset & Personal Brand Coach, Australia

 
 

As soon as you sign up, you’ll receive immediate access to the Week One content, then, every week over five weeks you’ll receive access to an additional weekly module.

The Holding Space Course is always offered at an equity rate for historically marginalized participants ((ie. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Trans, Queer, Disabled, Single mothers, Unemployed folx)). The Equity Rate is $300 ((pay-in-full)) or 4 Payments of $75. This is an honor code discount, and I trust that you won’t use it if it isn’t meant for you. Enter code EquityRate at checkout. *Additional discounts cannot be applied.

Visit our FAQs page if you have questions.

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“As a result of integrating the tools and practices from Holding Space into my own training and facilitation, I feel such an expanded confidence and am much more equipped to make an impact through my work.” —Tutu Songonuga, Trainer & Facilitator, Nigeria


“You are an amazing guide and mentor, Anya, and I feel so honored to integrate what I have learned from you into my work. I find a deep grounding and grace from the way you empower and uplift. Your model of creative incubatorship and facilitation tools have greatly informed and inspired my newest offering.” —Rowen White, Seed Keeper, Facilitator, Writer, California


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Holding Space has helped me to dig deeper into my own power so I can bring forth my gifts in service to others. It has given me inspiration on how I want to be as a leader and support for others as they grow and expand into their work in the world. I feel less fear related to showing up in a bigger way. The impact of integrating the Holding Space framework into my current offerings of an online group has been more ease in myself as a facilitator, and really putting intention on those who gather with me, learning from them and co-weaving our group time. —Adrienne Sloan, Ancestral lineage healing facilitator & Psychotherapist, New Mexico


These tools have revitalized my work. They have enabled me to become more present in my practice with a new clarity about what I want my clients to experience and how to create an offering that takes them there. These prompts and practices have infused my own services in a way that feels true to me and catalyzing to my clients. I have a renewed purpose in what I do and how I do it.” —Marisol Cordero-Goodman, Lawyer, Counselor, & Movement Facilitator, Oregon


“I’m able to embrace facilitation in a whole new way now! I craft my workshops using the knowledge and great guideposts I gained through Holding Space. I feel much more grounded and am so grateful!” — Jess DeVries, Sex & Intimacy Coach, Oregon 


“From the first day, of this course, keeping ‘I am holding space’ at the front of my thoughts has shifted so much of my work. These frameworks have informed how I show up, and deepened my mothering work, and influenced my dialogues. Especially in a time of heartbreak and overwhelm, to notice my thoughts and intentions as an expression of building a container has been huge. I am indebted to this work.” — Adrienne Oliver, Poet, Teacher, Mother, Virginia


“Key takeaways from this course have been the importance of holding space for myself. I’ve learned that I have more tools and gifts than I realized. I’ve seen how my dreams and visions can really come to life when sharing them with others. Holding Space has given me confidence that I can create spaces for profound collective healing.” —Erica Bailey, Nurse, Oregon


“Even weeks and now months later, I find myself returning to some of the brilliant prompts and questions that Anya offered throughout this course — they offer such an anchor. I find the questions that help me clarify my ‘why’ are really helpful for me to ask myself before I engage with almost any intentional activity (1:1 patient visits, my mastermind meetings, creating my offerings).” —Clair Hamilton, Naturopath, Minnesota


I’ve loved the pace of the teachings — they are deep and meaningful and have taught me a whole new beautiful way to hold space. If folks have noticed growth and transformation in my own work, I give so much thanks to you, Anya, for helping to guide and mentor my process.” —Jeevan Singh, Somatic Pelvic Healing & Embodied Coaching, Oregon


“Anya, you are an incredible guide. I would show up to any space you held as you’re such a genius at making experiences just as beautiful and meaningful online as they are in-person. This has modeled what can be possible! These tools now permeate all I do as a leader and facilitator.” —B Merikle, Executive Director, Pleasure Facilitator, Artist, Mother, Washington


“This experience has deeply impacted my work and has also given me a great foundation and stepping stones to support myself as a facilitator and space-holder. I’ve been able to practice releasing perfectionism and trusting myself as a leader and guide. It’s been transformative.” —Abby Case, Doula & Lactation Consultant, Colorado