My background is in experiential education. I studied this in my undergrad and pursued a career in outdoor education for many years.
Outdoor education is naturally restorative. On a five-day (or more) expedition, there is no way a teacher can send a student away. The group is a contiguous community that must learn to deal with different personalities and logistical complications.
I love observing and affecting group dynamics. I love the energy cycles that come from people interacting.
With the experiences I have been gaining with restorative conferences I notice a beautiful cycle of energy.
Group dynamics creates an amazing cycle of energy
The beginning piece to a circle is the introductions and housekeeping. At this point, the energy is just coming together. People begin to relax into their seats with the initial energy they bring. This can include some tense body positions of those with anxiety. As a facilitator, this point in time is a great assessment period to learn where people are coming from.
The second major block to a conference is the story telling. Everyone has a chance to discuss harms and what happened. The story telling piece is usually heavy in feeling. If there is a person who caused a lot of harm this person will feel the brunt of the heaviness. I call this pain.
On a slight diversion, it is know in psychology that people move away from pain and towards pleasure. In this block of a conference we bring pain to the offending behavior.
This “block” ends when all the pains have been expressed and there is a slight release within the group. Some people may sigh.
At this point it is time to build up the energy into the positive. Using asset based assessments and developing a contract to restore relationships, the energy builds and builds. People begin to stretch in their seats and get involved in the conversation. The person who has broken relationships gets a chance to shine–and they do, all the while paying back what needs to be restored.
During this block, pleasure is attached to other behaviors a person can use. By attaching pain to actions that caused harms and immense pleasure to new behaviors, it is possible affect behaviors within individuals with positive success.
This block continues until a contract is built and people look one another in the eyes without a need to say a word.
The final block is breaking bread. During this phase people congratulate and affirm others as individuals. It is a nice relaxed energy of productive creation.
I love the process and its outcomes. There is so much power within a circle.
to building relationships with restorative practices-
Matt K.
