Community gatherings designed with senior's well-being and quality of life in mind.
Community designed with senior's well-being and quality of life in mind.
A Connection Circle is an in-person gathering designed to improve wellbeing.
Created for seniors, this pilot program offers a welcoming space to meet others, enjoy meaningful conversation, and be part of a community that values presence, life experience, and shared humanity.
Our Connection Circles are:
Community Circle exists to create a space where people can come together regularly, feel welcome, and connect in a meaningful way.
Community Circle is a pilot program created by Counselling for All, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving quality of life through accessible, thoughtful, and research-informed initiatives.
The program reflects Counselling for All’s broader commitment to well-being, connection, and community across generations.
While technology and virtual meetings make it easier to stay in touch, research shows that increased reliance on screens is also linked to greater feelings of loneliness and disconnection. Even when people are busy and digitally connected, many report feeling less seen, less known, and less rooted in community.
This has contributed to what researchers often call the loneliness epidemic, affecting people across all ages, including seniors.
Some of the changes many people experience over time include:
Connection Circles' program was created in response to these changes.
Rather than one-time events or online interaction, the program focuses on:
Connection Circle is guided by the idea of a third place.
A third place is a welcoming space outside of home and work where people can:
Research shows that these kinds of spaces support:
Community Circle brings this idea into a modern, intentional setting designed with care, accessibility, and respect at its core.
Community Circle is for seniors who:
There is no requirement to share personal details, speak in a certain way, or participate beyond what feels comfortable.
FACILITATOR
I started this support group when I recognized that I needed a colleague and a friend in one person. Therapist is not the same as a friend and a friend cannot be a therapist. So, why not make friends who are therapists and support each other through challenges, celebrating glimmers and showing shimmers.
Learn more about Mobina through her website.
Let's break down the details!
Connection Circle is designed to feel welcoming, calm, and easy to join. When you attend, you can expect:
Connection Circle uses simple, low-pressure activities to support conversation and connection.
Activities are not fixed or mandatory. Over time, they are shaped by the group and by what feels most meaningful to participants.
Gatherings may include:
Small-group or paired conversations
Opportunities to connect with others in a more comfortable, manageable way.
Shared rituals and routines
Including welcome moments, closing reflections, or seasonal acknowledgements that help the group feel familiar and grounded.
Moments of calm or grounding
Such as brief pauses for breathing, stretching, or settling into the space.
Creative or reflective activities
Such as casual drawing, writing, listening to music, or simple creative prompts that encourage presence rather than skill.
Gentle movement for comfort and ease
Optional chair-based stretching or light movement to support relaxation and physical well-being, offered at a comfortable pace.
Guided conversation prompts
Light questions or themes that invite reflection and sharing, with no expectation to speak.
Connection Circle is designed to feel flexible and responsive. As relationships form, participants often help shape what the gatherings look like over time.
Is this a counselling group or therapy session?
No. Community Circle is not therapy and does not involve counselling or treatment. It is a community gathering focused on connection and belonging.
Will I have to talk about personal or emotional topics?
Only if you choose to. Participation is always optional, and many people simply come to listen and enjoy the conversation.
I’m not very outgoing. Is this still for me?
Yes. Community Circle is designed with ease and inclusion in mind. There is no pressure to speak, perform, or socialize in a certain way.
How is this different from a meetup or social club?
Community Circle focuses on belonging rather than activities.
Unlike many meetups, it emphasizes:
Why is this connected to Counselling for All if it’s not therapy?
Community Circle was designed by Counselling for All because connection and well-being are closely linked.
The program reflects Counselling for All’s research-informed understanding of what supports quality of life across the lifespan. While Counselling for All also offers counselling services, Community Circle is a community-based initiative focused on connection, not treatment.
What if I just want to come and see how it feels?
That’s completely welcome. You are free to attend, observe, and participate at your own pace.
Community Circle is currently launching as a pilot program.
If you are interested in learning more, participating, or sharing this opportunity with someone you know, we invite you to get in touch.
©2025 Counselling for All is a service name of Chisti and Hasan Foundation.
