with Meeta Gandhi

White people! We're still talking about race in America! Whether you struggle with how to turn guilt into action, how to create sustainable antiracism, or have other racial conundrums you want to talk about, join us for our second group exploring white racial consciousness. This group is aimed at white people but all are welcome.

with Ben Seaman

Join us for part 2 of this monthly recurring circle.

Black Lives shouldn’t have to end to matter. We’re in a warzone and while our fight against racism is nothing new, each battle creates a new set of wounds. Some of us are justifiably full of rage. Some of us are shattered and heartbroken. Some of us are terrified. Some of us are a melting pot of many emotions while others aren’t feeling anything at all. Wherever you are, this support circle is for all Black people to come together and heal, grieve, process, & express. This circle was created so that we can have the safety of a place just for us, where no one has to hide behind a smile. 

Facilitated by Dr. Aleja Parsons

White privilege! White fragility! Feeling moved to do something about race relations, but not sure where to start? Looking for a space to engage in meaningful conversation? Recent events have raised white people’s awareness about the need to do more to fight the systemic racism that contributes to police brutality, economic inequality, and other forms of oppression. Everyone is somewhere on the spectrum from beginning to develop an awareness of racial issues and owning their role in perpetuating oppressive systems to grappling with complex issues of intersectionality and antiracism. In this special edition of Spoke Circles, Benjamin Seaman, a psychotherapist and former university diversity lecturer, will hold space aimed at white people (but open to all) to process current events, acknowledge and own their privilege and unconscious bias, and work towards active antiracist practices.

Facilitated by Benjamin Seaman

Black Lives shouldn’t have to end to matter. We’re in a warzone and while our fight against racism is nothing new, each battle creates a new set of wounds. Some of us are justifiably full of rage. Some of us are shattered and heartbroken. Some of us are terrified. Some of us are a melting pot of many emotions while others aren’t feeling anything at all. Wherever you are, this support circle is for all Black people to come together and heal, grieve, process, & express. This circle was created so that we can have the safety of a place just for us, where no one has to hide behind a smile. 

Facilitated by Dr. Aleja Parsons

We have all felt thrown off track by COVID-19. Whether we were feeling motivated and on a path toward achieving a specific goal or looking forward to a vacation or big event, most of us are having to do things differently. Join a Spoke Circle to explore your “Plan B” in this time filled with so much uncertainty. Gain tools to uncover what you want to get out of this moment in time and how to begin to chart a realistic path forward with the support of others who are also trying to find their way.

With Dr. Aleja Parsons

Many of us are navigating new and challenging terrain as we explore what dating looks like in this time of physical distancing. We may find ourselves wanting to remain connected, feeling turned on, and seeking connection or we may find ourselves disinterested. Either way, we may feel frustrated with the limited options available to us in this moment. Join a Spoke Circle to exhale a big WTF, identify practices and opportunities that support you in remaining engaged and titilated, and check in with others (hetero, queer, everyone!) who want to connect to themselves and others in more exciting ways.

In times of uncertainty, we may feel overwhelmed by emotion or we may feel nothing at all. Many of us are grappling with fears of the unknown related to our livelihoods, our health, and our futures. These fears can take over our minds and our lives. However, there are tools and strategies that can help us to live better with the unknown and ride with the current instead of against it. Join a Spoke Circle to explore the science behind what is happening in our brains and bodies during distressing experiences, practice empowering person-centered strategies for regulating your nervous system, and express your fears in communion with others who are attempting to find purpose, meaning, and answers.

Facilitated by Aleja Parsons

"Transition" is defined as the period of changing from one state or condition to another. The passage itself requires that we let go of one end before latching to the other. Consider any right of passage: the shift from one city to the next, couplehood to singledom (or vice versa), or the birth of a child; in all of these exits/entries, we struggle with letting go of one identity and embracing another. Walking into the unknown, in this particular moment in time, may feel scary, uncharted and full of uncertainty. Join a Spoke Circle to learn about research and ancient wisdom exploring transitory periods, practice strategies for regulating the difficult emotions that come with uncertainty, and develop connections with others who are “in it” with you.

Living and loving in NYC presents a unique set of struggles and opportunities. The societal focus on romantic love and external validation drives us away from truly knowing, accepting, and loving ourselves. We watch everyone living their #bestlives on social media, compare every ounce of our daily experiences to those of our friends, peers, and the stranger on the street, and struggle to live in the moment and in our own minds and bodies.  Join a Spoke Circle to gain the skills to minimize the damaging effects of social comparison, take steps towards developing personal intimacy and relational self-awareness, and work towards a greater sense of self acceptance.

Strong relationships (with both self and others) are grounded in healthy communication. Authentic and effective communication requires us to tap into the deeper parts of ourselves in order to more fully understand our motivations and needs, and to make space for a diversity of experiences and perspectives as we connect with others. Many of us shy away from difficult conversations, leave interactions feeling misunderstood, or feel dissatisfied by the quality of our connections. Join a Spoke Circle to explore your unique communication style and strategies for relating to others in a way that serves you, think through what holds you back from saying “the thing,” and work towards building more fulfilling relationships.

Many of us feel guilted into sacrificing our own wants and desires for the betterment of the whole and punish ourselves when we put ourselves first. Join a Spoke Circle to discuss the thin line between honoring your commitments to others and saving time for your own individual goals and dreams, and learn how to name and actualize your unique point of balance.

Anxiety is a normal response to stressful events and uncertainty. However, as demands on our time increase and the hours in the day remain the same, we experience an uptick in excessive worry, difficulty sleeping, reliance on undesirable behaviors, and bodily symptoms like heart palpitations and even headaches. Join a Spoke Circle to explore the evolutionary science behind the function of anxiety, identify unique stressers associated with being a New Yorker/parent/employee/[insert responsibility here], practice lasting strategies for reducing anxiety, and connect with others on a journey towards joy and peace of mind.