Gather + Belong: Circle Design & Facilitator Programme (January '26 Cohort)

Gather + Belong: Circle Design & Facilitator⭕️Programme

Gathering humans, honoring difference, and facilitating belonging, one circle at a time.

Learn the art of holding space with presence and care. Join Catherine in this 6 week circle design and facilitator journey that’s grounded, spacious, and uniquely yours, with a trauma informed, neuro inclusive and deeply human approach to circle facilitation.

Overview

Gather + Belong: Circle Design and Facilitator Programme is a live, 6 week online training for space holders who want to design and deliver meaningful circle spaces - rooted in somatic wisdom, relational safety and neuro inclusive practice.

The programme is for space holders who are ready to hold circle spaces that feel as good to offer as they do to receive. The programme guides you step-by-step in designing your own circle based offering - from vision to delivery.

You’ll discover how the art of storytelling can be the bridge to deep connection and profound transformation.

The training blends over a decade of experience in holding space, facilitation and circle delivery, along with learning, practice, peer support and reflection to help you build and hold your circle.

Each week includes a 90 minute live session, with built in reflective practice invitations, and opportunity for peer collaboration.

You don’t need to be a polished performer to hold powerful group spaces. You need presence, intention, and a structure that honours depth, difference, and care.

Whether you’re called to create a grief group, a space to nurture creativity, explore new beginnings, navigate painful endings, or a self-discovery circle - you’ll be guided to confidently build and create something that feels authentically yours, while rooted in frameworks that support nervous system safety, inclusivity, and relational connection.

You’ll discover circles that feel as good to hold as they do to receive.

We are wired for connection, and when we sit in circle, we rewire the damage of disconnection. Healing happens not in fixing, but in witnessing, in holding space where every voice matters and every story belongs.

Who is this designed for?

Participants on the programme have included an autism assessment provider, FE/HE education providers, PHD student, therapists, student mentor, coaches and psychologists. The programme is designed for anyone who is wanting to design and deliver a peer support programme which is trauma informed, neuro inclusive and deeply human.

What participants say about the programme

“Thanks so much for the thoughtful design and delivery of the Gather + Belong programme Catherine! I feel really resourced and energised about using what I’ve learned in my own facilitation work. The contents were considered and accessible and reminded me that care for ones personal capacity is central to holding space for others.” – September 2025 cohort participant

“I took a brave step in arranging 3 of our team clinicians to attend Catherine Asta’s Circles training rather than attend myself. It was a leadership decision and was difficult because I like to crack on and do things myself!! But not only was I 100% confident in my clinicians (such as joy as a leader) but I was also 100% confident in the quality of training and support that Catherine would give my team. The training has now finished and I am blown away by what has emerged from the training. The circle facilitator plans created by Lily Scanlan, with support from Dr. Rachael King and Amy Cats are so very good. Woven through the expertise of this dream team of clinicians, is Catherine’s approach to holding Circles – compassionate, neuroinclusive, trauma informed. They made me want to attend. Can I go to my own team’s circles as a participant?! Sadly, probably not! So, I HIGHLY recommend Catherine’s ‘Gather + Belong Circle Design and Facilitator Programme’. I can see how helpful this would be in facilitating any circles, in any context.~ Dr Becky Quicke, Clinical Psychologist, Founder Autistic Girls and Women

How is the programme delivered?

The training is delivered by Catherine in a 6 x 90 min live weekly group programme on zoom.

How much does it cost?

It costs £699 (+ eventbrite ticket fees) - please note that from March 2026 the cost of the programme will increase.

If you would prefer to pay direct by invoice, or pay in 2 instalments of £360 please email:

hellocatherineasta@gmail.com

What does it include?

This includes:

• 6 x 90 minute live training on zoom
• access to 'The Gather + Belong' Programme' Mighty Online Community
• reflective practices and peer collaboration
• circle frameworks and approaches to support you on your circle journey creation.

What will we cover each week?

During the 6 weeks we will focus on these themes:

Week 1: The Architecture of Holding

Week 2: Capacity - Holding space with compassion and care

Week 3: Container - What holds the circle

Week 4: Connection - The relational space

Week 5: Content - The landscape you explore

Week 6: Vision to Practice - Stepping into your circle

About Catherine Asta

Catherine is an integrative psychotherapist turned author, consultant, and community builder who creates and designs spaces that are more inclusive, more compassionate, and more human.

She works at the intersection of inclusion, neurodivergence, mental health, and trauma informed systems design.

With over two decades of leadership across healthcare, government, and private practice, she has led multi-million pound programmes, co-designed national NHS strategies, and pioneered trauma informed, peer led support spaces.

Creator of The Late Discovered Club - the globally recognised podcast and community centering the voices of late discovered autistic women, listened to in over 130 countries, and ranked #1 ‘Female Autism’ Podcast 2025 by Feedspot. Along with post discovery community support which includes peer support circles, connection circles, an online community space, as well as regular educational sessions.

A two time breast cancer survivor, her work honours both science and soul, weaving therapeutic insight, nature and somatic wisdom, and grounded in deep compassion.

Rediscovered (JKP, 2025) is her debut book - a courageous and compassionate heart led part memoir/part guide for late-discovered autistic women and the people who walk beside them.

She has a Degree and MSc in Psychology, a PG Diploma in Effective Psychotherapy, along with a PGCert in Leadership, and is a graduate member of the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Her recent work has included developing content for, and delivering the groundbreaking NHS National Autism Trainer Programme to 100's of mental health professionals, guest lecturing at University College London, designing and hosting a panel discussion to 7,500 people online for Neurodiversity Celebration Week.

An associate with AT-Autism both in the UK and internationally, as well as being part of the team at GRRAND (Group for Research in Relationships and Neurodiversity) part of the UCL Department of Clinical, Education and Health Psychology.

In November 2026 she was appointed an Associate on the NHS Commissioned and funded 'National Autism Peer Education Programe' leading on content development, peer education framework/training, and quality assurance. And is also the host and producer of the podcast for the programme - The Autism Central Podcast.

When does it start?

The January '26 cohort will run every Thursday for 6 weeks starting Thursday 8th January at 10am -11.30am (UK time) and will be delivered on zoom, and then on the following Thursdays:

Thursday 15th January

Thursday 22nd January

Thursday 29th January

Thursday 5th February

Thursday 12th February

*If you need adjustments/adaptations to enable participation please do let me know.

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