Compassionate Integrity Training CIT-Faciltator-Guide-2.1-Final | Page 9

C OMPASSIONATE I NTEGRITY T RAINING
A S ECULAR E THICS A PPROACH TO C ULTIVATING P ERSONAL , S OCIAL AND E NVIRONMENTAL F LOURISHING
G UIDELINES FOR L EARNING ,
P RACTICING AND F ACILITATING CIT
E
ngaging in the work of exploring one’s own values, attitudes and emotions can often be challenging.
Here are a few guiding principles to make the journey easier and more productive. As a facilitator it
is important to review these Guidelines with Participants during the first session and to remind
Participants of them when necessary throughout the course. These guidelines are also contained in the CIT
Manual.
1. Help Create a Safe Space – One that is Open and Trusting
If you are learning and practicing CIT with others in a group setting, strive to create a safe space where
people can feel relaxed and willing to explore together. These principles may help you to achieve this:
Confidentiality . Throughout the training others might feel inclined to share insights, stories, or
memories with you or the entire group. It is important to remember that anything that is said or
discussed in the sessions should remain confidential, unless someone specifies otherwise. Retaining this
confidentiality will foster a safe and trusting space for all participants to delve deeply into the content
and practice.
Trust and Openness. Allow everyone to speak their mind and to disagree. The content in CIT is not
black and white. People will challenge each other. This diversity is an important part of the self-discovery
that is critical to the process. Remember to remain open and allow differences to be heard and valued.
Speak from “I.” We often speak in a way that states our opinions or perspectives as facts. There is a
difference between saying “Eggs are disgusting” and “I think eggs are disgusting.” The latter states one’s
opinion but respects and allows room for other views. Speaking from “I” actually gives more value to
your statements. It helps cultivate a sense of confidence and empowerment.
Don’t Give Advice . Even though it might seem tempting, refrain from giving personal advice during CIT
sessions. You can suggest ways that you or someone else might approach the situation, but allow others
to come up with their own ideas and solutions for their issues. Often, people simply want someone to
C ENTER FOR C OMPASSION , I NTEGRITY AND S ECULAR E THICS | L IFE U NIVERSITY | M ARIETTA , G EORGIA
-2-