Saturday, 19th September, 2026 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
Saturday, 19th September, 2026 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
Experience how Group settings work
Experience how Group settings work
Zoom video session
Zoom video session
Led by a therapist
Led by a therapist
Join a group of others who are also starting on the same Habit. Keep each other accountable and motivated to keep going!
Safe and confidential space
Safe and confidential space
Small Cohort of 6-7 people
Small Cohort of 6-7 people
We've made it super easy! Select a Habit and we add you to a WhatsApp group of others on the same journey as you.
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What we will explore in this session:
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What is a sharing circle? What happens in a sharing circle?
A sharing circle is basically a small group of people who gather to talk about what's on their mind. Sessions are facilitated by a therapist and move through a set routine. There's a check-in to begin with - where people share how they're doing followed by discussions based on prompts relevant to the theme of the session. At the end, there's a check-out where participants reflect on what they're taking away from the sharing circle.
There is no rigid agenda and no set curriculum. Most people don't know what to expect when they walk into a sharing circle, so the session actually tends to unfold very naturally. It's much closer to a conversation than a formal support group.
How is a sharing circle different from a support group?
A sharing circle and a support group overlap considerably, but the difference is that a sharing circle is more open-ended and has a lower commitment. It can function as an entry point to a support group because it isn't an on-going, topic-specific programme. Support groups are usually built around a particular experience or condition that is shared by the people in the group. They meet consistently over time, and there is usually more structured facilitation. A sharing circle, compared to that, is often a single session with a looser format. It's mostly suited for people who aren't sure what group spaces feel like or aren't ready to commit to one but are nonetheless looking for avenues where they can share and find some support.
The distinction is mostly about the depth of the discussion and the length of the commitment. A sharing circle is more open and short-term, while a support group tends to go deeper into a particular topic and continues over a longer period.
Who leads or hosts a sharing circle?
Sharing circles are guided by a facilitator, who can be a therapist or a psychologist. Their role involves offering prompts when needed, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to speak, and keeping the conversation respectful and on track.
Some participants think that sharing circles can be one-sided, with the therapist doing most of the talking, but that's not the case. The dynamic is split fairly evenly, with part of the session involving structured guidance and the rest being open space for people to speak freely.
Can I join if I do not want to speak?
Participation is very much voluntary. You can simply listen. If your concern is, “What if I have nothing to say?”, then that's okay. You don't have to say anything. Some people attend entirely as observers to see what the group's dynamic is like before deciding whether they want to open up or not.
Facilitators also leave room for silence, and they don't press participants to speak. But they do ensure that if someone wants to speak, they've been given the opportunity to do so.
How does a sharing circle benefit me?
The primary benefit is usually connecting with people and getting a sense of catharsis by opening up and being vulnerable with people, and sharing thoughts that you might have kept inside for a really long time.
And because the format is so informal, it can actually help you practise articulating things that you didn't think of putting into words before. There's a certain clarity that comes from saying something aloud in a space where nobody is going to judge you.
A single conversation can actually help more than you'd expect. Hearing other participants talk about similar experiences brings real validation, along with new perspectives on how to view your own situation or challenges.
Should I choose a sharing circle or a support group?
You can choose either, but it really depends on what you want. If you're new to a group setting and don't know what to expect, then a sharing circle might be a good starting point. It can help you get a feel for what a group setting is like before moving into something more sustained. But if you already know that you want to manage something specific and you want consistent peer support around it, then a support group is likely a better fit.
It also helps to consider whether you're looking for a single conversation or ongoing support around something specific that you're working through. Starting in a sharing circle and then moving into a support group later is also a completely reasonable path.
Is everything shared in the circle confidential?
Sharing circles do operate on mutual confidentiality, which means that whatever you share within the circle is expected to stay within the circle and not go outside of it.
That said, this depends on participants honoring the agreement of mutual confidentiality; it isn't a legal obligation in the same way it is for a mental health professional. You're also always in control of how much you choose to share. There's no pressure to disclose anything you're not comfortable with. If you have any questions about confidentiality, you can always raise them with the facilitator.
Are online sharing circles effective?
Online sharing circles are just as effective as in-person ones for a lot of people, since the effectiveness of sharing circles comes from open conversation and facilitation rather than physical presence. Online circles also offer some very practical advantages. You can access them regardless of where you are, you don't have to commute, and scheduling is usually easier because you don't have to plan it around travel or getting somewhere on time.
But there are some disadvantages as well. Some people might simply prefer being in person, so you have to figure out what's more important for you: the physical presence or having a space where you can share your thoughts openly. If you're fatigued by screens or you have a strong preference for in-person settings, then you might want to go for in-person sessions. But if that's not particularly important to you, online sessions can work just as well.
Neither format is necessarily superior. You can go with whichever one works better for you.
What topics are discussed in a sharing circle?
There isn't a particular set of topics that are discussed. Different sharing circles can have different topics, and they often follow a theme or prompt that the facilitator introduces. Emotional check-ins are quite common across most circles, but discussions can touch on things like stress, relationships, loneliness, work pressure, family dynamics, grief, or simply how your week has gone.
Some circles are organised around a specific theme, such as discomfort or anxiety around what's going on in the world, a particular life stage, or how you're doing professionally, whereas others may remain more open-ended. Personal details and tangents are also a normal part of how these conversations go, regardless of the theme that the sharing circle is following. Sometimes you start with the prompt and end up somewhere completely different, and that's okay.
Is a sharing circle meant for first-time mental health support?
Sharing circles are a good starting point for people who are new to mental health support because they are very low pressure and don't require any prior experience with groups or therapy.
If you feel like you don't know where to begin, a sharing circle is probably a good way to test out what it feels like to speak openly in a space where there is no judgement. You can get a sense of how group support works without committing to therapy or a structured programme. These aren't limited to beginners, though. Many people who have been in therapy or support groups for years also come to sharing circles because they offer a much more relaxed format.
Do sharing circles use a fixed structure or rules?
Sharing circles don't follow a rigid structure. They follow a very simple routine: a check-in, an open conversation, and a check-out. But within that routine, the format is very flexible and shifts according to what the participants bring up. The ground rules are things like confidentiality, respectful listening, and voluntary participation. But there isn't a detailed agenda.
So if you expect a tightly scripted session, you might actually be surprised by how organically it runs. There is just enough structure to keep the space safe and on track, while still allowing the conversation to go where it needs to.
Why do people join sharing circles in India?
Sharing circles have become a common entry point to mental health support because you don't necessarily have to deal with the stigma that can come with going to therapy. That stigma can come from unfamiliarity with the process, societal shame, or simply not knowing what to expect.
A sharing circle addresses some of that directly. You don't have to talk about a lot of things from your childhood or your past, and it's a much lower-pressure setting compared to therapy. It's also more peer-driven, with the focus being on shared experiences.. For many people, that can make a sharing circle feel like a simpler first step towards seeking mental health support or eventually committing to therapy.
What makes SoulUp's circles different?
SoulUp's sharing circles are specifically designed to be an accessible point of entry for people who haven't experienced a support group before. It's a way of getting to know how groups work without committing to a rigid, structured, long-term programme right away. These sessions are hosted by a psychologist or a therapist, and they follow a balanced format, where there's roughly half guidance from the host and half open space for participants to share and talk to one another.
Groups are kept small, and sessions follow the same check-in, conversation, check-out routine as SoulUp's other groups. The idea is to help participants feel heard and feel a little less alone by the end of the session. Circles run on different themes, which can range from open-ended spaces to specific topics around life events, personal situations, emotional health, work-related issues and others.
