for educatorsLeading with Heart
Stories can tap into our deepest emotions, trigger hormones, and connect with our core values. Because of this, it’s important to approach story-sharing with responsibility. We’ve gathered a few tips for facilitators on how to create and nurture a safe, welcoming space where everyone feels comfortable sharing. Learn how to make story-sharing a positive and respectful experience.
Safe space
Create an environment where people feel respected, accepted, and free to express themselves without fear of judgment, discrimination, or harm.
A safe space is a physical or emotional environment that encourages open, inclusive, and respectful dialogue. In a story-sharing workshop, it should be collectively created by facilitators, participants, and organizers, but the facilitators are there to guide the process, set the tone, and ensure that everyone feels heard, valued, and respected.
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Encourage participants to set and respect their boundaries. Sharing should always be voluntary, and no one should feel pressured to disclose or do anything they are not comfortable with. Participants should be encouraged to speak up and state their boundaries, knowing there will be no negative repercussions.
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Practice empathetic, non-judgmental listening. Focus on understanding rather than interrupting or offering solutions unless explicitly asked. Listen to the stories being shared, not just your own response to what is being said.
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Make sure participants understand the purpose and conditions of the proposed activity. Remind them that they can decline participation, share their stories on their own terms, skip questions, or leave out parts of their stories without feeling pressured. “You can always pass; you will not be graded or judged by what you choose to share or not share.”
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Foster a culture of confidentiality, ensuring that stories shared within the group remain private and are not disclosed to anyone outside of it. What is said in the room, stays in the room.
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Avoid judging others' experiences, beliefs, or storytelling styles. Foster an inclusive and supportive environment.
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When listening, approach each story with kindness and understanding, considering the emotional needs and experiences of others.
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Invite participants to engage at their own comfort level—whether by sharing their stories, actively listening, or simply observing.
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We always respect when someone needs a break, wants to step back, or take a pause, without questioning that decision. Participants are welcome to step out of the room knowing that things may continue and they will not disrupt the process. No one is required to be uncomfortable for the sake of others.
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We use inclusive and affirming language that supports and validates the identity and experiences of all participants. Mistakes can, and will, happen. Allow others the grace to learn and change.
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Create a physically comfortable space that allows everyone to feel at ease and fully engaged.
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Encourage participants to contribute and establish new guidelines that will help foster a safe and supportive space for everyone.
Responsible story–sharing
Informed consent
When inviting others to share their stories, provide clear information on how their stories will be used and obtain their agreement before proceeding. Storytellers should understand how their stories will be stored, shared, and handled. It's important to respect their privacy, offer the option for anonymity or withdrawal, and ensure confidentiality. Most importantly, consent is only valid if it’s fully informed.
Copyrights
Ownership of a story is a basic right of a storyteller. People own their own stories and should be recognized as creators. Always ask for permission before sharing someone else's story and credit them if allowed, respecting their choice of anonymity.
Agency of a storyteller
Storytellers should feel free to choose what story they share, how they share it, and how they’re represented. It's important to create a safe, supportive space that respects their choices and empowers them. This includes the right to skip questions or stop sharing at any time.
Subliminal messages
Help storytellers stay clear and intentional with their messages. Encourage them to be authentic and honest but also to think critically about their story's purpose, audience, and potential impact. Guide them in avoiding ambiguity, unintentional symbolism, or stereotypes. Support them in choosing words that align with the emotions they want to evoke. Promote ethical storytelling free from hidden agendas.
Holding Stories. A note to facilitators on trauma-sensitive facilitation and emotional debriefing
In an ever changing and adapting world, it is no question that the stories that are told can vary in intensity, depth and meaning. Sometimes a story is just something you tell to pass time or make someone laugh; other times it is a soul baring experience where the listener can come along on a journey or watch it like a river as it passes by.
When working with stories, it is safe to expect the unexpected. As facilitators, we open ourselves up to a monumental task: holding other peoples’ stories.
Holding stories
Before we ask people to share, we must make sure that we have the space to receive and hold the stories we hear. This means a bit of setting ones self aside. It means leaving worries at the door and committing yourself, as a facilitator, to holding each story as if it is an egg that the storyteller throws your way. You are there to keep it and the storyteller as safe as they can be during this workshop.
This does not mean that you will not have emotional responses. On the contrary, when we open ourselves to hold other people’s stories, we open ourselves up to remember trauma that we may have experienced. Give yourself the grace to experience what you feel while remaining as supportive as you can be. If you feel emotional and need to continue on, share with the group what you are experiencing. We as facilitators must sometimes lead by example. Some people cannot show vulnerability first, so this is a skill that a storytelling workshop facilitator can practice!
When we invite people in our workshops to share, we first must be willing to ourselves. Do not ask others to do what you are unwilling to do. Although you may be running the workshop, you are just as much a participant as all other members in the room. We encourage you to lead with a level of vulnerability that you are able to handle and share, as well as have an open mind and heart as you listen to the stories told. Not just the verbal stories, but it is important to read body language and nonverbal cues.
Emotional check–in
We encourage facilitators to keep themselves emotionally checked in. As people become vulnerable and share personal stories, we should strive to listen and not judge, no matter what we hear. We should do our best not to disconnect from feelings and escape the things we might find emotionally difficult, and instead lean in and allow ourselves to be in that moment. Every individual who is sharing deserves respect. Please instruct your participants to not interrupt, not discuss things with each other if someone is speaking, and if translation is needed, to respect that we might come from different backgrounds, but have the goal of finding the common ground that we share. This can lead to paths of healing and connecting with each other
That being said, sometimes our emotional self overrides our practical or intellectual self and things can get heavier than expected.
“Being a trauma informed facilitator means that you understand:1. People have experienced trauma regardless if it is disclosed to you in person, prior to, or ever.2. Recognize that trauma has lasting effects on a person's mental, emotional, physical, and social well-being.3. Recognize that the impact of trauma can interfere with learning, growth, and healing.” Understanding Trauma-Informed Facilitation:
Community Conversations as Nonprofit Leaders
Essential tips
As a facilitator, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Be supportive!
“It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
Offer space for people to connect and share advice
Since we are presenting this information with the goal of helping marginalized groups find connection, it is not unlikely that situational struggles may come up in stories. Offer a time at the end of the workshop for people to discuss if they’d like any solution sharing on a given topic. This is not mandatory for anyone, but could be a good opportunity to find allies or people who have shared a similar experience and the things that did (and did not) work for them.
Hold their stories and confidentiality
Make it clear to all participants that stories heard in the workshop are not for sharing outside of the workshop. We tell our own stories and let others tell theirs.
Those listening are experiencing a world of emotions internally that we may not be aware of
Many stories can spark memories in people and sometimes those memories aren’t good ones. If any participant needs to remove themselves from the room for any reason, they are absolutely allowed to. Sometimes they need to have time to decompress, sometimes there is a sense of overwhelm, other times sitting still may be too challenging for some people. These things are all perfectly acceptable. Its helpful to be able to have a second person assisting with the workshop, who can step out and gently check in with participants who needed a break and offer support, comfort, or whatever the participant might need in that moment.
Allow emotion
Let participants know that the space they are in is a safe one (we hope you have established some ground rules at the start, defining what a safe space is). They are allowed to stop telling a story at any time, they are allowed to express their emotions as they tell their stories. Participants are not required to “keep it together” during exercises. As facilitators, we encourage participants to accept other people’s emotions and expression with grace and acceptance.
Restoring calm
It is sometimes good to keep in mind that after a heavy session of storytelling, some movement might help people return some calm to their bodies. It is possible to use practices like yoga, deep breathing and stretching to help people center themselves in their bodies. Keep these movements small, calm and gentle as people may not feel comfortable making big moves if they feel vulnerable or emotionally fragile.
Working with vulnerable groups
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Making events and workshops accessible is often more attainable than many educators realize. Planning an activity or workshop in advance allows time to identify and remove barriers preventing participation. Always strive to provide transparent information about accessibility features for potential attendees. For example, consider whether the event is child-friendly or accommodates neurodiverse individuals. Ensure wheelchair access, convenient public transportation options, and the availability of multiple communication formats. Communicate clearly where the event will be held and offer directions if the space is not immediately apparent.
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When targeting specific groups, seek support from specialists, community leaders, translators, or other professionals to enhance accessibility. Explore inclusive ways to make diverse groups feel welcome and encouraged to participate fully.
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Include various storytelling traditions. Encourage participants to share their traditions and cultural values, allowing them to shape the activity framework. Recognize that storytelling spans oral traditions, poetry, song, dance, visual art, and digital media, giving participants the freedom to choose their preferred medium. This inclusive approach fosters empathy and deepens cultural understanding.
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Encourage participants to use their mother tongue in storytelling, as it preserves culture, fosters authenticity, and strengthens identity. Create a welcoming space for all languages, offering translation services or support when needed. Promote curiosity about lesser-known languages and encourage collaboration through goal-oriented activities that bridge language differences. It can be empowering for a group to learn to bridge language gaps together using shared languages as well as apps that can help, such as Google Translate. Use the skills of the participants to help facilitate inclusiveness.
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Provide clear guidance on the activity and space. Before starting, explain the schedule, room details (restrooms, food, breaks), and seating preferences (e.g., facing wall, door, or window). Describe accessible routes and exits. Clear expectations will help participants feel comfortable and safe in the new space. Even for regular attendees, setting behavior guidelines ensures a welcoming atmosphere for everyone.
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Using props, prompts, and non-storytelling activities can reduce pressure and make the experience more relaxed. Activities like handcrafts, doodling, or sketching can calm nerves, while props and prompts spark engaging, fun conversations. Images also help express emotions, values, and dreams without words. Some people may feel more comfortable sharing their stories while doing other tasks, so incorporating practical activities can strengthen social bonds and build trust.
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After sharing, foster a safe space for reflection, acknowledging the courage of those who participated. Check in on emotional well-being and offer support if needed. Highlight common themes to encourage connection, and conclude with gratitude for participation and a chance for informal conversation.
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We often assume we know what’s best for our workshop group, but input from the community can offer valuable insights. Engaging them not only helps meet their needs but also fosters a sense of belonging, ownership, and connection to the journey.
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Join and organize workshops for educators and community leaders to refine skills and build confidence in leading story-sharing activities. Learn about support techniques and trauma-sensitive approaches to support ethical, compassionate storytelling and empower marginalized voices.