How can you facilitate conflicts without resolving them too quickly?
How do you deal with tensions when they block teams or paralyse organisations?

Conflicts do not disappear when we moderate them. They change when we learn to facilitate them consciously.

The intensive training in Deep Democracy gives you an awareness-based, inclusive model for facilitating group, team and conflict dynamics. You learn to use tensions and conflicts as impulses for sustainable change.

What is Deep Democracy?

Deep Democracy is a central paradigm of Process Work according to Arnold Mindell. It combines psychological, social and political perspectives and opens up new ways of dealing with diversity, power, marginalisation and polarisation.

At its heart is the idea that all voices, perspectives and experiences – including the quiet and uncomfortable ones – are relevant to the development of a system. Conflicts are not seen as a disturbance, but as the expression of something that wants to be heard, understood and integrated. Sustainable change happens when irritating, polarising or frightening perspectives also become visible and can be integrated.

As a facilitator, you do not work neutrally in the classical sense, but with your conscious awareness, presence and inner attitude. Your reactions and inner conflicts are not left out, but understood as part of the process.

Learning content

You will learn:

• the foundations of process, field and role theory
• Deep Democracy as a method and an attitude
• to recognise and facilitate group and team dynamics
• to deal with conflicts, tensions and ambivalence
• about dynamics of rank, power and discrimination
• to include the social and political contexts of groups
• to work with hot spots, cool spots and group atmosphere
• methods for working with inner criticism, accusations and strong emotions
• to deepen your facilitation style and professional attitude

A central focus is on transfer into your own field of work.

Who is it for?

This training is for you if you work, or would like to work, with groups, teams or organisations and are willing to bring yourself into the process. It is suitable for people from a wide range of professional fields, such as education and healthcare, counselling services, companies, organisations and communities.

The intensive training is for you if you:

• want not only to settle conflicts but to understand them
• want to transform tensions rather than smooth them over
• want to reflect on and further develop your own role

Prerequisite

Basic knowledge of Process Work is required.
You can acquire it, for example, in our introductory seminar from 8 to 10 May 2026.

Modules at a glance

Module 1: Summer seminar – consciously shaping and facilitating conflicts
14–19 July 2026, Leuther Mühle (starts 4 pm, ends around 2 pm)
You learn to facilitate conflicts and tensions consciously and to understand the dynamics between individual, relationship and group.

Module 2: Sitting in the fire – part 1
2–4 October 2026 in Bonn
You learn to perceive group processes in a differentiated way and to recognise invisible dynamics.

Module 3: Sitting in the fire – part 2
20–22 November 2026 in Bonn
You deepen your understanding of group dynamics and the interactions between group, relationship and individual.

Module 4: Dealing with accusations and criticism
8–10 January 2027 in Bonn
You learn the process-oriented foundations of communication and how to use criticism constructively.

Structure of the training

The training combines theory, practice, case work, interactive discussion and self-reflection.
You learn in a small group of 10–15 participants in a protected space for exchange and experimental learning. Between the modules, you deepen what you have learned in peer groups.

In addition, we support you with:

• 5 hours of process facilitation
• 6 hours of individual mentoring

Both support your personal growth and the transfer into your field of work.
The training concludes with a certificate of attendance.

What you can do after the training

• You understand the basic concepts of Process Work and the paradigm of Deep Democracy
• You recognise and facilitate group dynamics in a differentiated way
• You use conflicts as potential for development
• You integrate the methods effectively into your own field of work

Certificate

You can complete the training with a certificate: Process Facilitation for Conflict and Group Work
For this you need, among other things:

• process facilitation and mentoring
• regular peer group work
• a project related to your field of work
• a final online presentation on 8 May 2027
• participation in the additional module Leadership and Eldership from 19 to 21 February 2027

The certificate strengthens your profile in conflict and group work and opens up the possibility of admission to the Professional Level (Foundation Course).

Costs

The intensive training includes participation in the 4 modules, process facilitation and mentoring, peer group work and course materials.
Accommodation and travel costs are not included.

Funding for solo self-employed people (ESF Plus – KOMPASS)

You can have this training funded with up to €4,500, covering a large part of the costs.

Requirements:

• solo self-employed for at least two years
• place of residence and professional activity in Germany
• income mainly from your self-employment

You can find all the important information on the KOMPASS website (in German). Please note that a consultation at a KOMPASS contact point is required before booking.

We are happy to help you clarify the next steps.