Girls Circle

What Is a Girls Circle?

The Girls Circle is a support group for girls ages 9 to 18. It is designed to promote self-esteem, help girls maintain authentic connection with other girls and adult women in our community, counter self-doubt, and allow for self-expression through sharing and creative activities.

How Does It Work?

Each week, a group of six to ten girls of similar age meet with a facilitator, or group leader, for about two hours.  During this time the girls take turns talking and listening to one another about their concerns and interests. Often, topic s relate to important issues in the girls’ lives, such as being a girl, trusting themselves, friendships, body image, goals, competition, and decision-making.

In addition to talking and listening, the girls can express themselves through activities such as role playing, journaling, poetry, movement, drawing, and so on.

How Do Girls Participate?

To participate, girls need only have the desire, make a commitment to attend meetings, and agree to follow the circle guidelines:

• no put-downs or interruptions
• offer experience – not advice
• keep the focus on oneself
• keep what’s said in the group private

Girls are free to share at their own pace. Through listening and respect for themselves and others, the girls in the circle can reflect on and express their own thoughts and feelings with peers.

How Do We Know if It Helps?

When girls voice their ideas and opinions in a safe environment, it strengthens their confidence and encourages them to express themselves more fully.  By sharing in a safe and supportive setting, girls gain greater awareness of their options and strengthen their ability to make choices that are consistent with their values, interests and talents.

In a 2007 Girls Circle National Research Project, 278 girls completed pre and post surveys, which revealed the following improvement for girls in four long-term outcomes:

• A decrease in self-harming behavior.
• A decrease in rates of alcohol use¹.
• An increase in attachment to school.
• An increase in self-efficacy.

Additionally, the surveys revealed significant increases in six skills developed over the short-term:

• Finding things they have in common with a new person.
• Trying to see beyond girls' reputations.
• Telling adults what they need.
• Feeling good about their body.
• Picking friends that treat them the way they want to be treated.
• Telling people how much they mean to them.