Collaborative facilitation of encounter groups

ABSTRACT The main aim of this paper is to present members’ experiences in three long run encounter groups that function as collaboratively facilitated ones without a designated facilitator. Shared experiences of the members outline some themes around the feeling of being in an encounter group with the facilitator in contrast to facilitating it ourselves, such ones as freedom, responsibility, safety, protection, relationships, etc. Apart from that, the author’s views on encounter groups, facilitation and the history of encounter movement in Hungary are presented.