Connection Circle: A Psychology Discussion Group

Some emotions are easy to welcome. Anger isn't one of them.

It's often labeled as unhelpful, dramatic or destructive. Many of us were taught to fear it, avoid it, or keep it hidden. Especially when it didn't feel safe to express or receive.

But what if anger doesn't need to be pathologized? What if it's the part of us that says "no more" to being dismissed, disrespected or overrun? What if it's not the opposite of love, but sometimes its fiercest protector — the selfless part that takes on the thankless job of holding the line to guard what is sacred?

In this week's Connection Circle, we'll explore the psychology of anger: how it moves through the body, how it's shaped by our upbringing, and what it's trying to protect. We'll talk about the line that separates healthy anger from harm and aggression, and how culture, gender and trauma shape the way anger is expressed or suppressed.

This conversation will leave space for questions like:

• Should we conquer our shadow self or befriend it?
• What is the relationship between anger and power?
• Is there a gender dimension to anger? How does society receive female rage?
• Are there safe ways of experiencing and expressing anger?
• How does anger affect connection? Can it be witnessed in ways that protect, rather than sever, relationship?

Whatever your personal relationship with anger — you belong here.
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Important Note:
Connection Circle is a space for meaningful conversation and shared reflection. While we often explore topics that touch on psychology, emotion and personal experience, this group is not a form of therapy or mental health support. There are no therapists or mental health professionals involved in organizing or facilitating the group. If you're in need of psychological care, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional.

In this bonus event of Connection Circle, we'll explore a movie club format.

Spirited Away isn't just a coming-of-age tale. It's a reflection on what we lose in order to belong, and what we reclaim when someone sees us clearly. Together, we'll explore themes of identity, memory, boundaries, and the strange spaces where we come to know ourselves and others.

The movie follows 10-year-old Chihiro, who stumbles into a mysterious spirit world after her parents are transformed into pigs. Trapped in a bathhouse run by a powerful witch, she must navigate unfamiliar customs, earn her place through work, and uncover her true name to find the way home.

As we trace Chihiro's journey from a frightened child to someone who finds her footing in a surreal world of spirits, we'll reflect on our own moments of becoming. What parts of ourselves have we had to surrender to survive? What happens when we are seen, named or recognized by someone else? And how do we reclaim what was once ours?

Watch Spirited Away beforehand as it won't be screened at the event. It's currently available on Netflix and other platforms.

Connection Circle is a psychology-based discussion group. We explore emotional themes through a lens of introspection and relational insight, one conversation at a time. This bonus event won't replace our regular ones. It's a new concept we're exploring: a psychology discussion inspired by film.

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Important Note:
Connection Circle is a space for meaningful conversation and shared reflection. While we often explore topics that touch on psychology, emotion and personal experience, this group is not a form of therapy or mental health support. There are no therapists or mental health professionals involved in organizing or facilitating the group. If you're in need of psychological care, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional.