Introducing:
Dads’ Circles
For dads raising babies/kids ages 0-5.
Hosted at Purposeful Path Counseling (Blue Ash)
We will launch our next round of evening options in late February.
Please join our notification list to ensure you’re first to hear!
Interested in future dates?
Our facilitated, cohort-based Dads’ Circle combines the delivery of just-in-time resources, facilitated discussion, and story-sharing from participants.
The goal? A comfortable + supportive space to ask questions in real-time and deeply connect with local dads in the same season of early parenthood.
Participants are encouraged to connect outside of designated meeting times, as one goal of our Cincy Postpartum Circles is to help you cultivate your local village.
Is this a Parenting Class?
Kind of. Our Dads’ Circles are a space to process the challenges and joys of parenthood. You will walk away with new tools for your parenting toolkit, but these are more of a “how’s it going?” and not a “how to change a diaper".
Our dads’ circles are facilitated by a licensed therapist, but are not group therapy. This circle is for any dad… thriving, struggling, or somewhere in between. We welcome you as you are!
Who Are These For?
Dads’ Circles are for fathers of children aged 0–5* who want to connect in an authentic, facilitated community to enrich the parenting journey.
*while babies-in-arms are welcomed as needed, we ask that older children do not attend circle.
Dads’ Circle Details
Participants in this five-week program will:
Cultivate community with dads in the same season of life
Process the role/identity transition that is occurring individually and in your family
Discover tools and local resources to support your parenting journey
Our Planned Agenda:
Week 1: Intros, Ground Rules, Journey to Becoming Dad, Emotional Literacy
Week 2: Identifying Individual & Family Values
Week 3: Parenting Influences/Culture
Week 4: Parenting Partnerships
Week 5: Next Steps in Parenthood/Closing
There is space for discussion to shift towards additional topics as participants request.
Registration Includes:
Five weeks of therapist-facilitated circle sessions, 60 minutes each
Private communication platform to connect outside of sessions with fellow participants and your facilitator
As our network grows, opportunities to connect with a larger network of Dads’ Circle alumni
FAQs
-
Christin McIlwain, therapist and owner of Purposeful Path counseling, will be your facilitator. Christin is a mom of two (son and daughter), and partner to a male (if those details matter to you). You can read more about Christin here.
If you’re only interested in a dads’ circle facilitated by a male, we would be interested in this feedback. Let us know at hello@cincinnatipostpartum.com.
-
We have no immediate plans to add a virtual option. Blue Ash will likely be our only location for 2025; if demand is there, we may explore a Northern KY or near west-side option. This is unlikely.
-
Dads’ Circles are designed just for dads. We welcome babies-in-arms if that’s needed (especially for our 12-1pm session, a great option for those on paternity leave),. Overall, the environment we’re cultivating is not conducive for wiggly little ones. This is not a playgroup.
-
No— the content is the same. Choose whatever aligns best with your schedule.
We imagine the 6-7pm series will be attended mostly by dads who work a traditional 9-5 M-F schedule, and the 12-1pm will be attended by those working more flexible hours, or perhaps on paternity leave.
This is our first time running this program; we hope to expand offerings to meet demand, as our capacity allows.
-
We strongly encourage participant-led meet-ups. This varies by series. To help promote this, we distribute a contact roster in week one, and utilize a private group chat communication platform to allow participants to connect out-of-session.
