Inspiring Connections and Well-Being

by Nia Martin • Photos by Jamie Conners

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Saratoga Passage, you’ll find a 100-year-old, two-story shingled house on Camano Avenue. Boasting a tranquil courtyard and patio, it has served as a location dedicated to human connection and community in South Whidbey for ten years.

“Rachel Naomi Remen said, ‘The places in which we are seen and heard are holy places. They remind us of our value as human beings. They give us the strength to go on,’” said Elin Stebbins Waldal, director of Healing Circles Langley. “I think that essentially sums up who we are.”

Stepping inside Healing Circles Langley, visitors experience a warm, windowed space containing a spacious area to gather people in a circle. Visitors are encouraged to take in “The Tree of Intentional Healing”—a tree painted on the wall, with roots representing the foundational aspects of wellness and leaves depicting the myriad ways one can engage in healing. Upstairs is “the room of infinite possibilities,” which enjoys a view of the Cascade Mountain range and is devoid of furniture, making it ideal for meditation, a healing songbath, or Qigong. Across the hall, a living area lends itself to intimate circles such as reflective writing, art, and grief circles. The overall environment is calming and inviting, an intentional place for people to discover meaning and belonging.

Diana and Kelly Lindsay founded the organization in the fall of 2014. Months later, in January 2015, with the help of Commonweal founder Michael Lerner, Healing Circles Langley opened its doors as a program of Commonweal, a nonprofit with a 50-year history focused on healing, resilience, and justice.

Establishing a place to be seen and heard supports Healing Circle Langley’s mission of inviting belonging: it is a space where individuals can share their life experiences and challenges with an on-duty volunteer host or join circles with other participants on themes that address life stages from pregnancy to perimenopause, expressive arts, support with a new diagnosis, the care of a loved one, grief, and more.

“Volunteers are at the core of all we do. If somebody has something on their heart that they want to share, they can walk through the door and just lay that down to a volunteer,” said Stebbins Waldal. “We’re not there to advise, fix, or judge. It’s truly just a space to be witnessed.”

You may ask, “Why not just talk to a family member or friend?” Living in a small town may prevent people from turning elsewhere. “I think sometimes people just want to be anonymous,” said Stebbins Waldal. There’s an appeal in relinquishing a burden when there’s privacy and impartiality, and a Healing Circles volunteer is there to listen Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

While a myriad of reasons may motivate a person to walk through the doors of Healing Circles Langley, connection is at the heart of the matter. And, as it turns out, connection is critical to well-being.

“The Surgeon General published a study on isolation in 2023, basically saying we’re in an epidemic of loneliness, and the statistics around it are staggering,” recalled Stebbins Waldal.

Another integral part of Healing Circles Langley is its Roots of Wellness program. Centered on making positive life decisions and learning ways to improve health and overall wellness, Roots offers events for people of all ages, including a lantern walk in December, a post-Soup Box Derby picnic dubbed a “soup-nic,” and other fun activities for the local community. Additionally, Langley’s Soundview Center is home to the Roots’ wellness classes offering everything from Tai Chi to Healing Soundbaths.

When asked what surprised her most about Healing Circles Langley’s work, Stebbins Waldal answered, “Just how brave people are.” In her work, she’s found that many people feel compelled to go it alone and that even the helpers among us are sometimes reluctant to reach out when they’re the ones in need of support.

“We all, at some point in our lives, are going to have a moment where we need to be able to share what’s on our mind,” she said. “For me, that’s why we’re here, to actually have real, deep connections.”

Stebbins Waldal sees this philosophy at work within the Whidbey community in how its nonprofit organizations are dedicated to people living here. Collaborations, like the one with South Whidbey at Home through a 10-week series, the Aging Mastery Program®, developed by the National Council on Aging, is just one example: Healing Circles Langley provided the space, and South Whidbey at Home volunteers facilitated the workshop aimed at connecting seniors and providing them with resources on how to live life to the fullest.

Although 2024 has proven to be a challenging year for small nonprofits, Healing Circles Langley has its sights set on the future. Plans are underway for a 2025 launch of a pilot circle at the county jail, and expansion is also happening through Healing Circles Global, an online platform created during the pandemic to connect people during lockdown. Since its launch, Healing Circles Global circles have formed across the world, from the United States to Europe and as far away as Vietnam.

January 2025 will mark a decade of service. Although co-founder Kelly Lindsay passed away in 2020, and Diana Lindsay handed over the director reins to Stebbins Waldal in early 2024, Diana remains active in the organization as both a volunteer and advisor.

“I think it’s pretty remarkable that 10 years ago, Diana and Kelly Lindsay, inspired by their own experience of being held by a community, wanted to provide that on a wider level,” said Stebbins Waldal, who credits Diana Lindsay as a true inspiration. “My gosh, what a gift they’ve given this community.”

Founded in 2015

Mission: Healing Circles invites meaning, connection, and belonging for the well-being of self and community.