Between Loneliness and Connection - With Beata
About the event
An Interpersonal Workshop
Beata is back— this time with a new topic that is deeply personal, but also universally human: loneliness. Loneliness has many faces. We can be physically alone, but we can also feel deeply lonely in a relationship, within our family, or while surrounded by other people. We may feel misunderstood, different, or as though we don’t quite belong. Sometimes loneliness grows from rejection or a lack of emotional closeness. At other times, past experiences teach us to withdraw, hide our needs, or protect ourselves from the very connection we long for. During this three-hour experiential workshop, we will explore the space between loneliness and connection — and pay attention not only to the loneliness we talk about, but also to what happens between us in the room, here and now.
What we’ll explore
Together, we will look at relational, emotional, and existential loneliness. We will reflect on where feelings such as “no one truly understands me” or “I’m the only one who feels this way” may come from, and how our past experiences continue to shape the ways we connect with others today. Short psychological introductions will be combined with interpersonal exercises, work in pairs and as a group, mindful movement, meditation, and mindfulness and self-compassion practices.
During the workshop, you will have an opportunity to:
• Better understand your own experience of loneliness and where it may come from • Explore what helps you connect with others and what makes you withdraw • Notice how you may protect yourself from rejection or hurt • Experience being with others without having to fit in, judge, give advice, or find solutions • Discover mindfulness and self-compassion practices that can support a kinder relationship with your own experience • See how something that feels deeply personal and isolating can also be part of our shared human experience
The aim is not to eliminate loneliness. Some degree of loneliness is an inevitable part of being human. We can, however, understand it better — and perhaps discover that we don’t have to be completely alone in our loneliness.
Workshop structure
• Short grounding meditation • Brief psychological introduction to different forms of loneliness • Interpersonal exercises and group sharing • Mindfulness and self-compassion practice • Mindful movement exploring distance and connection • Reflection on our patterns of withdrawing and reaching out • Interconnectedness meditation • Closing circle and reflection
There will be two short breaks during the workshop.
About Beata
Beata Tschirch is a Polish psychotherapist, Heilpraktikerin für Psychotherapie, and meditation coach based in Berlin — and, in her own words, occasionally lonely as hell. Some of you may remember Beata from our previous Shelter gatherings on mindfulness, life, death, and meaning. We are very happy to welcome her back, this time for a deeper and more interactive workshop at Café ISKA.
Practical information
• Date: Saturday, 12 September 2026 • Time: 18:00–21:00 • Duration: Three hours, including two short breaks • Location: Café ISKA, Kalkreuthstraße 7, Berlin • Language: English • What to bring: Comfortable clothes that allow you to move freely, a notebook to take notes
About Shelter
Shelter is a Berlin community for meaningful conversations, shared reflection, and genuine human connection. We create spaces where people can meet beyond small talk and explore the experiences that often remain unspoken. You don’t need to arrive with answers, and you don’t need to share anything you don’t want to share. Come as you are, with curiosity about your own experience and openness to meeting others there. We would love to have you with us.
