A critical companionship is a trusting relationship formed by two or more people who commit to a highly educational process to reach a desired outcome. The companionship is person-centered, challenging, supportive, and knowledge-based. It involves critical dialogue, action learning, deliberate practice, and deep reflection to achieve its purpose. 

Critical companionships are educational and empowering exchanges of feelings, thoughts, knowledge, interpretations, and actions. They promote expression, intuition, and creativity. They are analytical and evaluative. They value all knowledge/evidence equally. 

People involved in critical companionships are role models and share expertise. They are observant, reflective, curious, and good listeners. They give and receive gifts of care, concern, and wisdom from each other. Critical companions know each other as individuals and create equality in the relationship by sharing responsibility for the structure, process, and outcomes. Critical companions are genuine and value authenticity and belonging. Their interactions promote emotional, psychological, and intellectual growth.