Teacher and Master Teacher Certification
ATeacher of Interactive Focusing will be certified to teach others the Interactive Focusing Process.
A Master Teacher of Interactive Focusing is certified to teach others the Interactive Focusing Process as well as recommend students she has trained to be granted certification as teacher by the Interactive Focusing Center.
Though we at the Center realize that Interactive Focusing can be taught without certification and that people can practice Interactive Focusing and Interactive Focusing Therapy without training of any kind, it is our hope that people will want to be trained in the practice and teaching of Interactive Focusing in order to assure the quality of training they receive and give. While certification doesn't guarantee the quality of the teacher, it can improve the odds of students receiving a quality education by someone who has taken the time and effort to become well-grounded in the practice of Interactive Focusing and the methods of teaching it.
Teacher Certification Requirements:
A teacher certification will be recommended by the Master Teacher when she feels her student has reached the level of competency in her own practice of Interactive Focusing as well as the level of competency required to be an effective teacher of the process.
The Center will evaluate the recommended student by conferring with the Master Teacher, mentor(s) and student. The student will be asked to demonstrate her own Interactive Focusing ability as well as her ability to teach Interactive Focusing. It is hoped that the applicant will have had the opportunity to assist the Master Teacher and other teachers during their workshops. It is requested that the prospective Teacher provide written outlines for the workshops she proposes to teach. She is encouraged to be imaginative and creative in preparing these outlines. Having received training from more than one teacher is desirable. The Center hopes to see the mark of her individual personality in the teaching she proposes to do.
The student will have a primary Master Teacher and may also have a mentor(s) which may be another Master Teacher or teacher. If the student also has a mentor(s), the Master Teacher will confer with the mentor(s) to help in the evaluation process. Much of the evaluation should take place using the Interactive Focusing Process with all parties concerned. The length of training will be negotiated between the Master Teacher and the student as the training progresses.
The student will be required to be in an active Interactive Focusing Partnership or Exchange, having at least two processes a month. This will last the length of the training. It is hoped that the student will have experienced training under the supervision of a Master Teacher over at least two years as well as two years of an Interactive Focusing partnership and/or exchange before being recommended for teacher certification.
Student Practicum:
During the last phase of training, students preparing for the teaching certification are encouraged to present workshops under the supervision of a Master Teacher and at no charge to the participants. This will accustom us to the value of the gift of volunteerism. The gift of volunteering is primarily to ourselves, and it also benefits people interested in Interactive Focusing who are unable to afford to pay for the teaching.
The Center hopes to be able to sponsor a certification weeklong annually; however, attending this workshop is not mandatory for certification.
Master Teacher Certification Requirements:
A Teacher may apply to the Center to become a Certified Master Teacher after a reasonable period of teaching as a Certified Teacher. A Master Teacher certification will be bestowed directly by the Center to qualified Teachers. This will be negotiated between the Teacher and the Center by using the Interactive Focusing Process to aid. The amount and quality of the applicants teaching will be reviewed by the Center. The Center will do all that is possible to assist the teacher to attain Master Teacher status.
The basis for evaluation will be the level of the applicants own Interactive Focusing Process, her ability to teach the Process and the development of her expertise through her teaching experience. It is hoped that the prospective Master Teacher will be actively giving workshops and training individuals as well as taking on assistants in her teaching workshops.
Teaching:
The Center will be happy to assist Master Teachers and Teachers in designing their own teaching programs. The Center will also do as much as possible to facilitate communication and sharing between Teachers. This might be done over the internet, by phone, group meetings and the like. The Center will maintain a Web site to facilitate and expedite communication and sharing.
The Center will also try to hold periodic trainings for Master Teachers and Teachers.