Program

This Transformational Counsellor Training Program is deep and intensive.  From over 35 years of experience training counsellors and even longer as a transformational counsellor myself, I have put together focused essences of what works.  A spectrum of effective in-depth counselling processes is taught and integrated, so that students are equipped to work with a wide range of clients, from the spiritually advanced to the severely traumatized.

To briefly summarize, these counselling skills involve deeply unfolding inner processes (such as, Gendlins focusing, facilitated by empathic listening), grounded in a solid connection with the strengths of core self. You are not left lost in the pain or stuck in your head, but are actively guided in a life-enhancing transformational direction. The result of integrating and refining all of these processes is a highly advanced and thorough method that provides immediate positive results.

Some of the transformational 7-step pathways developed and taught at Lifespace are Transformational Unfolding, Transformational Integration of Inner Parts (e.g., inner conflict, inner Critic), Transformational Integration of Dissociated Parts (manic-depression, addiction, panic attacks), Transformational Healing of Past Wounds, Transformational Belief Work, Transformational Dream Work, Transformational Expressive Arts, and Transformational Relationship (conflict resolution skills, relationship strengthening).

The program is intensive, focusing on hands-on learning of the skills.  Learning is fast because of the practical how to approach: right from the first class, you are shown step-by-step how to orchestrate an effective process.  Classes consist of group exercises, going over the steps for each process under study, explanations of the underlying therapeutic and spiritual guiding principles, demonstrations, and supervised practice.  Detailed step-by-step instructional manuals and skills check lists support additional home practice and feedback.

Learning is on many levels: from fine-tuning your conscious awareness of what you are doing in a session and why, to more and more finding yourself in a subconsciously informed intuitive flow.

The atmosphere is warm, non-judgmental, and encouraging: each student is supported in finding his or her best way of learning.  Our own personal work is an integral part of the process:  we travel together  growing and healing  while we develop the professional skills to facilitate a deepening and expanding wholeness with ourselves and others.

The schedule is designed to fit with an active life.  Each semester (fall, winter and spring) presents a different concentrated set of powerful processes, designed for safe yet profound transformational inner work. Each semester builds on the previous one, creating a full set of ingredients that work together to enhance each other.  Courses consist of 5 full days per semester (probably 5 Saturdays, spread out), for a total of 15 days per year, plus ongoing practica (practice and consultations outside of class), for 2 years.  (We will adjust the schedule according what fits best for the group.  Make-ups will also be available.)  Certificates will be awarded for each year of program completion.

Tuition fees, too, are streamlined and flexible. Structures are in place to maximize additional learning, personal work, and consultations (in practica outside of class with fellow students) at no extra cost.

See 'courses' for course content details.

See 'admissions' for admission procedure, tuition and schedule.

Professional Counsellor Training

COURSE FORMAT

The Lifespace Institute Transformational Counsellor Training Program is designed to be highly cost effective and learning intensive.  This in-depth training has been streamlined and highly focused, with an emphasis on practical hands-on application.  A full spectrum of counselling tools and processes are taught and integrated, so that students are equipped to work with a wide range of clients, from the spiritually advanced to the severely wounded and traumatized.  

Classes consist of step-by-step descriptions of how to facilitate each process under study, explanations of the underlying therapeutic and spiritual guiding principles, group exercises, demonstrations, and supervised practice.

A structure is also in place to guide you in continuing your intensive learning between classes with fellow students:

• Counselling sessions with each other, practicing what has been learned in class, assisted by step-by-step instructional manuals.                           
• As part of each class you will also be given detailed skill checklists and given practice in using them, both to fine-tune your own skill application and to give usefully specific feedback to each other.  You will also be using these in additional between-class meetings with fellow students, using tape-recordings of your practice counselling sessions.  (Note that feedback is given in a non-judgmental spirit.  The atmosphere is warm and encouraging:  students are supported in finding their best ways of learning, in integrating the skills being taught, and in discovering the styles of counselling that best suit them.)                           

An additional benefit is that you become part of a mutual-help counselling network that can be a resource for free counselling for life, as well as for free peer professional support and feedback, for ongoing growth and learning.

Learning is fast, effective and deep.  Because of the well-grounded nature and clarity of the training, you build your skills solidly and responsibly, laying the resource foundation that allows you to proceed with safety and depth both in your growth as a counsellor and in your personal inner healing work.

While it is recommended that you do have some private sessions with Barbara Forest (both for personal work and for consultations on tape-recordings of your counselling sessions), her effectiveness has been maximized in the classes.  The skills are handed over to you, empowering you on all levels: how to do the counselling processes and how to continue to teach yourself and each other in the fine-tuning of these processes.  Conscious awareness is heightened, so that you know what you are doing in a counselling session and how to respond flexibly to the needs of your clients.

You are also immersed in the processes -- experiencing them both personally and as a transformational counsellor, so that they sink into you and become part of your flow.  As your experience deepens, so too will your personal sessions with each other.  In addition, the fact that you are learning the steps for guiding yourself will also accelerate the effectiveness of your personal work.

An additional resource available to you is a library of tape-recorded counselling and teaching sessions.  There will be an assigned reading list with a few core books (how to oriented) plus supplementary readings.  If a class must be missed due to unavoidable circumstances (e.g., illness), then it is important to make it up as soon as possible (preferably before the next class, as they build on each other) by listening to a tape-recording of the current class and practicing the skills studied with a classmate.

See 'courses' for course content details.

See 'admissions'  for admission procedure, tuition and schedule.