Please note: This course will be unavailable until 2017. This is because we are currently focussing all our resources on the development and delivery of new Natural Change Leadership projects. If you would like to be contacted when the next course opens for applications, please register your interest.
This is a two year, part-time professional training course for those interested in facilitating groups outdoors using Natural Change processes and techniques.
As a pre-requisite, participants must have at least five years experience working with groups as part of personal or social change projects. They must also have completed the one-week ‘Introduction to facilitating Natural Change’ course.
All prospective participants will be asked to submit a written application and attend an interview, either face-to-face or by Skype/phone. Taking part will be at the discretion of the course leaders and subject to our standard terms and conditions.
By the end of this course participants will:
The course runs over two-years. Each year includes two, six-day residential workshops and twelve hours of one-to-one mentoring. So over the two year period, there are a total of four one-week residential workshops and 24 hours of mentoring. Additional time will be required for reading and for completing the additional commitments (outlined below).
The course consists of four main threads:
| PERSONAL PROCESS | Outdoor skills Group work Reflective practice Expressive and creative arts |
|---|---|
| THEORY | Transpersonal psychology Ecopsychology Outdoor leadership Facilitation Human ecology |
| FACILITATION | Programme design Technique Practices and activities Philosophy |
| PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE | Social change Strategy Ethics Therapeutic relationship Leadership Communications Research and evaluation |
Participants will need to have gained a National Governing Body (NGB) outdoor leadership qualification by the time they finish the three year course. A minimum level of competency for facilitating Natural Change is the UK Mountain Training Association (MTA) Hill & Moorland Leader (HML) award. This will allow them to be insured to work with groups outdoors in the European Union. It consists of a training course and an assessment. It also requires a logbook of hillwalking experience. This experience can be gained in parallel to the facilitator training, and would serve as an opportunity to deepen outdoor practice and personal process.
In order that unresolved personal issues do not interfere with group work, participants will be required to have at least 20 hours of personal therapy by the time they complete the training. If participants have already had a period of therapy before registering, this requirement may be waived, subject to application.
The cost of the course varies according to your ability to pay and if you are paying privately or through an organisation. The cost is spread over two years with options to pay in instalments.
The cost includes residential accommodation, catering, facilitation, group outdoor equipment and professional, public & product liability insurance.
The cost does not include personal therapy, Hill & Moorland Leader training or assessment, first aid training (necessary for the HML Award), travel to and from residentials, personal insurance or personal outdoor equipment.
For much more detail, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page >>.