The Will to Grow
Transformational Life Coaching: A Nationally Certified Psychosynthesis Coach Training Program

Teleconference Classes start in the winter of 2018
and independent study programs may begin at any time!

The field of coaching, variously referred to as personal coaching, life coaching or in business work, executive coaching, has emerged strongly since 1998. It is a field that is currently unlicensed, though regional and national certification is available, including through NBCC and its credentialing arm, CCE. It has found among its practitioners both counselors and psychotherapists transitioning from clinical work into coaching, and practitioners trained solely as coaches. Its application extends to a wide variety of client populations, client needs and varying services for personal, professional, and business use.

Psychosynthesis has pioneered key concepts and strategies that are at the core of coaching principles. Written in 1973, The Act of Will (Roberto Assagioli) is a defining text in psychosynthesis and clearly orients itself towards a coaching methodology. Psychosynthesis assumes a Self in each person functioning as a center of awareness and will. It is through accessing awareness and engaging Will that growth and transformation are possible. Along with a comprehensive theory and methodology to support access to the will, theory and practice include the use of the full range of psychological functioning (imagination, thinking, feeling, sensation, impulse & desire and intuition); work with subpersonalities; techniques of imagery, dialogue, journaling, goal setting, cognitive, emotional, and sensory awareness and a commitment to purpose, meaning and values as the path to well being. The Call of Self, a phrase coined in psychosynthesis is the center point of work. It is the assumption that each individual has the capacity to tune in, deeply, to a sense of life purpose. Likewise, families, groups, businesses and cultures at large have the potential for responding to what is truly important, building slowly but surely towards a healthier world. For more on psychosynthesis, click here.

“The emerging profession of life coaching seems destined to play a significant role in the future, providing support for relatively healthy people to realize their full potentials. It is a discipline that assigns a central role to the will, drawing on both personal and spiritual levels of this core psychological function. In contrast to psychotherapy, coaching assumes that clients have sufficient emotional integration to function in self-responsibility, at least as an ideal, and that they can use their will with some degree of effectiveness. This would imply basic levels of good will and skillful will, in psychosynthesis terminology. In this context, Assagioli’s profound insights into the nature and functioning of the will, so far ahead of their time, will likely find a receptive audience.”
 Crampton, M. (2000) Empowerment of the Will through life coaching. CA: AAP

Introduction

The Will to Grow: Transformational Life Coaching
Teleconference Training


This program is designed to meet the needs of people newly entering the field of coaching and those who want to become certified in Psychosynthesis Life Coaching (Certified Psychosynthesis Life Coach -PLC). People with appropriate credentials will also be eligible for national certification as a Board Certified Coach (BCC) through CCE-global, the credentialing arm of the National Board of Certified Counselors (http://www.cce-global.org/BCC). Licensed professionals may need only 30 hours of training, Master's level people in related fields may need only 60 hours and people previously trained in psychosynthesis need only 60 hours for certification nationally. It is a parallel program to the in-person program, offered via teleconference, small study groups in various locations and independent study. In all programs, the full content of psychosynthesis training, with an orientation towards the coaching model, is covered. Programs include theory, discussion, practice work, in and out of sessions, support work (reading and writing) and personal growth processes that ground the trainee in the practice of psychosynthesis.

People with previous psychosynthesis training or those already in the field of coaching or professional counseling may be eligible to take individual classes within the program, to further their educational and certification goals, without taking the full training.

Level 1: Psychosynthesis Coaching (60 hours)

Section 1 requirements can be met via teleconference training, or through our in-person psychosynthesis training. Level 1 covers the basic theory and practice of psychosynthesis in the coaching relationship, including the major psychosynthesis orientation as a transformational and transpersonal coaching methodology. The psychosynthesis emphasis on purpose, meaning and values, the Call of Self and the activation of Will are central elements of psychosynthesis coaching. For a complete syllabus,see below.

Level 2: Well Being through Purpose, Meaning and Values in Life Coaching (60 hours)

The program is taught by Didi Firman. Dr. Dorothy Firman, a licensed mental health counselor and board certified coach (BCC). Dorothy (Didi) Firman is also a retired professor of psychology and a practicing life coach. She is the author of many books and currently has a blog “Living a Life of Purpose” on the Psychology Today Website. Her Psychology Today blog can be accessed at: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/living-life-purpose.

The Level 1 program will begin in early 2018 and is run via teleconference, e-mail communication and practice coaching with a partner from the programs. Independent studies are also available. Level 1 teleconference, will run, at times to be determined and will be completed by the spring of 2018, when students can move on to level 2 training, if they wish. 30 hour training options are also available for those who wish BCC certification and are licensed in the field of counseling and can be done as part of our level 1 training or as an independent study.

For more information contact the Center at 413-256-0772 or the director of training, Didi Firman, at: 413-256-3020 or by e-mail.

A full training syllabus is available here

Program Logistics (teleconference)

We use Maestro Conference for these teleconferences. All that is required is a telephone or computer with headset and access to an e-mail account. These live training sessions have proven to be very rich and rewarding, and also model the orientation that much coaching work takes, that is, by telephone. Additional reading, writing and practice sessions make up the training program, as well as one to one conversations, from time to time, with trainers or assistant trainers.

Psychosynthesis Training Independent Study (IS) Program
 From time to time, an Independent Study version of the program is offered for those who cannot join us in our regular formats. Please be in touch if you have an interest in this option.

Participants are encouraged to look into the BCC credentialing process and their specific requirements, if national certification is a desired goal (http://www.cce-global.org/BCC).

The cost of the full 120 program is $6000.00 with scholarships available.
Level 1 and 2 are each $3000.00. Each level may be taken independently and shorter or uniquely constructed trainings are also available. The 30 hour training is $1500.00. BCC certification requires 30, 60 or 120 hours, based on additional criteria. ALL OF THESE OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE.
Payments will be accepted using the PayPal link at the bottom of this page, with a credit card (MasterCard, Visa or Amex) over the phone or by a personal check mailed to the Center.

Paypal is the preferred payment method for this program. Their security record is excellent and it is convenient for both the trainee and the Synthesis Center. You do not need a PayPal account for amounts under $1000.00, so in most cases that will not be an issue. They accept most credit and debit cards. Go to Paypal.com for more info or to create an account. Once you have applied to and been accepted into the program, we will work out a payment schedule with you. You can then simply return to this page to make a payment.

Application
To apply, please send an e-mail to didi@synthesiscenter.org, stating which section(s) of the program you are applying for, what background and credentials you have in coaching, counseling and psychosynthesis and your complete contact information, including your home address and phone number(s). Please include a brief statement about what your professional goals are with regards to the program and any additional information about yourself that you feel is pertinent. Also tell us about one significant event in your life and the meaning it had for you! One of our trainers will then contact you by e-mail for further conversation.

To speak to our program director, with any questions, or for more information, contact her here.