Train-the-Trainer On-Demand Training

This is a free “how-to” guide, along with on-demand train-the-trainer and teaching resources, for trainers, tutors, and training providers to help meet the SCoPEd requirement to embed social context, diversity, and EDI throughout the curriculum and practice. I refer to this teaching and practice approach “The Wholeness Solution,” as described in the core mainstream text A New Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy (Routledge). It is a low-cost, accessible teaching and learning method that has now been tried and tested by 20 organisational tutor adopters. It is an atheoretical and practical approach and simply embeds into relational understanding and relational ethics (or analytic scope) without need for curricula change.

To demonstrate how simple and low-cost it is, I outline it in just a few steps below (note: all resources are free to use and share under a Creative Commons licence. For additional materials or customisation requests, see tadf.co.uk under “Wholeness Solution Resources” or access the eLearning here: https://www.tadf.uk/courses/newintro )

To prepare yourself for teaching, simply follow these steps:

  1. View and familiarise yourself with the Wholeness Solution primer presentation video https://youtu.be/s41VoQsWO28?si=V7UTXQG-UMJa37Gw and accompanying slides at https://tadf.co.uk/orientation-lesson/ 
  2. Familiarise yourself with the Whole Experience Model and Whole Relationship Model reference cards, including example subcategories, which form the foundation for embedding context and EDI by design: https://tadf.co.uk/reference-cards/. Are you able to explain them to others?
  3. View the live student orientation session (with thanks to students from Keele University and the NAOS Institute for participating), along with the accompanying slides, which include a lesson plan and breakout reflection questions: https://tadf.co.uk/orientation-lesson/ or watch the student session here: https://youtu.be/osIhiS6Isec?si=JwRs_b_MkBmLu_Vb. You should also use it for self-training by following the material and engaging in reflection or journaling as outlined in the lesson.
  4. You are now ready to run the training yourself. Simply use the slides and reference cards, or other materials from the website (you can of course teach to your own materials, style and needs. Contact for model adaptation requests). For any clarification or support, email newintro@tadf.co.uk. Support is provided free of charge.

To teach students/therapists:

  1. Run the student training on day one, or deliver it as an educative, exploratory, and experiential session (allow at least three hours, though a full day is ideal). It also initiates self-reflection and exploration of similarities and differences, power and affinity and (contextual and personal) rupture and repair. It can be used as an icebreaker, with each student introducing themselves and sharing aspects of their whole selves.
  2. Keep the Whole Experience Model and Whole Relationship Model in mind as ongoing reference points throughout all subjects and discussions (including in discussing group relational dynamics, case studies and assessment essays), for example by including them on handouts or displaying them in the classroom. See tadf.co.uk for images and reference cards.
  3. Relax. You are now on the path to embedding context, diversity, and EDI by design, as each person develops a more context, normativity/diversity, and EDI embedded view of themselves, others, and relationships. This will naturally inform self-development, skills, relationships, and practice. You can step through the book A New Introduction to Counselling & Psychotherapy as and when needed which includes topics, case studies and further exercises aligned to self-development, relationship, skills and practice. You may also be interested in the training provision, design, and delivery self-assessment tool. See: https://tadf.co.uk/guidance-embedding-context-identity-and-edi-in-training/

We also offer free/low-cost train-the-trainer and student orientation CPD sessions, as needed, to support a successful transition. You can also offer students access to our training for free when we run it (just get them to email in). We are always happy to have a conversation.

If you find the solution helpful and would like to advocate for it, please feel free to share it with anyone who may be interested, especially training providers, tutors, standard-setting organisations, or EDI departments within organisations.

Finally, the book is now available at approximately 40% off the recommended retail price. See: https://www.tadf.uk/courses/book (also with contributions from Cemil Egeli, Stella Duffy, Beverley Costa, J.C. Czyzselska, Lohani Noor (ThIRST), Liz Smith (Free2bMe), Katy Evans, Mel Halacre, Ellis J. Johnson, Mel Ciavucco, John Wilson, Linda Aspey, and more).