What is Distance Facilitation?

Distance Facilitation is an evolving specialty that consists of carefully designed helping services, provided by appropriately trained and experienced professionals. Facilitation is defined as an interactive process to help clients in many areas including business, career, education, finances, health and relationships. Individuals work in a variety of settings. The client and the facilitator are active collaborators for the purpose of meeting the client's needs. Distance Facilitators employ the thoughtful use of technologies (synchronous, asynchronous and computerized programs) to assist in the servicing of their clients.

What are examples of Distance Facilitation Practices?

Telephone-assisted distance facilitating
Telefacilitating
Telephone-based individual facilitating
Telephone-based couple facilitating
Telephone-based group facilitating
Internet facilitating
E-mail based individual Internet facilitating
Chat-based individual Internet facilitating
Chat-based couple Internet facilitating
Chat-based group Internet facilitating
Video-based individual Internet facilitating
Video-based couple Internet facilitating
Video-based group Internet facilitating

How is Distance facilitation different than face-to-face (f2f) facilitation?

There are many differences. Distance Facilitation may be more convenient for clients. While appointments via distance take place in real time and do depend on "scheduling a time,” traveling and related formalities do not present obstacles. Asynchronous communications via secure email adds even greater flexibility. On the other hand, distance facilitation and various forms of email or synchronous chat techniques demand special facilitation and communication skills from the facilitator, and in certain ways, from the client as well. In its own way, Distance Facilitation may also present its own special advantages beyond the replication of best practices from f2f facilitation. For example, some clients prefer the anonymity of a Distance Facilitation relationship and are more free to open up and self-disclose than they would be in a traditional facilitation setting. We are also finding that the power of the written word in Distance Facilitation provides a profound impact on both the facilitator and the client.

How am I going to use this in my work?

This training can be an important professional enhancement for you in staying current on new and important advancements in your field as well as helping you perform and expand upon your current work responsibilities. Distance Facilitation skills may also be a unique advantage when seeking new employment opportunities or seeking to develop new programs related to your current work. Clients are beginning to show strong interest in this type of relationship, and there are indications that demand is increasing for professionals with these skills.

How much does the DCF Training cost and what are the Payment Options?

The cost of the DCF Training is $395.00. This includes Internet access to the course as well as all training-related materials (i.e. workbooks). You may either pay with a credit card online, pay with a check, or pay over the telephone with a credit card. These payment options will be available to you once you have completed the online registration forms. Please note that if your school/organization will be paying for you to attend, an invoice can be provided upon request. Please contact Lisa Miller directly at lisa@readyminds.com or (888) 225-8248 with any payment related questions.

Who is the credentialing organization?

The Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE) is an affiliate of the National Board for Certified Counselors®, the largest counselor certification organization in the world. To learn more about CCE please visit their website at www.cce-global.org .

Who is the training organization?

ReadyMinds has been authorized by CCE to deliver the Distance Facilitator Credential Training. ReadyMinds is a leader in the field of Distance Counseling and Training and has developed sophisticated and best practices in Distance Counseling methods along with software support. ReadyMinds has provided professional services to thousands of clients since 1997.

What are the requirements for participating in the DCF Training Program?

In order to participate in this online training and be eligible upon satisfactory completion, to apply for the DCF credential, you must satisfy one or more of the following requirements:

• Be certified in good standing as a Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF)

OR

• Hold a Master's level degree or higher in a helping professional field from a regionally accredited college or university, have successfully completed a graduate level career development course, and be able to document 2,000 hours of career development or related experience. The career development course must meet current course content requirements as outlined by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Note: Candidates may enroll in the DCF Course if they possess a Bachelor's Degree. Successful completion of the DCF Training will be good for a period of 5 years in which time the described eligibility requirements must be satisfied in order to be eligible for the DCF Credential.

For specific information about the DCF Credential, please visit www.cce-global.org

What if I have a degree from a school outside the United States?

Candidates who have completed their degrees from a school outside of the United States must have their degree evaluated by an international transcript evaluation service and submit the results to CCE with the application. CCE accepts evaluation of non-US transcripts completed by World Education Services, Inc ( http://www.wes.org ), Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc ( www.ece.org ), and American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers' Office of International Education Services ( www.aacrao.org ).

What will be covered during the training?

• History/Orientation of Distance Facilitation - Distance Credentialed Facilitators understand how to collaborate and communicate effectively with both colleagues and clients regarding distance facilitated services.
• Using Appropriate Research and Resources - Professional Organization Resources - Distance Credentialed Facilitators know how to identify relevant research and resources related to Distance practices in order to deliver effective and evidence-based facilitation services to their clients.
• Life Career Development Models - Distance Credentialed Facilitators will understand life career development models and apply them to distance facilitation practice.
• Planning - Distance Credentialed Facilitators know how to design and deliver Distance services that are suitable to diverse populations, which include required informed consent as well as appropriate program adaptations and/or referral resources when needed.
• Distance Facilitation Process - Distance Credentialed Facilitators will apply effective helping process strategies and techniques and relate them to the stages of distance facilitation.
• Technology - Distance Credentialed Facilitators will use technological resources appropriate to client needs in delivering distance facilitation services.
• Assessment - Distance Credentialed Facilitators comprehend and use (under supervision) both validated formal and informal distance and offline career development assessment protocols so they may assist clients appropriately with their life career planning needs.
• Distance Communication - Distance Credentialed Facilitators will apply effective, technology-assisted written and oral communication protocols to the distance facilitation process.
• Ethical/Legal - Distance Credentialed Facilitators work within the parameters of the ethical and legal-regulatory guidelines that govern f2f and Distance delivered helping services. They know how to seek supervision/consultation, as required by the ethical standards that apply to Distance Credentialed Facilitation and those standards that govern their professional scope of practice.
• Consultation and Support - Distance Credentialed Facilitators will seek consultation and support when they have concerns that they may be practicing outside of their competency area or scope of practice.

Do I need to take a test to obtain the credential?

You will be required to pass a short assessment at the end of each section of the training. It is required that you obtain a grade that meets or exceeds 75% correct answers. If you do not pass, you will be given an opportunity to retake the assessment again as your preparation and schedule allows.

Can I obtain Continuing Education for this training?

Yes. If you are a GCDF you will receive 40 Contact Hours upon completion of the training. Participants who wish to apply this training to other CEU professional/ licensure/ certification boards upon request will be given a statement which will include the agenda, competencies covered, training hours and a certificate of successful completion to submit to their respective board.

Do I need experience in this area prior to participating in the course?

You must be comfortable working on a computer, and have an Internet connection. You must also have a PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader , you can download it for free here.

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