HELPER TRAINING MEETING PROPOSAL

 

INTRODUCTION

This is a starting outline proposal based on discussions within PHANA Council and discussions with US Pathwork Region leaders.  A more detailed draft will be prepared and circulated following discussion.  The more detailed draft will include more definitive information on meeting dates, location, participant list, and costs.

OBJECTIVES

The meeting has the following main objectives.

1.       To review available information on North American Helper training programs.

2.       To agree on arrangements to provide ongoing support for:

• Collaboration and cross-fertilization between Helper training programs;

• The assessment of proposals for new Helper training programs;

• Consideration and discussion of issues relevant to Helper training and Pathwork Helpership practice.

3.       To consider specific proposals directed towards the maintenance of high standards of Helper training and Pathwork Helpership practice.

TIMEFRAME/LOCATION/COSTS

A 3-day meeting is proposed in Sevenoaks in summer 2003, most likely in the period August 18-22, 2003 although alternate time windows will be considered to try to accommodate as many of the prospective participants’ schedules as possible.  The summer time frame is proposed so that participants will have completed their spring HTP/PTP semester teaching and not yet be into their fall HTP/PTP semester teaching.

Cost estimates will be provided when discussion is further advanced, including discussion with the Foundation which is being invited to contribute to the travel and accommodations costs associated with the meeting.  Cost estimation will be aided by the selection of dates, agreement on the likely number of participants, and agreement on the location.

PARTICIPANT LIST

It is proposed that this list include at least the following:

1.   Senior representatives of existing US Helper training programs.  Guideline: 1-2 representatives per program.

2.   Senior representatives from US/Canadian Chapters with existing Pathwork Transformation programs that are at a considerable distance from existing Helper training programs. 

These are the areas in which it is first likely to be appropriate to consider starting new Helper training programs.  Guideline: 1 representative per Chapter.

3.   The Pathwork Foundation President.

Arrangements will be made to minute the meeting.  In addition, authors of discussion documents on the main agenda of the meeting will be invited to attend, if appropriate.

Individual Helper training programs and Chapters will choose their own representatives.  The following tentative list of principal participants is based on preliminary discussions:

Helper Training Programs
California	Alison Greene-Barton.
Georgia	Cynthia Schwartzberg.
Mid-Atlantic	Keith Covington, Susan Thesenga.
New York	Nadya Beck, Erena Bramos.
Philadelphia	Carol Day, Carolyn Tilove.
PTP/Chapter Representatives
Australia	Jan Rigsby
Canada	Roddy Duchesne
Great Lakes	To be determined
Minnesota	Dottie Titus
Vermont	Sahra Aschenbach
Pathwork President	Ana Maria Gavazzi

 

DISCUSSION DOCUMENTS

The meeting will be more productive if it has discussion documents as starting points for discussion.  The meeting’s objectives imply the need for discussion documents addressing the following:

 1.   A review of available information on North American Helper training programs.

This document would include information on:

• Formal training program information

      e.g. faculty numbers, minimum requirements for entry into Helper training, # years of formal Helper training, # on-campus hours, # Helper session hours.  Identification of the main topics covered by each individual Helper training curriculum.  Principal energy approaches used (e.g. Core Energetics); whether “The 50/50 Work©” is part of (or integrated into) the curriculum; reading lists that support the curriculum.

• Apprenticeship requirements

      e.g. # years of apprenticeship, # of supervision hours, supervisor qualifications.  Other apprenticeship requirements and rules, e.g. # of Helper sessions required, # of students/workers the apprentice may have and rates he/she may charge, requirements to lead/assist with groups, such as Lecture Study groups.

• Procedures for claiming of Helpership and for the recognition of Helpers.

2.   An outline of possible organizational arrangements designed to provide support on an ongoing basis for:

• Collaboration and cross-fertilization between Helper training programs;

• The assessment of proposals for new Helper training programs;

• Consideration and discussion of issues relevant to Helper training and Pathwork Helpership practice.

3.   Specific proposals directly relevant to the maintenance of high standards of Helper training, and Pathwork Helpership practice.

These proposals would be submitted by individual regions/training programs, Chapters, PHANA Council and/or by the Foundation.  Examples of proposals that PHANA Council could provide include:

3.1   Definitions of key terms including "Pathwork Helper", "Apprentice Pathwork Helper", "Senior Pathwork Helper".  If individual regions/training programs use additional terms and wish these to be recognized North America-wide, additional terms could also be included, e.g. "Student Pathwork Helper", "Pathwork Counselor".

Adequate consistency in the meaning of these designations is fundamental to maintaining the credibility and public standing of Pathwork Helpership.  The definitions are also needed for use in conjunction with the Register of Pathwork Helpers.

3.2   Code of Conduct for inclusion in Helper training programs and for use by PHANA.

 

Regions, training programs, Chapters, The Foundation, and/or PHANA Council may come forward with additional discussion documents.