Registrations are now open! The listed dates represent the start dates for each cohort.
In honor of Derek Scott, our beloved instructor and founder of IFSCA, who passed away in February 2024, our dedicated senior staff, personally selected and mentored by Derek, continue to carry forth his legacy with unwavering commitment.
Course Structure and Class Size
The course runs for 16 consecutive weeks. You will have sessions once a week, always on the same weekday and at the same time. Please mark this day and time on your calendar. Click here to see the course schedule.
The course has 4 modules, and each module follows this structure:
Week 1: Teaching and Demonstration - will be taught by the IFSCA senior staff
Week 2: Practice session - With an IFSCA support staff person
Week 3: Practice session: With fellow learners + one on-call Support staff
Week 4: Consultation Group - will be taught by the IFSCA senior staff
Duration of the course: 48 hours = 16 sessions of 3 hours.
For more information about the course please click here.
Instructors and cohorts
Senior staff members will provide support during the teaching sessions and consultations.
COHORT A
Start date: December 30th
Sessions will be every Monday at 9:00 (EST) for 16 weeks
Instructor: Melissa Gabraith - introduction vídeo
COHORT B
Start date: January 7, 2025
Sessions will be every Tuesdays at 11:00 am (EST) for 16 weeks
Instructor: Gustavo Ribeiro de Mello - introduction video
COHORT C
Start date: January 8, 2025
Sessions will be every Wednesday at 12:00 pm (EST) for 16 weeks
Instructor: Robyn Dickson - introduction video
COHORT D
Start date: January 9, 2025
Sessions will be every Thursday at 11:00 am (EST) for 16 weeks
Instructor: Kelsey Feinstein - introduction video
COHORT FOR STUDENTS IN UK AND CENTRAL EUROPE
Start date: January 14, 2025
Sessions will be every Tuesday at 12:00 pm (CEST) for 16 weeks
Instructor: Peter Silvien - introduction video
To register for Stepping Stone UK, follow this link.
STEPPING IN - QUEER COMMUNITY LEARNING
Start date: January 6, 2025
Sessions will be every Monday at 1:00 pm (EST) for 16 weeks
Instructor: Melissa Galbraith - introduction vídeo
To register for Stepping In, follow this link.
Program Materials
- You will receive preparatory and follow-up materials as you progress through the course.
- As you progress through the course, we will provide recorded sessions and supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience. These materials will support your ongoing development and help reinforce key concepts along the way.
- Students will receive transcripts of the didactic and consult groups in PDF format, specific to their cohort. Early bird registrants will receive these transcripts for free.
- For those who register after the early bird deadline (November 15th), there will be an option to purchase the transcripts for an additional $50.
To see a brief video of what participants say about the course please click here
Attendance
Students must attend at least 42 hours of the 48 hours of live sessions to graduate.
Cohorts
Each cohort is limited to 21 participants, and we cannot exceed this limit.
After graduation
You will receive a course certifica attesting you successfully complete the course, if you attend at least 42 hours of the 48 hours of live sessions.
Upon successful completion of the course with at least 42 hours of live sessions, you will receive a course certificate. Graduates may refer to themselves as "IFS Informed "
Location
The Stepping Stone course is 100% online. Sessions take place on the Zoom videoconferencing platform.
Dates
Classes take place at the same time each week for 16 consecutive weeks. In order to accommodate international students, there are a number of cohorts starting at various times.
Holidays:
IFSCA attempts to schedule with regard to national holidays that occur in the various countries from which participants come, as well as religious holidays. Please check the various schedules to see if they clash with a holiday that you like to celebrate - you may wish to factor that into your cohort selection
Time-zone: US/Canada Eastern Time (Toronto time)
*CEUs are not available.*
Requirements
Stepping Stone is open to therapists, counselors, coaches, pastoral counselors, or other mental health professionals; you must be actively engaged in 1:1 work with clients to be able to practice and implement the teachings.
- 1:1 work in a Mental Health Capacity
a) Individuals nearing graduation or recent graduates in psychotherapeutic disciplines, such as social work, therapy, or counseling, are welcome to participate, provided they commit to having clients to practice with.
b) For those without a background in psychotherapy, such as coaches and bodyworkers, it is recommended to have a minimum of 6 months of experience working one-on-one before joining the program. This ensures a comprehensive foundation for meaningful engagement in the course.
- Participants are expected to be fully fluent in English.
- A stable internet connection
- Computer or tablet
- A private environment to participate in the sessions.
Registration
If you meet the above requirements, please follow these steps:
1) Go to this link to see the start dates for the course.The course will be on the same weekday and time for 16 consecutive weeks.
2) Choose the start date that suits you best and register.
3) You will receive a notification email from [email protected] - this is the confirmation that you completed your registration.
3) 2 weeks before the start of the course you will receive recommended readings and other resources.
4) 2-3 days before the training you will receive the manual and schedule.
5) You will receive Zoom links close to the start of the training. These links provide access to the training.
***Requests to transfer to different cohorts are accepted up to 2 weeks before the course begins. Transfers cannot be accommodated after this period due to organizational constraints. ***
Payment Details
The total cost for the course is USD $2,250
After paying the full amount your registration is automatically complete.
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- Prices are in US dollars.
- IFSCA accepts payments via Ticketleap only. Ticketleap accepts all the usual forms of payment and adds a processing fee.
- IFSCA does not bear responsibility for credit card foreign transaction fees levied by banks or administrative fees charged by the registrations website. These factors are beyond our control and may influence the final cost.
- In the event of a refund request, disparities may occur between the registration amount paid and the refund amount due to currency fluctuations. IFSCA disclaims responsibility for such variations.
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Important Update: Course Pricing Adjustment
To improve your learning experience, we’re implementing some key upgrades:
Increased Support Staff: We’re bringing in additional staff to provide dedicated support for each practice group.
Smaller Practice Groups: Group sizes will be reduced from 4 to 3, allowing for more personalized practice time.
Enhanced Online Education Platform: We’re integrating a new platform to enhance access to course materials.
To cover the costs of these improvements, we’ve adjusted the course price. We believe these changes will greatly benefit your experience.
Course Expectations and Guidelines
1) For the unsupervised practice sessions, students are required to connect with peers for effective organization. Utilize a platform that supports 3-hour recorded sessions, such as Zoom Pro, Skype, Google Meet, etc.
2) Full participation throughout the entire session is expected from all students.
3) Key course details, including Zoom links and meeting information, will be thoughtfully organized within the course schedule. Keeping the schedule accessible and referring to it regularly will be essential for a smooth course experience.
4) The course operates on Toronto time, and with the upcoming changes in daylight saving time, it's imperative for students to be aware of potential adjustments to the course schedule.
5) Students will receive a comprehensive course manual, instructional videos, and relevant materials during the course. It is crucial that students thoroughly read and engage with all provided information
Cancellation Policy
A full refund of the registration fee is available if requested before November 30th, 2024.
From November 30 until 1 week before the course begins, an administrative fee of USD$125 will be applied.
There will be no refunds available within 1 week prior to the start date of the course.
FAQ
This document has been created to answer the most common questions about the training. If you have any questions about the following, please click here
- Admission and Registration
- Course Structure
- Structure of Practice Sessions
- Course Fees
- Staff Availability
- After the course