Reality Coach® Credential

O.K.  You are interested in this thing called Reality Coaching and what it can offer you as a professional.

 You may be interested in CEUs to be used for renewing another license or certificate.  You may be just interested in expanding your knowledge. Or, you might be interested in the Reality Coach Credential. 

 What does it mean to be certified as a Reality Coach? 

 It means that you have completed a prescribed course of study and demonstrated specific knowledge and skills. 

It is a testimonial to your abilities.

 There is a basic level of certification which introduces concepts and an advanced level which builds upon these concepts.  Specific requirements and activities are outlined below.  Individuals may choose to participate in these activities concurrently or simultaneously. 

Verification Tools

There are four verification tools used in this process:

1. Teleclass participation / Role play calls:  provides first hand knowledge that you know what you know and can do what you can do.
2. Forum participation:  documents what you have learned during the teleclass and extends the teleclass beyond the 1 hour call by building upon what is discussed and encouraging ongoing discussion and application
3. Blogging:  documents what you have learned in your readings; read a chapter, blog about it.
4. e-Portfolio:  encapsulizes other projects, including papers, keystone projects and audio recordings.

Reality Coach:  Basic Level Requirements 

Participants must complete the following in order to be awarded the Basic Level Certificate as a Reality Coach:

• Read three texts related to Reality Therapy
  Recommended texts:
  Reality Therapy: A New Approach to Psychiatry by William Glasser, Understanding Reality Therapy: A Metamorphical Approach by Robert E. Wubbolding and Using Reality Therapy by Robert E. Wubbolding
• Completed 40 hours of training calls
• Submitted 4 audio recordings of sessions demonstrating skills
• Submited 4 written analysis of these same sessions using procedures that lead to change terminolgy
• Completed 1000 word paper on Reality Coaching
• Participated in 5 group role play calls
• Active participation and feedback in online components.

Reality Coach:  Advanced Level Requirements

Participants must complete the following in order to be awarded the Advanced Level Certificate as a Reality Coach:

• Read three texts related to Choice Theory
  Recommended texts:
  Choice Theory: A New Psychology of Personal Freedom by William Glasser, Warning: Psychiatry Can Be Hazardous to Your Mental Health by William Glasser and Counseling with Choice Theory by William Glasser
• 40 hours of training calls
• 4 audio recordings of sessions
• 4 written analysis of session using Choice Theory terminology
• Facilitate a 2 group role play calls
• 2 Keystone Projects (an audio and / or video presentation applying Choice Theory concepts to coaching)

Beyond the Requirements:  What does "Active participation and feedback in online components" mean?

In addition to submitting the documentation above, participants provide feedback to other participants engaged in this course of study and skill development.  Active participation is critical in this process.

Active participation means commenting on the work of another individual.  That means not just making an initial post to the forum following a teleclass.  It means replying to at least 2 other posts made by others who participated in that teleclass.  Posts should include a question 75% of the time and not just be a statement of agreement or encouragement.

Active participation means commenting on blog entries.  If you commented on each blog entry (one entry for each chapter in each book) for three individuals as they read their three texts, you would have made around 150 entries.  Active participation in the online blogging process means a minimum of 150 blog comments for each level of certification.

Active participantion means commenting on other required activities, such as audio recordings and analysis, written papers and keystone projects.  At a minimum commenting on the work of 5 other individuals would mean a total of 55 posts.  Active participation means a minimum of 55 comments for each level of certification made to e-portfolio work documented on individual's User Home Pages.

"Wow, that's a lot."

This is a viable endevor that you are considering.  One that will significantly increase your knowledge and skill set.  In order for a certificate or credential to have value it must not only be a testimonial of knowledge and skill but of achievement.  Further, this course of study can -- partially or totally -- be used to document coach training for organizations like the ECI or the ICF.