Certified Practitioner Application

Length of Training

Requirement
A minimum of 400 hours of training time over a minimum 2 year training period. May include components such as classroom training, assisting at Breathwork trainings, supervised practice with clients, observation of Breathwork sessions facilitated by certified Breathworkers, individual Breathwork sessions received from trainers, written assignment and readings, etc.

Entry Requirements

Requirement
Training programs must assess each applicant’s ability to utilize Breathwork training effectively and responsibly. Criteria for this assessment will depend on training objectives.

Recommended
It is recommended that training objectives and entry requirements be communicated clearly in writing to training candidates and that they be notified of what entry criteria they do not meet and what they would need to do to be eligible.

Structure of Training

Trainings vary widely in how they are structured in terms of blocks of training and may depend on the physical location of the training center, ie. urban or rural, as well as in-person or online. Some trainings are modular with multiple entry points, others are closed to new entrants from the beginning. It is therefore not possible or appropriate to specify how trainings should be conducted in terms of blocks of training. 

For some it is one weekend per month, for others there are longer blocks of residential training, and for others there are elements of distance learning. No matter the structure, trainings are divided into theoretical components and experiential work. 

Requirement
A training course should have personal development, client work under supervision, theoretical work, and peer support. Some may require community service. 

Recommended
Theoretical: one quarter to one third of the time
Experiential work: two thirds to three quarters of the time

Emphasis is placed on the personal growth of the trainee and not just on the acquisition of skills/knowledge. However, the acquisition of skills and knowledge is an important part of the training.

Supervision and Client Work

Supervision is seen as an essential learning tool. 

Supervision is in relation to working with clients and may or may not involve the supervisor's presence at the time of the session. If the supervisor is not present, the training should include a process for students to document their sessions and submit feedback to trainers. Supervision should always respect the welfare and confidentiality of the client and have the client’s written consent.

Trainee’s peers can be their “clients” in the early part of the training, and paying clients can be acquired from outside the training when the trainee is ready to begin work with the general public. 

Requirement
Supervision while working with clients (members of the public and members of the training group). Supervision can take place either in a group setting or individually. In both cases it can be with one or more trainers. Supervision should also include written and/or oral reports of Breathwork sessions with clients. 

Trainees take a minimum of 3 clients through 10 sessions each during the life of the training. These clients should not be fellow trainees, peers, friends, family, or colleagues who they work with in other ways. All client work, whether peer or with a member of the public is supervised. 

Work with members of the public does not begin until the trainee is considered ready to work in this manner (usually in the second half of the training).

Assessment/Testing

Requirement
Trainings have clearly documented outcomes in terms of knowledge, skills, personal development, etc. These outcomes are to be assessed in appropriate, non-competitive, supportive, empowering ways on a regular basis. Students are to be given their assessment as a learning tool on which to build and focus.

Printed Materials

Requirement
All students are to receive a list of recommended reading including books, articles, resources, etc. When possible or appropriate, trainers are to provide study manuals, copies of handouts, etc. Required materials and which of these are included in the training fee are to be specified clearly.

Modules

This form outlines MINIMUM AND ESSENTIAL criteria for the training of competent, professional certified breathworkers.

A breathwork training should contain the following units of learning. A unit of learning is a collection of topics that roughly fit together. This does not mean they have to be delivered together. Some topics can fit under several headings. These are offered as minimum requirements and do not preclude to adding to and expanding them if they so wish. They are not listed in any particular order and the order does not indicate any value judgment or priority.

Check all the components that were covered in your training.

UNIT 1: Personal Attributes and Qualities

UNIT 2: History and Nature of Breathwork

UNIT 3: Breathing Mechanics

Unit 4: The Business of Breathwork

UNIT 5: Breathwork and Breathwork Sessions

This unit will be adapted to suit the particular type of breathwork being taught. Topics may include:

UNIT 6: Theoretical Approaches

There should be more than one theoretical approach presented to trainees.

Unit 7: Counseling/Communication

UNIT 8:  Presenting Issues

Approaches to physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual client issues. Training should include basic understanding of the challenging issues which may be presented by clients and the life contexts in which such issues arise. Trainees should be encouraged to explore these issues in their own lives and become aware of how they may influence their work as breathworkers.

UNIT 9:  Client-Practitioner Relationship

Continuing Professional Education Requirements

National registration bodies may require annual postgraduate education. It is not the job of the training schools to determine the nature and amount of ongoing professional personal development requirements. The school may provide the training to meet these requirements but they are not responsible for ensuring that their graduates participate in ongoing professional development. That is the job of the national registration body.  But in countries where there is no national body, the training establishment could make suggestions or offer guidelines for graduates.

Recommendation
Registration for individual practitioners in the GPBA requires having completed training in accordance with the above guidelines and 16 hours (two days) of continuing education per annum in breathwork or additional skills that contribute to work as a breathwork practitioner.

Uploads

Please upload any documents that you believe will be helpful in reviewing your application.

Affirmation of Compliance with the GPBA Code of Ethics.

I affirm that I have read and understand the GPBA Code of Ethics and I agree to practice Breathwork in full compliance.