CLEAN LANGUAGE FACILITATOR (CLF)

This program prepares you to competently and confidently use David Grove's Clean Language to facilitate Symbolic Modeling sessions using Penny Tompkins and James Lawley's Frameworks for Change model. This technique is metaphor-focused and strategy-directed.

This Clean Language Facilitator (CLF) certification program is open to helping and healing professionals such as life and health coaches, counselors, therapists, hypnotherapists, art therapists, poetry therapists, hospice counselors, pastoral counselors, energy/body workers, and health and wellness practitioners. While the program is not limited to those who are licensed in a health or mental health field, participants are expected to have received or are currently receiving training on an academic or professional level in their field. This program is not designed for those seeking to use Clean Language in business or educational applications.

The CLF program

There are three elements of the CLF program: two courses, competency assessments, and post- session coaching of your sessions with clients.

I. Required Courses


Introduction to Clean Language and Symbolic Modeling

Basics Part One: Facilitating Clarity

Basics Part One balances didactic explanations with lots of practice so you will understand the what’s and why’s of Symbolic Modeling and Clean Language AND gain basic skills. We will practice utilizing these skills with verbal, drawing, and space-related approaches so you can find your preferred way of working with a variety of individuals and/or groups.

  • Introduces the 9 most basic Clean Language questions used with everyday information or metaphors.

  • Works with Desired Outcomes, starting with the fundamental question that guides all Symbolic Modeling sessions, ”And what would you like to have happen?”

  • Teaches a systematic questioning process to assist your clients in clarifying any issue, idea, or sense of themselves.

    Text: Mining Your Client’s Metaphors: A How-To Workbook on Clean Language and Symbolic Modeling Basics Part One: Facilitating Clarity by Gina Campbell

    Online classes limited to 8. Video participation is required.

    Introduction to Clean Language and Symbolic Modeling

    Basics Part Two: Facilitating Change

    Basics Part II skills are well-utilized by therapists, counselors, coaches and others in the helping and healing professions as we will focus on what to do when a client wants change. Theory and explanations are balanced with lots of hands-on practice and feedback from trainers as well as opportunities to be a client. Trainees will:

  • Move from developing clarity to encouraging conditions for change

  • Continue to build on the basics by further developing your facilitating skills

  • Add powerful additional questions for working more deeply still with metaphors

  • Emphasize ‘thinking like a modeler’—on the logic of selecting questions and guiding the session

    Text: Mining Your Client’s Metaphors: A How-To Workbook on Clean Language and Symbolic Modeling Basics Part Two: Facilitating Change by Gina Campbell

    Prerequisite: Basics Part One training. (Equivalent learning with another trainer certified in Clean Language is accepted if you successfully complete Step #1 of the assessment. (See next page.)

    Online class size limited to 6. Video participation is required.

II. Assessments

You are asked to demonstrate competency with Clean Language and Symbolic Modeling by facilitating three sessions, the first two of which focus on specific Clean skills.

Step #1: Develop a resource metaphor and Desired Outcome (10-15 minutes)

Step #2: Develop a Sequence (15 minutes)

Step #3: Facilitate a Symbolic Modeling session demonstrating all 5 stages of the SyM process (40-50 minutes)

A list of criteria with specific details about what is being assessed at each step will be provided to you in advance.

III. Post-session coaching

Once your demonstration of competency for Steps #1 and #2 have been assessed and accepted, you will have 9 online meetings for 60-90 minutes (as needed) during which I will review 9 sessions with you. I will give you support and suggestions as you apply what you have learned in the course work to working with your clients. I am there to help you in the early days when you might wonder, "What could I have asked when my client said...?" You may start doing these supervision session once you have completed Basics Part Two: Facilitating Change and Steps #1 and #2 above.

Further coaching

Perhaps you want to do some more sessions before you sit for your Step #3 assessment and get some feedback. Or you may have a special clients in mind, and want to brainstorm ways you might work with them. Perhaps you are interested in integrating Clean Language components with another methodology you use. You can arrange for coaching sessions for these and other situations that fall outside of the certificate program requirements for an additional fee.

CLF Certificate

When you have successfully completed the program’s requirements, you will receive a Certificate of Completion identifying you as a Clean Language Facilitator (CLF).

Click on the buttons below for more details and an application.