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FOAT® Training Program: Certification

The FOAT® Training program can lead to the following certifications:

  • Certified FOAT® Practitioner or Certified FOAT® Facilitator

  • Certified Focusing Professional or Focusing-Oriented Therapist (FOT): Specialization in Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®)

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Certification acknowledges advanced training and competence to apply FOAT® in working with others. After the successful completion of Level 4 and additional requirements (see Certification Requirements), trainees are eligible to apply for Certification as a FOAT® Practitioner or Facilitator with the Focusing and Expressive Arts (FOAT) Institute. In addition, interested trainees can apply at the same time to obtain an additional Certification as a Focusing Professional or Focusing-Oriented Therapist (FOT): Specialization in Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®) through The International Focusing Institute (TIFI). 

 

Focusing and Expressive Arts (FOAT) Institute

Trainees who have completed the Level 4 requirements and competencies can apply to become:

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  • Certified FOAT® Facilitator

    • This designation is for trainees who are interested in applying FOAT in other fields or for personal enrichment.

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  • Certified FOAT® Practitioner

    • This designation is for trainees who meet the additional educational requirement: must have a Master’s or Doctoral degree in the arts therapies or counseling fields (or equivalent credential based on their country).

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If you are a Certified FOAT® Facilitator and later meet the Practitioner educational requirements, you can apply for a title change with the submission of updated documentation.

 

The International Focusing Institute (TIFI)

Trainees who meet the Certified FOAT® Practitioners and Facilitators requirements can apply for the following additional Certifications:

 

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  • Certified Focusing Professional: Specialization in Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®)

    • This designation is for trainees who have completed Level 4 and meet the requirements to be Certified as a FOAT® Practitioner or Facilitator.

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  • Certified Focusing-Oriented Therapist (FOT): Specialization in Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®)

    • TIFI describes Focusing-Oriented Therapist (FOT): “One can only receive an FOT certificate if one is already a psychotherapist, as legally defined in one's own country, state or other jurisdiction.” (See TIFI website)

    • This designation is for trainees who meet the Certified FOAT® Practitioner education requirements, and have successfully completed a clinical practicum applying FOT and FOAT®.  Additional individual supervision may be required depending on competence.

Certification Requirements

Certification is competency-based. Completion of Level 4 training does not automatically lead to Certification.

The Training Director, Faculty, and Trainee must all agree (felt sense) on readiness.

 

Focusing and Expressive Arts (FOAT) Institute

Both Certified FOAT® Practitioner and Certified FOAT® Facilitator require:

  • Completion of Level 4 requirements and competencies

  

  • Completion of FOAT Practicum from Level 4 (total 25 hours), along with Final FOAT Practicum Report (PPT, video, etc.).

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  • At least 25 hours of documented expressive arts learning/training. These hours can be gained through in-person/online courses or workshops, and may be prior to or during the FOAT® Training Program.

 

  • Certification Review and Competence Evaluation

Certified FOAT® Practitioner

Must have one or more:

  • Master’s or Doctoral degree in the arts therapy field

  • Credentialed by one of the arts therapies professions (ATR-BC, REAT, R-DMT, MT-BC, etc.)

  • Clinical/counseling psychology, social work, marriage, and family therapy, or a related field in mental health (as legally defined in one's own country, state, or other jurisdiction).

Certified FOAT® Facilitator

For those interested in using Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts for professional application, such as in education, coaching, body-work, mindfulness and meditation training, spiritual direction, business, leadership, etc.; and/or personal application.

The International Focusing Institute (TIFI)

See TIFI website for: Certification Overview; Certification Types

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You must join as a member of TIFI as a Trainee, click here for membership information (unless you are already certified with TIFI).

Certified Focusing Professional: Specialization in Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®)

Approved to be Certified FOAT® Practitioner or Facilitator

Certified Focusing-Oriented Therapist (FOT): Specialization in Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®)

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“It is given only to awardees who are legally authorized in their locale to work as psychotherapists/ counselors…” (TIFI)

Approved to be Certified FOAT® Practitioner

Practicum in Level 4 or after: Must be approved as clinical practicum practicing FOT and FOAT.

Individual Supervision: Depending on competence evaluation in FOT-FOAT, additional supervision may be required.

For those interested in becoming a Certified Focusing Trainer: Specialization in Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®), granted by TIFI, an additional training module on how to train others in Focusing and FOAT® is required.  Training module information will be announced at a later date.

Maintaining Certification

 

Focusing and Expressive Arts (FOAT) Institute

Certified FOAT® Practitioner and Facilitator

To maintain certification/listing on our website:

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The International Focusing Institute (TIFI)

Certified Focusing Professional or FOT: Specialization in Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®)

See TIFI “Maintaining Your Certification”: Click here.

  • Please note, to maintain your membership, you must pay TIFI annual membership fees (varies based on country).

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