Training

The Godly Play Foundation in San Gabriel, California currently offers six kinds of training for becoming a Godly Play practitioner. This variety of training gives you many options to find what you need to become fluent in this teaching art. They are the fruit of much prayer, practice, reflection, and research. We offer this program of continuing education with the expectation that it will be as innovative and deep for adults as Godly Play is for children.

The goal of each type of training is to present Godly Play to adult learners in the same spirit that the language of the Christian People is presented to children. This is because people usually teach as they were taught. Our training is also presented in a way that encourages life-long learning. Practicing one's art is also important, but less "practice makes perfect" than "practice allows the depth to be discovered" and fluency to be expanded.

Godly Play can always be refreshed. Such refreshment is for strengthening community, spiritual development, and honing the skills of the art. Continuing re-accreditation is, therefore, vitally important.

Find what will work best for you in your life as a Godly Play teacher or trainer to further your journey and serve those where you minister. Our prayers go with you.

Brief Local Introductions
These brief workshops are presented locally by accredited Godly Play Trainers. Their length, content, and structure are negotiated to meet the needs of your situation. Godly Play Trainers are especially equipped through their accreditation process to plan and lead such events. These typically last from 1-3 hours. (The cost is $100/hour plus expenses.)

Extended Local Introductions
Godly Play trainers are also trained to present full local introductions. Like the brief introductions outlined above, these sessions are also designed to meet your specific needs but typically last an evening and a day or one full day. (The cost is $100/hour plus expenses.)

Teacher Accreditation Training
Godly Play needs to be learned from the inside out. This certification workshop, therefore, emphasizes process. You will experience a Godly Play class in a beautiful, well-equipped classroom and then reflect on the experience with seasoned trainers who have learned how to guide such discussions. A second major focus is on the practice of the lessons. Each participant is expected to practice and tell a Godly Play story to a small group of other participants and a trainer. Through this practice, you will gain the experience of knowing that whatever happens in a storytelling situation, you will be able to sustain the story. (The cost is $360 per participant.)

This kind of training involves 18 supervised hours, and is usually done over a long weekend. Lists of upcoming accreditation events can be found on the Calendar page, or if you would like to find out how to host such an event, contact the Foundation directly at center@godlyplay.org.

The Foundation awards a certificate for this training but not for introductory workshops. There are now about 1500 accredited Godly Play teachers throughout out the world. This kind training welcomes you into a unique community.

Teacher Re-accreditation Training
Within two years of your accreditation as a teacher, you will need to renew yourself and your Godly Play Teaching Certificate. Since so much of this approach depends on the nonverbal communication of the storyteller and door person, with the children and the Holy Trinity, we need to keep the Godly Play spirit alive. New methods for re-accreditation are currently under study, but in the mean time, re-accreditation can be accomplished by attending another Teacher Accreditation conference, a National Conference, or some other form of continuing education to be announced. (The cost is $150 per participant.)

Trainer Accreditation Training
Trainers are selected by the quality of their experience with Godly Play. We are looking for people who have discovered what is unique about Godly Play and wish to deepen their knowledge of it. This training is by invitation only from the Foundation. Anyone interested should contact the Foundation directly.

Trainer Re-accreditation
Teacher Trainers, like teachers, are accredited for two years. The re-accreditation of trainers is done at national gatherings of Trainers where their own practice of Godly Play and their ability to train others is refreshed and deepened.