The Structure of GIM Training

Pre-requisites:

Prospective students are advised to experience at least one GIM session themselves, guided by a professional GIM fellow.

Before embarking on the training, the prospective students should attend a introductory GIM workshop (1 day).

There are three levels of GIM training, which need to be completed, in order to become a GIM fellow.

GIM Level-I and Level-II can be attended out of personal interest to learn about GIM, the music, and the art of guiding in individual sessions and in group work.

A decision about the ongoing education in GIM needs to be made with the entry at Level-III. The Level-III advanced training consists of five workshops and includes clinical practice. It is designed for the professional who wants to become a GIM Fellow, internationally recognized by the AMI – Association for Music and Imagery.

Overview of the GIM training

1. GIM Level-I(4 days)
2. GIM Level-II(6 days)
3. GIM Level-III and its advanced modules:
   • 1st Workshop: Advanced Guiding Techniques (4 days)
   • 2nd Workshop: Myth and Archetypes (4 days)
   • 3rd Workshop: Supervision Training (4 days)
   • 4th Workshop: GIM, Music, and the Transpersonal (4 days)
   • 5th Workshop: Fundamentals of Music (3 days)

GIM Level-I

Duration: 4 days

Objectives:

1. foundational concepts of GIM: definition, history, philosophy and theory;
2. skills in conducting initial client interviews and explaining GIM to a client;
3. stages of a session: pre-talk, setting an intention, choosing the music according to the intention, guiding a post-session;
4. relaxation techniques and the concepts of non-ordinary states;
5. supervision while facilitating a session and gaining introductory experience in the roles of both traveler and guide;
6. analysis and experiencing six Level-I music programs;
7. intervention skills, practicing questions and guiding interventions;
8. post-session and building the bridge to everyday life;
9. Mandala as a creative post-session tool, helping the client to discover personal insights.

Dyad experience:

• guiding: twice, observed by trainers
• being guided: twice, observed by trainers

GIM Level-II

Duration: 6 days

Qualifications: completion of Level-I

Objectives:

1. neurobiology and its findings about music;
2. music as a co-therapist and using music interventions;
3. the "art of guiding" with advanced techniques;
4. analysis of eight Level-II music programs;
5. post-session with Gestalt dialogue techniques;
6. case study presentations and the do's and don'ts of guiding;
7. traveler types: kinesthetic, visual, and auditory traveler;
8. clinical application of GIM for client issues with special emphasis on depression, sadness, sudden losses;
9. physical interventions during the imagery session;
10. structure and dynamics of group settings;
11. group work with GIM: working with Mandalas and how to process the post-session in a group setting.

Dyad experience:

• guiding: 3 times, observed by trainers
• being guided: 3 times, observed by trainers

GIM Level-III and its advanced modules

Duration: 5 individual workshops

Qualifications: completion of homework assignments and Level-II

Requirements: 5 documented practice sessions, music listening projects, 2 personal GIM sessions with a trained GIM facilitator

The successful completion of Level-III certifies participants as Fellows of the Association for Music and Imagery (AMI).

1st Workshop: Advanced Guiding Techniques (4 days)

Objectives:

1. advanced guiding interventions, with special emphasis on different client populations;
2. eight Level-III music programs and their use with different client populations;
3. selection of single music pieces and applying them for working with the inner child;
4. trauma and crisis, using GIM interventions;
5. difficult clients, resistances, and transferences;
6. anxiety, panic disorder, depression, trauma, eating disorders, and anger;
7. physical interventions and advanced guiding techniques;
8. skills and more interventions for post-session processing techniques.

2nd Workshop: Myth and Archetypes (4 days)

Objectives:

1. myth and archetypes and the relevance for the GIM process;
2. Pearson's archetypal system;
3. C.G. Jung, his archetypal system and the relevance for GIM;
4. experiencing the archetypes with single selections of music;
5. analysis of the three myth and archetype music programs;
6. the model of the hero's journey as a metaphor for transitional life situations;
7. closing ceremony and mask ritual: theatre of the masks.

Dyad experience:

• guiding: 2 times, observed by trainers
• being guided: 2 times, observed by trainers

3rd Workshop: Supervision Training (4 days)

Objectives:

1. practicing advanced guiding interventions;
2. learning more about post-session processing techniques;
3. analysis of two additional music programs and discussing the change of music programs during a session;
4. difficulties while guiding the pre-talk, the session, or the post- session.

Dyad experience:

• guiding: twice, observed by trainers and the group
• being guided: twice, observed by trainers and the group

4th Workshop: GIM, Music, and the Transpersonal (4 days)

Objectives:

1. introduction of transpersonal psychology and the leading personalities: Ken Wilber, Stan Groff and Andrew Cohen;
2. relevance of transpersonal psychology for the GIM work;
3. guiding: developing a repertoire of compatible transpersonal inductions;
4. understanding transpersonal imagery and experiencing transpersonal states during GIM;
5. identifying transpersonal imagery in the GIM session and guiding transpersonal material;
6. learning about the potential of music as a spiritual agent;
7. analysis of the two transpersonal music programs;
8. music as a vehicle to enter expanded/transpersonal states of consciousness;
9. the "fruits" and the "shadow" of transpersonal experiences;
10. processing transpersonal material in the post-session.

Dyad experience:

• guiding: twice, observed by trainers
• being guided: twice, observed by trainers

5th Workshop: Fundamentals of Music (3 days)

Objectives:

1. music as a co-therapist: case study and in-depth analysis;
2. fundamental concepts of music, music eras, music forms, and composers;
3. music as a homeopathic remedy;
4. groups: special helpful hints about the analysis of music programs;

Special offer for Level-III students:
To complete the Level-III assignments, you will be supported by a mentor. The mentor will assist you with your homework assignments and your practical work with clients. Your mentor will answer your questions about guiding interventions, choices of music, and difficulties that might come up when processing GIM sessions.

Requirements for becoming a Fellow for GIM:

• successful completion of all Level-III workshops
• completion of homework assignments: individual sessions, book reports, guiding sessions, music analysis of GIM programs, supervisions

After successful completion of Level-III you will receive a certificate from the AMI and you will be listed in the international directory.

All levels of training are approved for Continuing Education through NBCC in United States.

Who can be become a GIM fellow?

GIM is done by a specially trained guide or facilitator. The training will be of interest for:

• music therapists;
• clinical psychologists, therapists, and social-workers;
• health care professionals;
• art therapists;
• teachers and school counselors;
• personal coaches.

Next training dates:

The next  GIM level 1 training (4 days) will take place from 17-20 August 2012. The training will be offered by Prof. Dr. Gina Kaestele in co-operation with Mrs. Kobie Swart in Johannesburg.