Advocates for Balanced Living - Coaching, Training and Workshops

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Facilitators

• Welcome
• PREVIEW WHAT'S INSIDE
• >> FAQS about being an RTA-Trained Facilitator
• BENEFITS FOR THE SELF- EMPLOYED
• Testimonials from Trained Facilitators
• The Power of Groups
• Why Get Trained?
• Purchase a Facilitator Membership
• PRG FACILITATORS TRAINING RETREAT
  

"The RTA Training really helped prepare me emotionally and logistically to lead the best PRGs I can, and to create a richer experience for the mothers in the group. It gave me the confidence and experience to enthusiastically step in to my role as PRG Facilitator..." {More}
— Rachel, freelance web designer/developer

"The PRG Facilitator Training was definitely worth the investment! I got way more than my money's worth (plus the fee for the training is tax-deductible as a self-employment business expense). I cannot imagine being more equipped and prepared for facilitating Personal Renewal Groups..." {More}
— Rhonda, special needs advocate

"Being a Personal Renewal Group Facilitator feeds me on SO MANY levels: emotionally, spiritually, financially and intellectually. The experience has helped me become kinder and gentler to myself and in turn, has made me a more compassionate, insightful and accessible coach to my clients. Then I read The Mother's Guide to Self-Renewal in one sitting and a dear friend/former colleague suggested we both get trained and co-facilitate a PRG..." {More}
— Julie, career and life coach

Frequently Asked Questions about being an RTA-Trained PRG Facilitator

1. Why be in or facilitate a group, why not just read the book and do the exercises on your own?


2. What happens at a Personal Renewal Group meeting?


3. Why should I get trained through Renee Trudeau & Associates?


4. What is covered in the Facilitator Training?
   
5. How much time will I spend each month on my PRG and how much income can I expect from facilitating a group?


6. What are my options for receiving training


7. What is the cost?


8. Who qualifies for facilitator training?


9. Do I have to become an RTA Trained Facilitator to lead a Personal Renewal Group?
10. Do PRG members typically know each other?
    
11. Do I have to have a “balanced life” and have all my own stuff handled in order to lead a group?
12. Can I lead a PRG for women who are not mothers?

1. Why be in or facilitate a group, why not just read the book and do the exercises on your own?
   Motherhood can be an isolating experience. This is why the Guide is designed for women to use in a small group setting of 6-10 women. Typically, a Personal Renewal Group will meet one evening a month for six months (the program is designed to be a year long, but participants have the option of re-enrolling after the initial six-month session). While you can gain tremendous value from working on the themes and exercises on your own or even with a friend, being with a group and sharing from your heart, listening to others and having your feelings validated is a powerful experience. This process is what facilitates a change in how you act and feel on a daily basis. To read more on The Amazing Power of Groups, click here.
2. What happens at a Personal Renewal Group (PRG) meeting?
   With a strong basis/focus on self-care, life balance and supporting members in "reconnection with self," PRG meetings were designed to allow women the opportunity to explore and nurture their "inner life."
   
   This is accomplished through a relaxed but structured format, which includes independent guided journaling and reflection, one-on-one dialogue, small group sharing and group insight sharing. Depending on the monthly theme, other activities such as creating "I am" collages, vision maps or guided visualizations or relaxations may also take place. Members say they love the format of PRGs as the meetings provide a wonderful balance of sharing/reflection and encouragement to take action to create the life you want. They are different from typical support groups, in that the focus is very forward thinking: what do you want your life to look like 90 days from now? And, members are usually (gently) challenged to think about and/or take action around the monthly themes.
   
   The environment of PRGs is designed to be nurturing, supportive and empowering. One of the reasons the groups are so popular is PRGs provide mothers with the opportunity to take meaningful, heartfelt conversations deeper than their normal day-to-day schedules allow. Click here to preview a sampling of what resources, templates and coaching are covered in the online training.
3. Why should I get trained through Renée Trudeau & Associates?
   PRG Facilitator Training through Renée Trudeau & Associates has been specially designed to enhance and support your success as a group leader. The training curriculum and templates created for the RTA Facilitators' Lounge were personally developed by author/coach, Renée Trudeau, based on her 20 years of experience as a career and life balance coach (working with thousands of women through Career Strategistsand founding and leading numerous Personal Renewal Groups for mothers since January 2003. Her insights, tools and exercises will support you on your personal journey as a group facilitator, save you countless hours in research, preparation and stress and help you to have a more enjoyable, successful and prosperous group experience. Read more about Why Get Trained here.
4. What is covered in the Facilitator Training?
   When you purchase your RTA Facilitator Membership you receive: 1) ongoing access to the continually updated Facilitators' Lounge (while your membership remains active), 2) membership to the RTA Facilitators' Online Community (listserv), 3) a listing on the RTA website find/start a group area, 4) a special RTA-Trained Facilitator Designation and 5) public relations support from RTA communications staff who are continuously working with national media to publicize the Personal Renewal Groups and send potential PRG members to the RTA website. To read more about the benefits of becoming a PRG Facilitator, click here.
   
   The self-paced online training provides information to help prepare you emotionally, mentally and spiritually to lead Personal Renewal Groups and resources, outlines and tools to help you promote, recruit, prepare for and facilitate your group so it runs smoothly and is an empowering and enjoyable experience for all. You'll also have access to additional life management articles and resources to support your PRG members while they're enrolled in your group.
   

5. How much time will I spend each month on my PRG and how much income can I expect from facilitating a group? 
   We advocate PRG Facilitators charge between $180-300/person for a six month session. The amount will depend on your experience level leading groups, your professional background (ex: if you’re a therapist or coach) and your geographic location. Most new PRG Facilitators charge $180/person for a six-month session when first starting out. Generally, there are 6-12 women in each PRG. You lead one meeting a month for 2.5 hours and send out 1-2 emails a month to touch base with your group members. In general, you’ll put in 5-7 hours/month depending on how you’re running your program (this time lessens, the more experience you get leading PRGs). You’ll also put in a little time upfront posting the flyer online and finding the space.  Some PRG Facilitators are leading multiple groups each month, some are leading groups at workplaces (you can charge more if you do this) and some are offering retreats or Days of Renewal around the material in the book and charging for these. The bigger “win” comes from deepening your own personal/spiritual growth by serving as a Facilitator and supporting other women who want to nurture their inner lives and emotional well-being. The rewards you receive from this are immeasurable!
   
   
6. What are my options for receiving training?
   Option A - PRG Online Facilitator Membership. Sign up to receive an online PRG Facilitator Membership and enjoy the self-guided pace of this program from the comfort of your own home! You can list your group on our site today, take in the training at a time that is convenient for you and start meeting next month! Read more about the benefits of this highly affordable program here. Special limited time offer: PRG Facilitator Starter Package includes membership and 10 books: $399.
   
   Option B - PRG In-Person Weekend Retreat Training. Join other new PRG Facilitators from around the nation for an unforgettable experience at The Crossings, a gorgeous, award-winning spa and retreat center overlooking Lake Travis in the Texas Hill Country. See our retreat page for more information, or join our mailing list for facilitators to be notified about additional training locations and upcoming dates. Note: in-person PRG Training includes all the benefits offered through online training, as well as some additional benefits.
   
   
7. What is the cost?
   PRG Facilitator Membership - $399 - Buy Now (special introductory offer)
   PRG Facilitator Starter Package - $499 - Buy Now (special introductory offer)
   (The Starter Package includes PRG Facilitator Membership AND 10 Guides - a $100 savings!)
   PRG In-Person Weekend Retreat Training - click here to learn more or register.
   Note: When you purchase your Facilitator Membership (or Starter Package) during this special introductory offer, you will receive a discounted annual renewal rate of $199, which includes ongoing access to the continually updated Facilitators' Lounge, membership to the RTA Facilitators Online Community (listserv) and your special RTA Trained Facilitator Designation. Please read our return policy on Memberships.
   
   
8. Who qualifies for facilitator training?
   Women in the Healing Arts fields --therapists, coaches, social workers, doulas, midwives, nurses, women's health specialists, parent educators, NIA/yoga and Pilates teachers, women's empowerment advocates, etc--are particularly drawn to and uniquely qualified to lead Personal Renewal Groups due to the nature of their work. However, many women who simply have a passion for empowering and supporting other women and mothers are also enjoying great success as Personal Renewal Group Facilitators. Click here to learn more about the types of individuals that are ideally suited to lead groups or read testimonials from current PRG Facilitators who represent a broad spectrum of professions and life stages.
   
   
9. Do I have to become an RTA Trained Facilitator to lead a Personal Renewal Group?
   Click here to read the story about why Renee Trudeau chose to develop and offer a PRG Training Program. We HIGHLY recommend PRG Training (either online or in-person) for all women who want to lead Personal Renewal Groups due to the sensitive nature of the material and the fact that there is a truly and art and science to facilitating powerful, successful women's circles.
   
   If you are an experienced group facilitator, you may choose to lead Personal Renewal Groups without training from RTA. However, trained PRG Facilitators say they find the in-person and online training to be incredibly powerful as it heightens their confidence/abilities as a facilitator, provides them with incredible tools/resources that support the chapter's themes, offers additional exercises for their group, supplies them with strategies for promoting and leading successful PRGs, gives them credibility with potential PRG members who are considering joining a PRG and provides access to and inclusion in a national community of fellow RTA Trained PRG Facilitators. Click here to learn more about the benefits of becoming a RTA-Trained PRG Facilitator.
   
   
10. Do PRG members typically know each other?
    Sometimes members from a specific area of a city or region will sign up for the same PRG, but typically, PRGs are made up of women who have never met before. Women who are interested in personal growth, life balance or the topic of self-renewal are drawn to sign up for PRGs, and are always surprised and delighted by how connected they feel to the other members, how freely group members open up to one another and how powerful it is to be in a group with women from various life stages and backgrounds who all deeply resonate around similar issues and themes, such as the ones outlined in The Mother’s Guide.
    
    
11. Do I have to have a “balanced life” and have all my own stuff handled in order to lead a group?
    No! None of us has all of our “stuff handled,” and by sharing our own vulnerabilities, we actually inspire those around us to do the same. Your job as a Facilitator is to create a safe, empowering “space” to help facilitate insight-sharing and connection among your group members. Your courage and willingness to do this is motivating in and of itself—you’re also in the Group to learn more about yourself and explore what your needs/desires are, just like your group members.
    
    
12. Can I lead a PRG for women who are not mothers?
    Yes! Many women around the U.S. are starting PRGs for women and men at various life   stages using the same core themes outlined in the Guide.  The topics covered in the book are not parent-specific and translate easily to all audiences.  
    

DISCLAIMER:
The RTA web site lists PRG Facilitators (some are RTA-Trained, some are not) as a convenience to the Facilitators and to the women who are seeking PRGs. RTA does not endorse any of the Facilitators who are listed on the site and/or who have signed up for memberships to the RTA-Trained PRG Facilitator program and makes no claim regarding their competence or effectiveness. Learn more.