Small training groups/mentoring groups can be very helpful for anyone who is struggling with getting started with facilitating basic Immanuel Approach sessions. For example, if you have specific triggers that are getting in the way, or there are portions of your maturity-skill profile that need to be strengthened, participating in a mentoring group can help you get past these initial difficulties. And mentoring groups are also one of the best resources for intermediate and advanced training. For example, I run several mentoring groups in which I provide intermediate and advanced teaching, modeling, coaching, and supervision for small cohorts of eight participants in each group.
Dr. Lehman mentoring groups: As just mentioned, I run several mentoring groups in which I provide intermediate and advanced teaching, modeling, coaching, and supervision (details re Dr. Lehman mentoring groups). However, there are a couple of limitations with respect to my mentoring groups. First, I am now reserving spots in my mentoring groups for people who are helping to spread the Immanuel Approach in strategic ways. For example, people who are building Immanuel Approach ministries in their churches, people who are doing Immanuel Approach training in various settings, people who are bringing the Immanuel Approach into group therapy practices, people who are helping me with research & development regarding some particular aspect of the Immanuel Approach, or people who are particularly energetic in sharing about the Immanuel Approach with their friends, family, and colleagues, and who facilitate sessions and teach about the Immanuel Approach in the context of these relationships.
The second limitation with respect to my mentoring groups is that they are usually full. There is a waiting list, but it may be several years before a spot opens up for you.
So if you are helping to spread the Immanuel Approach in some strategic way, you have read through the details (link above) regarding my mentoring groups, and you would like to be on the waiting list, send me a note describing your Immanuel Approach related activities and letting me know that you would like to be on the waiting list for one of my mentoring groups. (**Also, while you are waiting for a spot in one of my groups, you might want to participate in one of the alternative groups described below.)
Other mentoring groups: Fortunately, there are a number of others who are offering Immanuel Approach mentoring groups. The mentoring group leaders mentioned below are people I know personally, and who have a lot of training and experience with respect to the Immanuel Approach. Furthermore, many of the groups offered by these group leaders welcome participants who are just wanting to learn to facilitate the Immanuel Approach and/or people who are just wanting to do their own Immanuel Approach healing work. (That is, participating in strategic IA growth is not a prerequisite for most of these other groups.) Another advantage with respect to these other groups is that it will usually be easier to find an opening. (**Also, if you are on the waiting list for one of my groups, you might want to participate in one of these other mentoring groups while you are waiting.)
Andy Ross, LCPC, MAPC: Andy has been using the Immanuel approach extensively in his own life, marriage, and ministry since 2007. He has trained people in the Immanuel approach both in the United States and in Kenya. He is a skilled Immanuel Approach facilitator, and provides a variety of training/mentoring groups very similar to my mentoring groups. The following links provide all of the details regarding the two mentoring groups that Andy is currently offering: **Andy is not offering these two mentoring groups at this time (March 2024) **
Sharon Ogden, LCSW & Certified Spiritual Director and Molly Emerson, Certified Spiritual Director (with Immanuel Way Ministries): Sharon and Molly have been in one of my mentoring groups for many years, and are now helping to expand the availability of the Immanuel Approach by providing Immanuel Approach groups closely modeled after my mentoring groups. For more information, e-mail Sharon or Molly at iwm.sharonogden@gmail.com or iwm.mollyemerson@gmail.com .
Melinda Wilson and Cathy Little (with Face to Face Ministries): Melinda and Cathy have been facilitating regular Immanuel Approach sessions and providing regular Immanuel Approach training for several years, and are now also offering a variety of Immanuel Approach groups. For more information: Face to Face Mentoring Groups
Patti Velotta, M.Div (with Immanuel: A Practicum): Pastor Patti Velotta has been providing Immanuel Approach training in many countries around the world since 2010. If you go through Pastor Patti’s basic training, and discern with her that you are a good fit for her Immanuel: A Practicum network, then you can participate in a variety of intermediate and advanced training options that are very similar to my mentoring groups. For more information: Pastor Patti and Immanuel: A Practicum
Other providers that I don’t know as well: There is a steadily growing cohort of others who are also providing a variety of training/mentoring groups. These may be excellent, but I just don’t know the group leaders well enough to provide personal recommendations. If all of the groups mentioned above are full, I encourage you to look into these other options. You will just want to be extra careful to discern regarding the quality of what is offered.