The Bedfordshire Centre for Therapeutic Studies

Our four-month online CPCAB Breathwork Coach Training is an ideal training to fit around your schedule.  This course is a blend of 25-hrs of self-paced learning via an online portal and three one-day workshops via Zoom with your group, plus a two-hour evening induction.

To support your learning on this training, supervision group sessions will also be provided throughout your course, between the workshops.  These are mandatory to attend as part of your course.  You are also required to partake in 3 Breath Coach sessions with a qualified Breath Coach throughout the training.

This is a 4 month intensive course providing the opportunity to deep dive into your personal breathwork practice and theoretical learning.  Please scroll down to see the time commitments required for this training under ‘in order to access this course’.

Why breathwork?

Breathwork is a natural, simple and powerful tool that has the ability to transform your wellbeing.  The breath is the only system in the body that we can control and learning to breathe to your fullest capacity can be life changing.  What’s amazing about breathwork is that it can calm & soothe, energise and invigorate and generally help maintain homeostasis within the body’s systems. There is a breath for every need and because it’s a system we can control it is a truly empowering and rewarding discipline.

Breathwork is well known for its physical and mental health benefits.  Leaders in the field of trauma are also recognising its power of regulating the nervous system and supporting integration of traumatic events.   Breathing techniques are given to clients as a resource and I’ve found that by explaining the impact each breath technique has on the nervous system, my clients are more likely to take it on as a regular practice.  I’ve experienced client’s trauma and anxiety symptoms significantly reduce, in a short amount of time, after practicing some of the breathing techniques that I’ll be teaching you.

Breathwork is recognised by trauma experts such as Stephen Porges, Resmaa Menakem, Peter Levine, Deb Dana, Bassel Van Der Kolk, Arielle Schwartz and Pat Odgen amongst many others as it is proven to support the bottom up approach to trauma recovery, so working on a somatic level.  Breathwork helps to shift stagnant and habitual patterns of relating.

About the course

This breathwork coach training focuses on two key areas.  Firstly, you will learn the mechanics of the breath and practices to support a fuller, deeper and smoother breath, for wellbeing.  Secondly, you will learn about the nervous system and breath practices to support nervous system regulation and flexibility.  You will learn over 20 breathing techniques that you will be able to teach to your clients: particularly beneficial to clients experiencing anxiety, depression, poor sleep, panic, digestive issues and/or to support clients who are working through their trauma.  These breathing techniques are simple to learn yet extremely effective.  They are safe and accessible and easy to remember.

The breath practices are drawn from a range of disciplines including ancient yogic pranayama and more modern day breath practices like Buteyko and functional breathwork.

Please note that we do not teach dynamic practices on this coaching programme like conscious connected breath or rebirthing.  The course focuses on correcting breath dysfunction and enhancing wellbeing.

You will learn:

1)  Breath awareness and over 20 conscious breathing techniques
2)  The anatomy of the breath
3)  The benefit of the breath and breathing dysfunctions
4)  The nervous system and it’s relation to the breath
5)  Breathwork for hyperarousal & hypoarousal – calming and energising
6)  Breathwork for regulating and maintaining homeostasis
7)  Contra-indications for the different breathwork practices
8)  Polyvagal theory and the breath as the golden key for mobilisation and vagal tone
9)  Breathwork for anxiety, depression, trauma support and other issues such as self-harm, bereavement and working with children.  You will learn safety and grounding exercises
10) Observational skills to identify your client’s breathing patterns and dysfunctions, and assessment skills to identify needs and goals for the work

Additional support

If you require additional support due to having a disability or learning need then please see our additional learning policy on our website www.bedfordshiretherapeuticstudies.co.uk/policies  Please also contact Kate prior to applying to have a discussion of your needs.

How you will learn

• 1. You will be sent a link to the self-study material where you will work through the induction and introduction module of the course
  2. You will then attend a live two-hour induction via zoom
  3. You will then continue to work through the self-study material
     a.  PowerPoint theory presentations
     b.  Breathwork instruction and ‘how to teach’ videos
     c.  Regular guided therapeutic breathwork sessions
     d.  Worksheets to embed learning
     e.  You’ll have lifelong access to these online materials
  4. You will meet for 3 workshop days, via zoom, with your group:-
     a.  To discuss your experiences with peers
     b.  To consolidate the material from the self-study
     c.  To practice teaching each other breathwork techniques within small groups where you will be observed
     d.  To deepen your own breathwork practice through guided breathing sessions
     e.  To learn more theory on the breath & considerations for safe & ethical breath practice in 1-2-1 & groups
     f.   The zoom learning days are experiential with the emphasis on learning by doing, through group discussions (both as a whole group and in break out rooms) and linking theory to practice.

Assessment

This is a CPCAB Level 3 Award qualification which has minimum assessment requirements in order for you to successfully pass the course:-

• • To have attended all training sessions, supervision and induction session
  • A daily personal breathwork practice log
  • * Received three 1-2-1 Breath Coaching sessions with a qualified Breath Coach
  • A clinical written case study
  • A video recording of a range of breathing exercises being explained and taught to another.
  • Participation in skills practice sessions, giving and receiving feedback and the completion of various worksheets 

* Please note, the 3 breath coach sessions will be carried out with an independent Breath Coach.  You will be provided with a list of approved Coaches and you can also find your own, as long as they are qualified.  Please note that the Breath Coaches set their own fee – expect to pay between £50 – £70 per hour (location depending the fee could be higher).

* At your tutor’s discretion you may be required to receive additional Breath Coach sessions in order to meet minimum requirements for passing the course.

Upon qualification we offer ongoing support through our Breath Coach Facebook group.

What will this training give me?

Upon qualifying you will gain a CPCAB L3 Award in Breath Coaching enabling you to:-

• • Gain insurance to work as a professional Breathwork Coach
  • Integrate breathwork ethically into your current helping role
  • Work 1-2-1 with clients in a breath coach capacity
  • Deliver breathing sessions to groups

Who can apply?

This training is tailored to those in the helping profession who wish to bring breathwork confidently into their current practice and who wish to add Breath Coaching to their current ‘helping’ qualifications.  You must hold a minimum of a Level 3 qualification. It will most suit:-

• • Counsellors, life coaches, psychotherapists and social workers who have a foundation of therapeutic skills within boundaried and ethical practice

If you are another professional e.g. teacher, support worker, yoga teacher/therapist, holistic therapist, bodyworker or fitness coach and have no prior 1-2-1 psychotherapeutic qualifications or experience then you are required to complete our 12 hr Introduction to Counselling qualification.  This is a self-study course where you’ll gain an inhouse qualification.  You are welcome to complete this whilst you are waiting for your Breath Coach course to commence.

It is required that you already have your own insurance for your current profession in order to start integrating the breath coach training into your client work whilst on the course.

It is a requirement that you can take responsibility for your own learning and that you have worked through any past life events or traumas sufficiently to undertake an experiential course of this nature.

Application process and payment

1)      Complete the application form at the link above
2)      Pay non-refundable deposit of £300 + VAT to secure your place (or full course fee)
3)      Balance of £375 + VAT is due one month prior to the start of the course
4)      Self-study link will be emailed to you where there will be an Induction and Introduction module to work through before the Live Induction session

In order to access this course you will require:-

• • To have a laptop for the Zoom sessions and good internet connection. (Phones cannot be used for training days)
  • A free google drive account for your e-portfolio
  • Capacity to record via Zoom (iPhone & iPad devices do not allow recording however Apple computers & laptops do, as well as PCs) and a willingness to learn Zoom’s features to maximise your learning experience (please contact the centre ahead of applying if this is an issue)
  • To be willing to commit to the centre’s Zoom policy
  • Up to 6 hours a week to work through the self-study material (this will vary depending on your learning style – it could be more during some aspects of the course)
  • In addition, 10 mins morning and eve for your breathwork personal practice – which will be logged with some brief reflections
  • You’ll also be encouraged to practice facilitating breathwork practices with friends and family members so allow additional time for this
  • To be able to learn independently and take responsibility for your own learning
  • Awareness that this course contains approx. 60% practical & 40% theory.  Should you prefer a less theory-based course, our Introduction to Breathwork – for you and your client work may be more appropriate
  • Consideration of your support requirements. Breathwork can be deeply powerful and your personal practice may stir up suppressed feelings and memories. It’s advised that you create space in your monthly supervision (and/or personal therapy) to process what emerges for you

Contact breathwork@bedfordshiretherapeuticstudies.co.uk with course queries