Inner Bonding may cancel, postpone or change any or all aspects of the training program schedule prior to its start. Inner Bonding may also cancel, postpone or change any aspects of the training program schedule after the start of the program if something unforeseen or out of our control happens. (E.g., we provide the virtual training program over Zoom, so if something happens to that technology platform, we may need to reschedule a portion of the training.)

Additional training days may need to be added to the schedule after the program begins. (For example, if we have 15 or more participants, we may need to add additional Live Evaluation days). If so, the participants will be consulted so dates will be chosen that everyone can attend. 

Staffing:  

Inner Bonding may substitute training staff of like kind and quality whenever necessary without obligation to enrolled participants. 

Dual Relationships 

If you have an existing direct professional relationship, particularly a supervisory or therapeutic one, with one of the trainers, assistants or participants, Inner Bonding advises that you speak with that person before the start of the IBFTP in order to respect the confidentiality of that dual relationship.  Different states, provinces, and other governmental jurisdictions have different policies regarding dual relationships for counselors, therapists, and other professionals for whom dual relationships may exist. Therefore, training participants and training staff members are expected to take responsibility for checking with their particular and applicable governing policies, and for adhering to the professional standards for dual relationships outlined therein. Participants in Inner Bonding training and training staff members are also expected to adhere to the governing policies of their professional disciplines regarding dual relationships.  Inner Bonding cannot be held liable for the existence of dual relationships in its training programs.  

Sexual Boundaries

Please be aware that due to the intimate, personal and vulnerable nature of the Inner Bonding Facilitator Training Program, feelings of attraction for another participant may arise during your time in the training program.  By signing this application, you agree that you will not take action on any romantic feelings towards another participant during the training program and for a minimum of six months after the training program has come to a completion. This standard of practice is put in place in order to safeguard you and your co-participant during the intense training time where feelings may become confusing, distorted or out of balance.

Although romantic relationships between participants and trainers are always discouraged, under no circumstances are sexual or romantic relationships between participants and staff to be cultivated during or within one year of the end of the training program, or while a participant is still a Facilitator-in-Training under the supervision of the trainer.  Any trainer who is encouraged in any way by a participant to engage in romantic or sexual intimacy during the program is required to kindly but firmly decline the advance and to direct the participant to another trainer for help in processing their feelings.  The trainer is required to hold strong boundaries and to not engage in dialogue with the participant about personal, romantic or sexual feelings or desires.  If a romantic or sexual relationship between a participant and trainer develops after the one year probationary period and the participant has become certified (or left the program), it is the obligation of that trainer to openly discuss the nature of the relationship with the lead trainers and Dr. Margaret Paul.  As a participant signing this document, you agree that if you should engage in a romantic or sexual relationship with a trainer from your program after you have become certified or left the program, that you will also discuss it openly with the lead trainers and Dr. Margaret Paul.  It is also recommended that the couple engage in couples counseling to address issues related to authority and power dynamics.  Because of the nature of the Inner Bonding Facilitator Training Program, where the concept of “never giving your power away to any authority figure” is given so much regard and where development of one’s own inner authority is cultivated to such an extent, we do not deny the right for peers or even a peer and a facilitator to eventually choose to be in relationship.  But, we ask for the above measures to be implemented in order to avoid the potential for harm.

Photographs/recording by Inner Bonding:

At times during the training program, photos or video/audio recordings may be taken of segments of the IBFTP to be used for training purposes and for marketing of the IBFTP on the Inner Bonding Website and for the individual trainers to use on their websites.  Video that is used for marketing purposes will be either 1) reviewed with participants who appear in the video clip to gain permission to post on the Inner Bonding Website and/or the trainer’s website, 2) recorded from a distance to protect participant identities and/or, 3) edited to protect participant identities.

The large group training sessions will be recorded and made available to the current group of IBFTP participants and trainers. Participants agree that these recordings will not be made available to anyone outside of this group. Recordings of supervised or unsupervised small group training (including triad or dyad facilitations, training exercises, and break out sessions) are not to be shared with anyone outside of the original small group of attendees present at the recorded meeting (with the exception of  IBFTP trainers). IBFTP trainers are permitted to view any training sessions, including ones at which they were not present.

Photographs/recording by Participants:

Participants may not make audio or visual recordings of any part of the IBFTP except for their practice triad and dyad facilitations, trainer feedback meetings, and Peer Support Group Meetings. Participants agree that their facilitation recordings will not be made available to the public or to anyone who did not participate in the recording or is not a trainer in this program. 

ADA (American Disabilities Act)

If you have special needs, please contact our Director of Training, Stel Fine at stel@innerbonding.com.

Nondiscrimination Policy

Inner Bonding admits participants and does not discriminate in its policies or programs on the basis of race, color, gender, gender expression, age, national and ethnic origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation.