GET CERTIFIED:
The run walk talk®
LEVEL 1 PRACTITIONER training

The application for the Run Walk Talk® Practitioner Certification program for Cohort 3 is NOW OPEN to psychotherapists, social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, counselors, coaches, and other helping professionals. Cohort 3 starts their learning in September 2024.

If you’ve wanted to learn how to incorporate running and walking into your psychotherapy, coaching, or healing practice safely, ethically, and effectively, you are invited to apply here now.

Read more below for what you’ll get in this training, the course schedule and investment, and what other practitioners had to say.

ABOUT THIS TRAINING:
WHAT you can expect

This is a dynamic, thoughtful, no-fluff 8-week training program for practitioners who are as serious about self-work as they are about helping others heal and grow. Applicants who are accepted to the program will receive:

  • Six weeks of recorded lessons (9 hours total) that are released weekly for home study, PLUS eight weekly, 1-hour discussion groups with real-time instruction, Q&A, and case examples, for 17 total hours of course time

  • One year of mentorship and community included with Run Walk Talk’s founder and other Certified Run Walk Talk® Practitioners, via monthly group consultation meetings (an hour a month for 12 hours total, starting in 2025, dates TBA)

  • Informed consent documentation specific to a running/walking practice, including a liability waiver, ready to be adapted by you to your practice and reviewed by your attorney, as well as all the course presentations for your private use and future reference for up to a year after the course ends

  • High-impact, practical homework assignments (including movement assignments and writing assignments, totaling about 1-2 hours a week) that will help you get started with Run Walk Talk® right away and get you to deep-dive into YOUR movement practice and movement story so you can make sure you are practicing in a self-aware, mindful way

  • Promotion for your practice on Run Walk Talk® social channels and inclusion in the Run Walk Talk® Practitioner Directory through the end of 2025

  • Upon successful completion of the course, you’ll be able to call yourself a Certified Run Walk Talk® Practitioner

  • The ability to use the Run Walk Talk® trademark in your offerings through the end of 2025, and the opportunity to continue using the trademark and participating in group consultation with a small annual fee ($100USD).

Your cohort 3 SCHEDULE

We’ll meet for 8 weeks, and you’ll also be invited to the Run Walk Talk® group consult call that meets every month in 2025 to help you connect to the Run Walk Talk® Practitioner community, get your client work off the ground, and keep learning (participation in group consult is not required for your initial certification; group consult dates and times for 2025 are TBD). Students who miss a call during the 8-week course will have an opportunity to review a recording of the call and to write a brief reflection paper so they don’t miss out on the learning and can still get certified.

All calls will be held at 9am Pacific Time for 60 minutes. The dates of the calls are:

  • September 20, 2024

  • September 27, 2024

  • October 4, 2024

  • October 11, 2024

  • October 18, 2024

  • October 25, 2024

  • November 1, 2024

  • November 8, 2024

Certificates are awarded by mid-November to course participants who engage meaningfully in the course (attending calls and completing assignments), pass the course exam, and pay their fees in full.

YOUR Investment

In addition to the investment of your presence, time, and effort in learning the material, the participant fee is $1195 USD for professionals/non-students and $895 USD for part-time and full-time students of mental health programs who are enrolled in an accredited university/college, if paid in full by September 1.

For participants who would benefit from an installment plan, course fees may also be paid in three installments of $433 for professionals/non-students and $333 for students (installments are due September 1, October 1, and November 1).

THE TESTIMONIALS

Not sure if this training is right for you? Here are some things Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 had to say about the course:

I loved the instruction style - the content of each week was really engaging and relevant. I liked the homework assignments which challenged me but were very accessible. And I enjoyed being in community with other practitioners who are also interested in integrating movement into practice.

I loved everything about it. The content, presentation, the style of presenting, the homework were all excellent, but most importantly for me, I had easy access to the recordings and notes to use when I couldn't make it to a live class.

Great content, Sepideh’s energy and genuineness added to the presentation, writing assignments, exam.

This course definitely exceeded my expectations, especially with the resources that Sepideh offered (intake forms, PowerPoint, articles, how to talk to reporters, etc.). She is very engaging in the training sessions and makes the information easily to comprehend. She is also very authentic and supportive, and I appreciate her genuine interest in seeing the clinicians grow using the Run Walk Talk method. The homework was a great way to further understand my own movement practice and opened up my awareness of play and movement, especially using the matrix.

I walked away from each session excited, feeling like I learned something new that will be helpful as I begin to launch Run Walk Talk in my practice.

A clear outline on how to merge movement with body-based therapy.

I've described it as an incredible source of information but a wonderful process of self reflection around movement as well.

The course is a great balance of teaching the logistics of what is necessary to start a practice based on Run Walk Talk, as well as creating space to explore your own identity as a Run Walk Talk practitioner/clinician.

A practical and engaging introduction to Run Walk Talk that allows for collaboration with like-minded clinicians.

An awesome opportunity to expand your skills and integrate movement into your practice

This course not only brings a better understanding of movement and play, but also opens up creativity for how therapy can be provided. It is thorough and well-organized, covering ways on applying the method as well as providing support on the business side of things (ie: intake forms, publicity/talking to reporters, etc).

A beautifully blended focus on the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional aspects of movement therapy. I appreciated the application of theory and research and how Sep made it all come to life by sharing (while protecting confidentiality) her experiences with Run Walk Talk clients.

I especially appreciated the DEPTH of the content. I knew I would learn a lot, I just didn't realize how deep and meaningful the modality would reach. I also appreciated Sepideh's vulnerability in her own homework, as well as in how she led the course each week. The homework was meaningful as well, as it helped me to dig into my own interaction and story of movement, which I think is critical to do before trying to support others in this way. I also really appreciated the opportunity to connect with other clinicians and I feel like the ongoing consultation and community will be extremely valuable.

Really engaging and practice-based presentation by the instructor and good facilitation of discussion with the other participants. I enjoyed the exchanges with the other practitioners and hearing their insights based on their different backgrounds and experiences.

Sepi was so flexible, organized, thorough and on it! We learned what we needed to and there was a lot of thought put into how that happened

I appreciate the information provided and discussion encouraged between peers. I particularly enjoyed the depth to which various lenses/frameworks were discussed in relation to the Run Walk Talk philosophy and practice. I also loved that you included a plethora of resources each week to further our knowledge and curiosity. I have read several already and look forward to reading the rest. The homework assignments encouraged self-reflection and a deeper understanding of why we move. This is something I think about often as part of continued self-growth, but I have never put it in writing. I love that I have a "story" to share.

Expand your practice to help prevent your own burnout and to bring enriching work to your clientele; feel confident in doing something different and worthwhile! The course will help you to connect with your own movement and encourage you to think about other ways of accessing mental health care. It's worth taking the time to do the course so you can learn the ins and outs of this work and to connect with other like-minded clinicians.

I have weekly supervision and these past several weeks have spent much of my time talking about what I have been learning in the training. I think the one thing that stands out to me in my communication is explaining the depth of the modality and that it's not "just" running or walking with a client, but that it's utilizing movement to actually facilitate change, growth, and healing, as well as why/how movement facilitates that.

I have researched and been involved in mental health and movement for years. This training is high quality and Sepideh builds on the existing research with her experience in the field. This education is valuable.

This course is not your typical CEU course and it is well worth it if you are interested in expanding the way you work with clients and need to feel more confident in doing so. Sep is a leader in this niche line of work and you will feel supported by her throughout the course and after you complete it!

This is a wonderful introduction to the practice of Run Walk Talk therapy. I thoroughly enjoyed the presentations and the dynamic exchanges with the other participants. I feel as though the experience has been thought-provoking and it has definitely given me a number of useful tools to take into my own work as well as a network of fellow practitioners who I can call on for support and advice. Highly recommended!

I am thrilled to be certified as a Run Walk Talk practitioner. The information Sep included in the course presentations and the discussions encouraged between colleagues was in depth and incredibly valuable. I particularly enjoyed the various lenses/frameworks discussed in relation to the Run Walk Talk philosophy and practice. I was hesitant to register for the course because I am not a licensed clinician. I have a masters in counseling and I am a practicing mindset coach. I am so happy I took the leap! The Run Walk Talk course has furthered my interest in the integration of movement and mental wellbeing. Thank you, Sep!

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FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

  • What’s Run Walk Talk®? Run Walk Talk® is a trademarked method of psychotherapy and coaching that combines mindful running and walking with talking to help people move their lives forward. Developed by Sepideh Saremi, LCSW, Run Walk Talk® has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Fast Company, Runner’s World, and many other outlets as an innovative way to get therapy.

  • What’s the Certification? The Run Walk Talk® Level 1 Practitioner Certification provides the foundation and tools you need to integrate running and walking into your practice, and to do it safely, ethically, and effectively. This online course is a mix of recorded material and live instruction conducted by the founder of Run Walk Talk®.

  • Who’s the Certification for? This training and certification is for therapists in every stage of their journey (licensed, pre-licensed, and students), as well as formally trained coaches and other helping professionals who help clients with behavior/life/business success. You do NOT have to be an experienced athlete or a competitive runner to become a Certified Run Walk Talk® Practitioner - you do need to have some prior training and experience in working with people, which is evaluated on a case-by-case basis to assure the training will be a good fit for the participants and maintain the integrity of the Run Walk Talk® method.

  • How will the Certification help me? You will be trained in the Run Walk Talk® method and become familiar with its philosophy and the research that informs it. You will learn how to integrate running and walking into your practice, how to do it safely for yourself and your clients, and when it is and isn’t appropriate. You’ll learn how to think about running and walking in a deep, clinical way. You’ll learn how to talk about Run Walk Talk® and your practice, and learn best practices in managing yourself and your practice as a Run Walk Talk® Practitioner. You’ll also get placement on the Run Walk Talk® Certified Practitioner Directory on runwalktalk.com, providing visibility for your practice as well as ongoing support from your peers and from Sepideh, the founder of Run Walk Talk®, in monthly group consultation (included for one year with your course fee, and available on an ongoing basis for a nominal annual fee).

  • Are CEUs available? Run Walk Talk® is not a continuing education provider at the present time and fees have been set to reflect this. We hope to provide CEUs in the future; please sign up for our email newsletter to be informed when CEU courses are available.