Thank you for your interest in Story Emotion Social Therapy, the SEST Approach. To use, and advertise that you use, the SEST Approach within your practice, you first need to participate in SEST Training. Why? The approach itself is different from tradition therapeutic models. It requires a therapist to “shift their mindset” from being results oriented to offering child-oriented and child-focused therapy. It requires therapists to first practice the fundamentals and exercises on themselves (the ME-First fundamental principle) before using them with children. These are just two ways SEST is different, and training is required to maintain fidelity within the approach and how it is used by SLPs and mental health professionals.
If you are unfamiliar with the SEST Approach, please take some time to explore it further on this website. The SEST Approach Tab gives you important information on the foundations and fundamentals of it. Listen to a few interviews in the Articles and News tab to hear Dr. Lieberman describe the approach herself. Purchase and read the book, SEST Fundamentals Story Emotion Social Therapy/WholeStory Therapist Guide and Principle Curriculum. (There are even free videos that accompany each SEST exercise you’ll be using from the book!).
SEST Training is offered on two levels, that are taken in sequence.
Principal Training teaches how to use the SEST Approach and its materials with neurotypical children or adults. This level of training assumes the child has at least emerging abilities in perspective taking and can learn through a language-based approach. It is geared to helping a child who has weak social communication and/or interpersonal skills, weak group dynamic skills, is shy or steers away from interpersonal involvement. Upon completion, participants receive a Certificate of Training Level 1, which entitles them to use SEST within their practice with neurotypical children. Upon completion of this Principal level of training, the therapist will be listed on the WholeStory website as a SEST Approved Practitioner, Level 1 – Neurotypical Children.
Advanced Training teachings and exercises are designed to help individuals who need more resounding social emotional support. These individuals may be diagnosed with SCD (social communication disorder), ASD Level 1 (autism spectrum disorder), with anxiety/social anxiety, or with no diagnostic label but who still noticeably struggle with social emotional understanding, learning, and integration. Advanced Training also teaches therapists how to work more holistically with parents/caregivers, prompting them to develop their own stronger listening and communication abilities so that the SEST fundamentals and exercises are widely used outside the therapy room and become meaningful to them and their family. Completion of this second level of training results in the therapist being listed on the WholeStory website as a SEST Certified Practitioner.
Principal Training Requirements, Fees, and Schedule
Requirements for attending Principal Training
You are a practicing SLP with at least 18 months of clinical practice in 1:1 settings with clients (either private practice or school based work) and you are familiar with the basic tenets of CBT (cognitive behavior therapy). You agree to read and study the SEST Fundamentals textbook, complete the self-paced Principal Training video modules, and then schedule/participate in individual or small group face to-face sessions with Dr. Lieberman to complete the program.
Total SEST Principal Training program fee: $1650. This includes:
Payment
Payment 1: A nonrefundable deposit of $300 is due at the time you are accepted for training. Payment is due within five days of the acceptance email date.
Payment 2: $1350. This final payment is due prior to the start of the face-to-face training session; you will be notified via email of the training schedule and the pay-by date. This fee covers the textbook*, online access to the video training modules and the face-to-face training sessions with Dr. Lieberman. Your program space will be filled by someone else on the SEST Principal Training waiting list if your payment is not received by the required date.
Upon successful completion of SEST Principal Training, a certificate is awarded and permission is granted to apply for Advanced Training, to be eventually awarded a SEST Certified Practitioner credential so the therapist can use the SEST Approach with both neurotypical children and those with diagnosed and/or more significant social emotional learning challenges.
* If you purchased a copy of the SEST Fundamentals textbook before applying for SEST Principal Training, a $70 credit will be applied toward Payment 2.
Schedule
The SEST Principal Training session for October 2024 is already underway and therefore closed to new participants. New training sessions will be listed here as they become available. Email office@wholestoryspeech.com to be added to a Contact Me list when new dates are announced.
