Certified Resilience Trainer Program


The Global Resilience and Inner Transformation (GRIT) Institute is pleased to offer a Certified Resilience Trainer (CeRT) Program. The certification process trains individuals in the Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) model developed by Dr. Sood. 

You’ll complete two required courses to obtain the certification: 

Please read the following details to understand your path to becoming a GRIT Institute certified resilience trainer.

We offer two levels of certification: Certified Resilience Trainer (CeRT) and Certified Master Resilience Trainer (MCeRT)

desk.png

CERTIFIED RESILIENCE TRAINER (CeRT PROGRAM)

CeRT will help you achieve three goals:

  1. Acquire the necessary knowledge and skills of the science and art of stress resilience

  2. Develop and immerse yourself in a personal resilience practice that helps you live a life full of meaning and joy

  3. Learn and refine resilience teaching skills, and get certified in presenting the Stress Management and Resilience Training (SMART) program.

These three goals are accomplished with two programs offered as part of CeRT:

  • Transform:  2-day in-person

  • TSI (Trainer Skills Intensive): A 6-month guided long-distance training

2020 Dates:

The available six-months CeRT training dates for 2020 are:

July 17-18, 2020.

September 11-12, 2020.

Please contact us or Debbie Fuehrer (course manager) at fuehrer.debbie@gmail.com or leave a message at 507-282-9000.


Requirements for achieving CeRT status:  

      • Eligibility

        • Bachelor’s degree or higher

      • Curricular

        • Complete the Transform Program

        • Complete the Trainer Skills Intensive (TSI) 

        • Complete a minimum six hours of mentorship (in-person or telementoring) with a master certified resilience trainer (part of TSI)

      • Practicum

        • Conduct five SMART sessions

        • Have an established personal resilience practice

      • Evaluation

        • Submit evaluations from at least three sessions

        • Provide recommendation letters from two individuals or supervisors who have worked closely with the applicant

        • Score 80 percent or higher on knowledge and skills assessment written exam (multiple choice) 

        • Obtain a passing grade on a one-hour telephonic oral exam

      • Certificate:  Submit documentation of the completion of the above items with the application form and receive a Certified Resilience Trainer (CeRT) certificate from the GRIT Institute. Please email us to receive a copy of the application form.  

Privileges: 

      • Certified to teach the SMART sessions (four-module) to individuals or groups

        • Each module of the SMART program is approximately 30-45 minutes long 

      • Receive all the trainer resources 

      • Membership in the network of the GRIT Institute Certified Resilience Trainers

      • Participate in yearly retreat (optional)



FAQ for Certified Resilience Trainer program

Who will I be working with for my training?

You will be directly working with Dr. Sood for the entire training.

How long will it take for me to complete the Certified Resilience Trainer (CeRT) program? 

Most participants will take six months to complete. In some instances for students with considerable background training and experience, we offer an accelerated path that can be completed in three months.

What resources will I receive as a trainer? 

The GRIT Institute will provide the following resources to help certified trainers succeed in teaching the program: 

These books will be provided to you during the in-person session for no additional cost.

* The instructor guide outlines the basic content of the course.

Can I modify the SMART program to my preference after my training? 

We strongly suggest the trainers follow the structured four-module program. Each module of this program is approximately 30 to 45-minutes long. Within that construct, we will work with you individually to customize the program to your background and needs.  The customization process will include integrating your stories and metaphors in the program, and adapting the program to your audience.

What can I claim as a certified trainer?

A certified resilience trainer has acquired the necessary knowledge and skills to teach the four modules of the SMART program and any additional curricula approved by The GRIT Institute to be taught by resilience trainers. Upon issuance of the trainer certificate, you can represent yourself as an approved trainer of the SMART program per The GRIT Institute. You will be included in the list of the GRIT Institute network of certified resilience trainers at the website resiliencetrainer.com.

Please note that this certification does not provide you with the credentials to teach SMART or another resilience program in clinical (medical or psychiatric) setting to patients for improving mental health or other medical conditions. This certification is for providing SMART training to enhance general wellbeing and resilience. 

Who participates in the CeRT Program?

The training is not limited to a particular professional group. The most common professionals who have previously participated in the program are: psychologists, social workers, wellness coaches, health care providers, managers/directors of wellness and resilience programs, HR personnel, personal trainers, corporate executives, student leaders, K-12 educators, higher education. The GRIT Institute welcomes these and other groups to pursue resilience training.

What are the core competencies of the certified trainers? 

The core competencies of the certified trainers cover your skills in delivering high quality content and your commitment to lead a good virtuous life. The five core competencies are:   

  • Passion – A drive to make a positive contribution to the world

  • Excellence – A desire to excel in the chosen work

  • Authenticity – A coherence in thoughts, words and actions

  • Compassion – A disposition of kindness toward others and self

  • Ethics – A commitment to live with the highest morals

In addition, your ability to engage and inspire individuals and group in a participatory program, will be important to successfully teaching the SMART program. 

How do individuals use their training? 

The GRIT Institute certified trainers teach SMART program in a variety of settings to adults, both as individuals and groups. Some of the common settings include corporate, schools, universities, hospitals, clinics, individual coaching, government entities, and others. 

How long is the certification valid? How can I maintain my certification?  

The initial certification is valid for two years. Individuals can renew their certification for two years by participating in a yearly retreat/course offered by The GRIT Institute, along with teaching the SMART program at least 10 times in the two years. 

I completed the Transform or AIT (Attention and Interpretation Therapy) course few years ago and am already teaching the SMART program. Can I continue to teach the program without additional training? 

You can continue to teach the program based on your current training and credentials but would not be able to represent yourself as a Certified Resilience Trainer. 

Do I receive Continuing Ed Unit credits for participation? 

Since we have a wide variety of participants from different fields, we haven’t applied for the education credits. We typically provide the number of training hours along with the curriculum of the course and encourage individual participants to obtain credits from their respective organizations. 

What are some personal benefits of becoming a certified resilience trainer?

The following are some of the personal benefits previous participants and trainers have reported as a result of participating in the resilience programs: 

  • Improved personal resilience

  • Decreased stress

  • Improved wellbeing

  • Lower anxiety

  • Enhanced mindfulness

  • Increased happiness

  • Better health behaviors

  • Improved relationships

  • Greater clarity 

  • Improved physical health

  • Weight loss

  • Enhanced sense of self-worth

  • Better focus

  • Greater career success

  • Deeper spirituality

Also, you will become part of a community of members who are committed to living a life guided by higher principles. 

What will I learn during my training?

Please look at the description of the Transform course for details.

A brief description of the Trainer Skills Intensive is summarized near the end of this webpage. We will provide you more details after your registration.  

What are the cancellation policies? 

The student can cancel their participation at any time. The following is the reimbursement schedule on cancellation: Up to two-weeks prior to start of the course - 100% refund; Within two-weeks prior to the start of the course - 50% refund; After the start of the course - 25% refund.

The GRIT Institute reserves the right to cancel student’s participation for disruptive behavior. If The GRIT Institute cancels a student’s participation after the start of the TSI course, then 50% of the tuition will be refunded.

How do I license the program? 

Upon receiving the Certified Resilience Trainer certificate, you will be able to license the SMART program.

No additional licensing fee will be charged for the first two years to the individuals. After the first two years, a $500/year licensing fee will be charged for maintaining the license. A small revenue share is part of the licensing for individuals teaching the program for profit. 

If you are an employee of an organization, this license covers training up to one hundred employees. Please email us if you are an organization or a company, or wish to provide training within an organization, company, or any entity with more than one hundred employees, for details about an organizational license. 

What are the expectations of Certified Resilience Trainers?

  • Contribute toward improving the wellbeing of their community

  • Live by the principles of gratitude, compassion, acceptance, meaning, and forgiveness 

  • Never misuse their position of power and respect

  • Treat their students with courtesy, professionalism, and grace

  • Follow the law of the land

I wish to just take the Transform course without going through the full certification process. Is that feasible?

Yes it is. A third of the Transform course participants take the course for their personal resilience and wellbeing and do not wish to progress to CeRT status.

What is the GRIT Institute?

The GRIT Institute’s purpose is to help create a stronger, kinder, and happier world. The initial activity of the GRIT Institute will be to support the training of individuals who wish to become certified resilience trainers. The GRIT Institute will expand its work and collaboration in the coming years depending on its resources and the felt societal needs.

CERTIFIED MASTER RESILIENCE TRAINER (MCeRT)

Prerequisites:  

    • Complete CeRT program

    • Be invited to apply for MCeRT

Requirements: 

      • Practicum

        • Conducted over 100 resilience sessions (individual or group) with excellent reviews and taught resilience for more than three years (this requirement is flexible for exceptionally experienced trainers) 

        • Have an established personal resilience practice 

      • Evaluation

        • Score 80 percent or higher on knowledge and skills assessment written exam 

        • Oral Exam – one hour, by phone 

        • Submit a one-page essay of how you have applied resilience in your life

        • Submit a one-page essay on how SMART and Transform programs can be improved

      • Certificate:  Submit documentation of the completion of the above four items with the application form to receive a Certified Master Resilience Trainer certificate from the GRIT Institute

Privileges: 

      • Certified to teach SMART sessions to individuals or groups 

        • As a Master Resilience Trainer you will be eligible to teach longer versions of the SMART program (half and full day)

      • Receive all the GRIT Institute trainer resources  

      • Participate, in collaboration with the GRIT Institute, in conducting Trainer Skills Intensive 

      • Mentor Resilience Qualified and Certified Resilience Trainers

      • A proportion of Certified Master Resilience Trainers will be invited to participate in, and eventually, teach the Transform course



Program Costs

The following is the fee for the individuals. Please contact us if you are an organization interested in bringing SMART to your institution.

Certified resilience trainer

Below is the breakdown of the costs associated with the CeRT Program.

Transform Course: $1500

Transform course fee covers the following:

Trainer Skills Intensive (TSI): $1500

TSI fee includes the following

  • Six-month Trainer Skills Intensive (TSI) program. TSI is managed long-distance and hence no travel is involved. 

  • Nine+ hours of direct contact and mentorship with a GRIT Institute certified master resilience trainer.

  • Knowledge and skills assessment test

  • Oral exam

  • Review of recommendation letters

  • Application processing

  • Issuance of certificate

  • Participant Resources:

Two Years of Licensing: $0

We do not charge licensing fee for the first two years to the individuals. Please contact us for setting up a licensing arrangement if you are an organization or an individual who will be teaching the program at an organization.

Total cost of CeRT for individuals = Transform $1500 + TSI $1500 + Licensing $0 = $3000

  • Cancellation policy: Up to two-weeks prior to start of the Transform/TSI course - 100% refund; Within two-weeks prior to the start of the Transform/TSI course - 50% refund; After the start of the Transform/TSI course - 25% refund.

The GRIT Institute’s mission is to disseminate the resilience skills globally and wishes not to limit the training based on an individual or organization’s ability to pay. In most of our courses we feel blessed in welcoming a proportion of students on scholarship. If you or your organization is financially constrained, please submit your request for a scholarship with a statement supporting your request. We will do our very best to honor each request.

Program Summaries

The following is a summary of the Transform, Trainer Skills Intensive (TSI), and the SMART program.  

Transform

  • What is Transform? 

    • Two-day training that shares the science and art of stress, resilience, mindfulness, and wellbeing

  • Who teaches Transform? 

    • Dr. Amit Sood

  • Who participates in Transform? 

    • Individuals enrolled in Certified Resilience Trainer course who are interested in teaching SMART. In addition, individuals interested in in-depth understanding of stress, resilience, mindfulness, and wellbeing, but not particularly inclined to teach these concepts, also participate in Transform 

  • How long is Transform? 

    • Two days

Trainer skills intensive (TSI) 

  • What is TSI? 

    • TSI helps students enrolled in certified resilience trainers program deepen their resilience knowledge and practice, and learn and refine skills in teaching SMART

  • Who teaches TSI? 

    • Certified Master Resilience Trainers

  • Who participates in TSI? 

    • Individuals interested in teaching SMART 

  • How long is TSI? 

    • Six months

  • What is the structure and content of TSI? 

    • The TSI program is divided into six modules. The modules are designed to help you with the following:

      • Master the SMART content

      • Become well-versed with the SMART presentation

      • Discover and integrate your personal stories and metaphors

      • Hone your presentation style

      • Implement positive personal change/s

      • Explore your personal meaning

      • Cultivate a daily gratitude and kindness habit 

    • You will spend at least six hours of direct contact by phone or in person with one or more of the certified master resilience trainers.

Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) 

  • What is SMART? 

    • SMART is the four-module stress management and resiliency program offered by certified trainers to individuals and groups. 

  • Who teaches SMART? 

    • Certified Resilience Trainers and Certified Master Resilience Trainers

  • Who participates in SMART? 

    • Anyone interested in learning stress management and resilience concepts and practices

  • How long is the SMART Program? 

    • Each module of the four-module SMART program is taught in two versions: 30 and 60 minutes long. The four-module program thus has two versions:

      • SMART (light) is two hours long

      • SMART (full) is four hours (half a day) long

        Please contact us if you have any additional questions or comments about the Certified Resilience Trainer Program. We are grateful for your interest.