For Organizations
What is the ITC?
Our Invitation to Change Approach® (ITC) challenges these ineffective and stigmatizing messages by bringing evidence-based principles and practices, including kindness, together in a way that lay people (family, friends, first responders, educators, faith-based leaders) and health professionals of all kinds (nurses, doctors, therapists and recovery coaches) can use in their efforts to help a person struggling with substance use or other problematic behaviors. The model includes key elements of CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training), MI (Motivational Interviewing), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and self-compassion in a framework that is user-friendly, jargon-free, and ready to be used by anyone in a helping role.
In an ITC Training you will learn evidence-based ways to understand the motivations behind substance use and other compulsive behaviors, along with motivational strategies that improve communication and promote change. We will give you resources to share with friends and families that emphasize the idea that people can take care of themselves while simultaneously staying engaged and practicing active strategies to help their struggling loved one. The ITC will help you bring science, kindness, and compassion to everyone involved in the change process, including yourself!
What is an ITC Training Like?
ITC Trainings are typically 16-hour workshops (virtual and in-person) that take place over 2 full days (typically Friday and Saturday) or several weeks.* We use discussion, videos, role plays and experiential exercises to help you learn and practice the ITC so that you can effectively bring it into your work.
*We can customize the training time blocks to meet the needs of your organization. You can attend an additional 12 training hours spread over the following weeks (typically 2 hours a week) to earn ITC Certification and learn specific strategies for starting ITC groups in your practice or community (more info below).
How can I arrange a training for my organization?
The first step is to reach out to us through our contact form and we will schedule a phone or zoom call with you where we can discuss your organization’s needs and capacity. Then we will send you a proposal which outlines the costs associated with a workshop. As a non-profit, we are dedicated to pricing our trainings so that they can do the most good, balancing what we need to support our operations with what your organization can afford. If you are unsure, we encourage you to reach out, we do our best to accommodate most requests–especially when there is a great need in the community.
At the moment, the majority of our trainings are virtual due to COVID-19 but we are happy to discuss in person training opportunities.
How can my staff benefit from ITC Training?
If you are looking to train a small number of professionals, it will likely make the most financial sense to send your group to one of our quarterly professional trainings. However, if you are hoping to train a larger number of staff members (at least more than 15), organizing a co-sponsored training with us may be a better option.
We know how hard recovery professionals work for their clients, and what a deep well of care—and often, personal experience—their work comes from. We want to help you make the most of your work, honoring the insights you have from your experience and years in the field while also directing you toward an approach that can help you and the individuals or families you work with see more positive and lasting change.
Groups and Certification
We offer ITC Certification to those who complete 12 additional training hours, composed of two additional 4-hour trainings and a few weeks of support sessions with CMC:FFC trainers. You can offer your staff the opportunity to get certified in ITC by adding the protocol to your training package.
ITC Certification indicates a level of expertise in the approach and qualifies you to run ITC support groups. For more information on this offering, visit the Certification page.