Education
Validation Training Course Menu
Starters
Non-certification training that vary from a few hours to a few days; these can be tailored to your specific needs. For presentation and workshop availability contact a Certified Validation Teacher in your area. The following basic courses integrate a person-centered approach and give basic skills to improve communication with older adults with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. They range from 2-6 days depending on the teacher or AVO offering this training.
Beginning Validation
This exclusive VTI online course is great for on-the-job training. The 17 lessons can be completed at your leisure. It includes videos, text with narration, interactive quizzes and ends with a completion certificate.
This online training will give you a good foundation in the theory of Validation and descriptions of Validation techniques. It will not teach you everything about Validation, but will give you enough to open up a whole new way of being with disoriented older adults. After you have completed Beginning Validation, we encourage you to participate in a Validation Worker course.
If you are interested in purchasing this course for your students, colleagues or staff, you can purchase 5 for the price of 4 = $100 or 10 for the price of 8 = $200.
Please email for more information.
The Skill Building Blocks
6 online, on-demand training blocks that deliver basic Validation techniques that help you better communicate with aging parents and older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. In just 30 minutes you will learn an important communication skill. Each block has three parts which you can complete at your own pace.
- Lesson 1 describes the skill and shows you why it is important to learn.
- Lesson 2 is an exercise that helps you practice the skill.
- Lesson 3 shows you the skill in practice and gives specific suggestions on how you can embed it into your life.
Learn how to clear yourself of thoughts and feelings that get in the way of making contact with others. This skill is useful for everyone and in every situation, whether you want a better relationship with your aging parents or are communicating with older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Finding moments of peace, gathering your energy and clearing yourself of other people’s emotions are just some of the benefits of learning how to center.
Learn how to exquisitely observe others, picking up the clues and taking their emotional temperature. You can then take the next step to finding empathy by matching or calibrating yourself to what you observe. This connection builds a solid base for honest communication, especially for people who want better relationships with their parents or professional caregivers who want to have a better relationship with the older adults they care for.
Learn to recognize and modulate your voice tone. Whether you are communicating with your aging parents, caring for an older adult living with a dementia at home or in a senior living community, it is important to use this skill in order to improve your communication with that person. By using an adult-to-adult voice tone, you give respect to the other person and build a trusting relationship.
Learn how to make respectful eye contact. While this may seem simple, what you learn in this block will help you reduce angry responses that an older parent or person living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia may have and help build trust and increase communication with that person in ways you can’t imagine.
Learn how important it is to find the right distance from another person and how to sense this. Getting too close, especially when communicating with an older adult living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, can create anger or fear. Staying too far away can block good communication. Find that ‘just right’ spot and communication can flow easily.
Learn a simple but powerful tool for good communication when relating to aging parents or caring for an older adult living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Recognize the difference between your needs and those of the other person. By exploring the needs and feelings of the other, you create a bond, a trusting relationship. This is the foundation of open communication.
Family Caregiver Course
Time to change the way you interact, communicate, and maintain a loving relationship with a person living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias? The Family Caregiver Course is a unique online course that provides family caregivers with new ideas, practical skills and techniques. Learn to use your eyes, your voice and your posture to connect. Find new ways to resolve difficult situations with love. Learn verbal and non-verbal techniques that help you interact. Practice and anchor these skills in your daily life. Find more joy.
Quality training and all online!
This training is delivered by a certified Validation Teacher with experience in online learning.
– 2019 Family Caregiver Course Participant
Validation for Medical Professionals
This training in the Validation method is focused on the needs of physicians and all medical professionals. It was developed with two physicians and an expert in online education and pedagogy. It’s proven to be an effective way to build new insights and skills that will make your work more fulfilling every day.
Why you should take this course:
- Reach better patient outcomes
- Practice concrete tools that enhance communication with older adults living with cognitive decline
- Feel more connection with the patient
- Have concrete tools that help communication
- Work more effectively with this population
- Gain more satisfaction
Registration cost: $200. There is a 50% refund for participants who complete all elements of the course, pre- and post-surveys, plus take part in a post training focus group.
Practical Validation Training
For people who want to communicate better with older adults living with dementia.
Learn how to use empathy and Validation techniques to enter the world of the disoriented very old person.
- Learn through practice, specific Validation techniques to communicate
- Understand the various reasons for 'behavioral expressions'
- Experience the process of empathy
- Connect quickly and easily to establish positive relationships
This training is delivered by a certified Validation Teacher with experience in online learning.
Validation Memory Care
The National Certification Council of Activity Professionals has partnered with the Validation Training Institute to create a curriculum for caregiving professionals across all care settings.
Validation Memory Care is designed as a thorough introduction in caring, interacting and communicating with those living with dementia. This interactive course is delivered over 11 weeks and includes live webinars, course work and practice with certified NCCAP and Validation Instructors.
At the end of this course, you will possess the knowledge and skills to communicate and be genuinely present with older adults experiencing age-related cognitive decline. You will learn practical ways to work that help reduce stress, enhance the dignity and increase happiness in yourself and those you serve.
Mains
Certification training combines hands-on practice with class training, creating a thorough yet flexible communication tool for caregiving.
Internet Supported Worker Course
This 40 week certification course combines online learning, practical work with older adults and in-person intensive training. It is a perfect solution for people interested in being trained as a Validation Worker but do not live close to a training center. Instead of 5 in-person meetings, this course meets in-person only two times and the rest of the training is online.
Course Format
- Participants can expect to spend 1- 2 hours each week for 40 weeks.
- Participation in all webinars and the in-person training sessions is required.
- Information is offered in short videos which can be watched at your leisure.
- Short homework assignments anchor the learning
- Webinars are scheduled video conferences with the entire class and teacher. These are twice monthly meetings that deepen the knowledge, answer questions and start developing Validation skills.
- Two 2-day, in-person training sessions are filled with exercises to integrate Validation techniques into your backpack of skills to use in your daily life.
- Location of the in-person sessions is regional and dependent on our local partner organization.
- There is a minimum requirement of 26 weeks of practicing your Validation skills with older adults in each phase: malorientation, time confusion, repetitive motion and vegetation. You can combine your Validation practice with your everyday work environment.
- You get feedback and supervision on your continuing development of skills by uploading videos of your practice with older adults.
- Certification requirements include documentation of your practical work, a written Case Study and a videotaped demonstration of your practical skills.
Modular Learning Curriculum
Course Format
There are four modules. Each 2-day module is self-contained, meaning participants gain new skills with each module and could possibly stop after each one. If participants complete all modules successfully , they are eligible for level 1 Worker certification.- Module 1: participants develop an empathetic, person-centered basic attitude by integrating the Validation principles; they can explore the world of each client and feel more competent communicating.
- Module 2: participants will deeply anchor an empathetic approach and competently use at least 4 Validation techniques .
- Module 3: participants will integrate all the techniques used with verbal clients
- Module 4: participants will integrate techniques used with non-verbal clients and continue weekly Validation practice leading to certification.
- After the 4th Module, participants may choose to take the written and practical tests for Level 1 certification.
Course Benefits
Care Communities build a ‘person-centered’ culture where residents feel respected and at home while staff take greater joy in their work. Caregivers feel more competent to handle difficult situations, express more fulfillment at work, demonstrate a basic, empathetic attitude and have the skills to communicate both verbally and non-verbally with older adults. Older Adults with Alzheimer-type dementia communicate more, feel accepted and so express less anxiety and stress; there is less need for psychopharmacologic and sedative medication.Certification Courses Offered by AVOs
Level 1 Validation Worker
Courses consist of five, 2-day blocks of training (10 days) spaced over 9 months. Participants practice their Validation skills for a total of 26 weeks with older adults in all four phases of resolution in between lesson blocks.
Level 2 Validation Group Leader
Courses consist of three, 2-day blocks of training (6 days) spaced over 6-9 months. Level I certification is a prerequisite for this course. Participants practice their Group Validation skills in between lesson blocks for a total of 26 weeks. Supervision days are organized between each lesson block.
Level 3 Validation Teacher
Courses consist of two blocks of training. 3 days + 2 days. Level I and Level II certification are prerequisites for this course. Each participant creates his or her own personalized program for development of needed skills with the guidance from the course teacher. This course ends with a Presenter certificate. Presenters offer workshops, presentations, basic courses and supervision.
Level 4 Validation Teacher
Co-training a Level 1 course with an experienced teacher is required to deepen the special pedagogic skills necessary for teaching Validation and put theoretical knowledge into practice. The Validation Teacher certificate is awarded at the successful conclusion of the co-training.
Level 5 Validation Master
Certification is applied for after at least 3 years of teaching experience of all certification levels, mentoring by a current Master and making a significant contribution to the development of Validation theory and practice. These role models form the VTI Education Committee and guide the future development of the Validation method.
Desserts
Post-training, ongoing support, we help you to make the most of what you’ve learned and connect you to the Validation peer network.
How to Teach Validation Online
How to Teach Validation Online for Validation Presenters and Teachers
Learn from experts in online teaching and an experienced Validation Teacher:
- What can be done effectively online and what can’t?
- Learn how to create a „community of inquiry“
The maximum number of participants is 25
Coaching for Online Presenters & Teachers
Want to gain more confidence in your online teaching skills? Develop skill in using various online tools and platforms in a personal way with either one on one or small (2 person) classes.
The goal of tutoring is to deepen skills and confidence in Zoom and Google suite.
The goal of coaching sessions is to translate specific Validation exercises to online courses and presentations.
Tutoring and coaching is offered by experienced Validation Teachers with strong online skills.
Online Support
VTI offers three online Support Groups:
- Talk & Techniques: for people who have attended a Validation workshop, read a one of Naomi’s books or taken the online “Beginning Validation” course. These lively discussions are led by a certified Presenter or Teacher.
- „Teacher“ Meetings: for Certified Presenters, Teachers and Masters. There are opportunities for continuing education, skill-building, marketing strategies and networking.
- AVO Meetings: for Authorized Validation Organizations. These meetings explore problems, exchange solutions and offer opportunities to connect with AVOs around the world.
There’s support for everyone in our community.
Continuing Education
Continuing Education days on specific themes for certified individuals is offered by Authorized Validation Organizations. This is an ideal way to maintain your quality and sharpen your skills.
Validation Certificate of Quality
Online Supervision
VTI offers two monthly online meetings for support, encouragement and networking. Certified Validation Presenters or Teachers lead the lively discussion. Sometimes Naomi Feil makes a guest appearance!
Continuing Education
Continuing Education days on specific themes for certified individuals is offered by Authorized Validation Organizations. This is an ideal way to maintain your quality and sharpen your skills.
Validation Certificate of Quality
Available to care communities that wish to become known as “Validation homes”. This is an ideal way to integrate a person-centered environment from top management to housekeeping. Contact Vicki de Klerk for more information.