Upcoming In-Person Training Schedule
Thinking for a Change Facilitator's Training
5-Days (32 Hours)
If you are an organization interested in bringing the Thinking for a Change Facilitator's Training to your site, begin planning by contacting Angela Dash at adash@thepaceinstitute.com.
Upcoming Training Details
Training Venue: Our service center, located in the Atlanta area, is more than a venue—it's an urban oasis where professionals come to grow, transform, and connect. The Pace Center of Morrow is located at 5894 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, Georgia 30260 (10 miles from the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International airport) - inside of the Morrow Plaza.
Cost: Individual registration is $1,500. Meals and travel are the responsibility of each registrant.
Training Schedule. The training schedule is below. If traveling by air, you are recommended not to book a flight out of Atlanta that departs before 6:30 pm on the last day of class. Attendance and participation in the entire training is required to receive a certificate of completion.
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Day 1 - Monday, 8:00 am - 3:30 pm
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Day 2, Tuesday, 8:00 am - 3:30 pm
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Day 3, Wednesday, 8:00 am - 3:30 pm
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Day 4, Thursday, 8:00 am - 3:30 pm
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Day 5, Friday, 8:00 am - 3:30 pm
Travel: The Pace Institute, LLC is not responsible for participants' travel cost (i.e., airfare, meals, hotel, ground transportation). If traveling by air, participants will fly into the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport ("ATL") which is 10 miles from the training venue. Also The Pace Institute, LLC has a negotiated corporate rate (corporate code: 334892) with Drury Inn and Suites Atlanta Morrow which is 1 mile from the venue at 6520 S Lee Street, Morrow, GA 30260. Their number is (770) 960-0500. Click to make hotel reservations.
Registration Deadline: Enrollment space is limited. To confirm your attendance, your paid registration must be received before the training. Registration will close once capacity is reached.
Instructional Methods: This is an in-person training that will include instructor demonstrations of lessons from the program manual, participant role-plays, group discussions, small group exercises, and participant teach backs/try-outs. Participants will also need to factor in an hour of homework time for the first four days of training.
Program Material. Enrollment includes a printed copy of the latest version of the Thinking for a Change facilitator's manual (version 4.0) as well as an electronic copy of the accompanying program slides and video vignettes.
For more information contact Angela Dash at adash@thepaceinstitute.com or 404-369-0671.
Payment, Cancellation and Refund Policy
Payments. The cost of this training course is $1,500.00. Enrollment is not complete or reserved without payment.
Early Cancellations. You may cancel an individual registration and receive a full refund, less a $75 processing charge, provided you cancel at least 14 calendar days in advance of the start date of the training. To cancel your enrollment, you must contact: adash@thepaceinstitute.com. Refunds will be issued to the payor of record.
Late cancellations. If you cancel fewer than 14 calendar days before the class, you must, within 12 months, register for and attend another class; otherwise all payments are forfeited to The Pace Institute.
No shows. There is a non-refundable no show-fee. In the case of a no-show, the course fee will not be refunded.
Incomplete course completions. There is a non-refundable fee for incomplete course completions. In the case that you begin this course and do not complete it, the course fee will not be refunded.
The Pace Institute reserves the right to cancel any scheduled class at our discretion. If The Pace Institute cancels, any payment received will be refunded in full.
Photos, Videos, Audio Recordings. All attendees are advised that The Pace Institute, LLC and others hired by The Pace Institute, LLC, may photograph, video, and record portions of the training for promotional purposes. In doing so, The Pace Institute, LLC strives to have an honorable approach to obtaining and using the content for promotional purposes. The photography, videography, and recording content is the property of The Pace Institute, LLC and may be used for promotional purposes (e.g., electronic and printed publications, websites, educational use, event ads, etc.) without further permission of the subjects/attendees. As a general practice, there is no attempt to collect individual release forms unless there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. In cases where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy, The Pace Institute, LLC will make a reasonable effort to contact every person in the photo and to obtain a signed release form allowing The Pace Institute, LLC to use the photo, video and/or recording for promotional purposes.
License to use copyrighted material. Thinking for a Change 4.0 is copyrighted by its authors Jack Bush, PhD, Barry Glick, PhD, and Juliana Taymans, PhD. The authors have granted The Pace Institute, LLC and its’ President, Angela E. Dash, Ph.D., a non-exclusive license to use the copyrighted material for commercial gain. Parties wishing to gain authorization to sell or use Thinking for a Change 4.0 copyrighted materials for commercial gain, should also request the explicit permission of the authors. For more information, contact adash@thepaceinstitute.com.
Completion of Training Does Not Mean "Certified" or "Licensed". Although it is highly recommended, in support of program fidelity and integrity, that one completes at least a 32-hour training program before facilitating a Thinking for a Change group, there is no credentialing process in becoming a Thinking for a Change Facilitator. Therefore, completing a Thinking for a Change facilitator's training program does not make one a "Certified Thinking for a Change Facilitator" nor a "Licensed Thinking for a Change Facilitator." Those are credentials that do not exist at all - even with the National Institute of Corrections - the agency who produces the program. However, completing facilitators will be provided a certificate documenting their successful completion of a 32 hour Thinking for a Change Facilitators’ Training Program delivered by a trainer who has been trained by the National Institute of Corrections, to train other T4C facilitators. Successful completion requires attending and participating in the entire training.
This is training for facilitators and NOT for trainers. The Thinking for a Change Facilitator's training is NOT the same as the Thinking for a Change Train-the-Trainer class. While this Thinking for a Change Facilitator’s training prepares individuals to facilitate Thinking for a Change groups, it does not prepare individuals to train other facilitators. In order to protect the fidelity of this evidence-based program, it is strongly encouraged by The Pace Institute, as well as the program’s producer – the National Institute of Corrections, for individuals to only train other facilitators in the Thinking for a Change program, after achieving the following qualifications:
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Completion of a Thinking for a Change Facilitator’s training of a minimum of 32 hours (this can be obtained by attending this training offered by The Pace Institute);
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Facilitation of at least two full cycles of Thinking for a Change groups; and
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Completion of a Thinking for a Change Train the Trainer training program.
The Pace Institute only offers the Thinking for a Change Facilitator’s training program. It does not offer the advanced training – “Thinking for a Change Train the Trainer” training program. For more information on advanced training opportunities for qualified Thinking for a Change facilitators who have completed the minimum Thinking for a Change Facilitator’s training and facilitated at least two full cycles of Thinking for a Change groups, contact the National Institute of Corrections.
Special Offer for Out-of-Area Organizations
For agencies contemplating the best way to invest in their team’s development, consider this - the journey to our service venue in the Atlanta area - The Pace Center of Morrow - is more than a trip; it’s a strategic leap towards achieving lasting greatness.
The Special Offer: Maximize Your Agency’s Development Budget
If you are an organization that needs to send SIX or more team members to be trained and must consider their travel expenses, a special offer has been tailored for you that not only enriches learning for your staff but is sensitive to your budget. When you send SIX or more staff members to any one of our scheduled "Thinking for a Change Facilitator's Training" programs at our service venue - The Pace Center of Morrow - your agency will receive a complimentary 10-hour virtual Motivational Interviewing Training that will accommodate up to 24 staff members - a training that will highly enhance the program efforts of any agency that will be implementing the Thinking for a Change program. This thoughtful combination is our way of contributing to your team's travel costs, ensuring that your investment in your team's education extends far beyond the training days. This special offer will remain valid for 24 months following your staff’s participation in the 'Thinking for a Change Facilitator's Training,' giving your agency ample flexibility to schedule the complimentary Motivational Interviewing Training at a time that best suits your team’s needs.
Why Choose to Send Your Staff to our Training Off-Site?
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Our center is a hub for growth, transformation, and meaningful connections. It is designed to catalyze profound professional and personal growth. It’s a space where inspiration is drawn from every detail, and learning is deeply experiential. This space is an oasis that inspires growth in a way that cannot be replicated on-site.
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Training at The Pace Center of Morrow means your staff benefits from undivided attention, free from the constraints and interruptions that accompany on-site training. It's not just a change of scenery—it's where they'll find the headspace to really soak in everything they're learning and strengthen community, in the process.
Here's What Others are Saying:
"The training was marvelous. You are a gifted professional who gave us more than a training. It was a memorable learning experience. Thank you for the effort and care you invested in our growth. I learned a lot from this team overall." - Thinking for a Change Facilitator (Local from Georgia)
"I wanted to thank you again for an AMAZING training! You are definitely skilled at your craft and your Center is beautiful! I couldn't have asked for a better experience." - Thinking for a Change Facilitator (Traveled from Maryland)
"I thoroughly enjoyed my training at The Pace Center of Morrow with Angela Dash. The information gained was life changing, and the atmosphere at The Pace Center of Morrow felt like a retreat in many ways. We were welcomed and treated as family. When can I return?" - Thinking for a Change Facilitator (Traveled from Texas)
Background of Thinking for a Change (T4C)
Thinking for a Change (T4C) is an integrated cognitive behavioral change program authored by Jack Bush, Ph.D., Barry Glick, Ph.D., and Juliana Taymans, Ph.D., under a cooperative agreement with the National Institute of Corrections (NIC). T4C incorporates research from cognitive restructuring theory, social skills development, and the learning and use of problem-solving skills.
T4C is comprised of 25 lessons that build upon each other and contain appendices that can be used to craft an aftercare program to meet the ongoing cognitive behavioral needs of offender groups. Not all lessons can be completed in one session, so a typical delivery cycle may take 30 sessions. Sessions should last between one and two hours. Ideally, the curriculum is delivered two times per week, with a minimum recommended dosage of once per week and a maximum of three times per week. Participants must be granted time to complete mandatory homework between each lesson.
The program is designed to be provided to offender populations - adults and youth, males and females. It is intended for groups of eight to twelve and should be delivered only by trained facilitators. Due to its integrated structure, T4C is a closed group, meaning members need to start at the beginning of a cycle, and may not join the group mid-stream (lesson five is a logical cut-off point for new group members).
T-SHIRTS
NOW AVAILABLE
Short sleeve tee shirts with Thinking for a Change inspired message. Perfect gifts for program
graduates and for facilitators to
show their T4C pride!
*mockup picture shown does not depict exact tee shirt and colors available for sale. Browse for actual shirt and colors available.
Facilitator Training Prerequisites
There is no special level of education or professional qualifications required to be trained in the Thinking for a Change program. However, an individual who plans to facilitate the Thinking for a Change program should possess the following characteristics: 1) Believe people, including criminal offenders, can change; 2) Does not easily become frustrated by client participants; 3) Is firm, but fair and nonjudgmental; 4) Is consistent when interacting with client participants; 5) Can communicate in an effective manner (e.g. calm, even voice tone); and 6) Has an understanding of cognitive behavioral interventions.
Facilitator Training Objectives
The 25 modules of the "Thinking for a Change" program (version 4.0) will be covered as a class, and at the end of the training, facilitator trainees will be able to:
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Describe theoretical foundations of cognitive behavioral approaches;
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Articulate the core principles and components of the Thinking for a Change program;
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Demonstrate a cognitive self-change lesson utilizing the Thinking for a Change program;
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Demonstrate a social skill lesson utilizing the Thinking for a Change program;
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Demonstrate a problem solving lesson utilizing the Thinking for a Change program;
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Plan for the implementation of the program within their agency; and
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Facilitate groups utilizing the Thinking for a Change program.
Instructor: Angela Dash, PhD, PCC
Dr. Dash is a trusted trainer, coach and conflict management professional. She started facilitating the Thinking for a Change group program in 2006 and has facilitated the program to both juvenile and adult populations. After completing the National Institute of Correction’s Thinking for a Change Training for Trainers in 2009, she has delivered over 68 Thinking for a Change facilitator’s trainings and trained professionals from across the country to become Thinking for a Change facilitators. She also provides mentoring to new facilitators and provides additional training to boost facilitator practice, such as a T4C Advanced Practice Skills (Booster) training and training in motivational interviewing and group facilitation skills.
Thinking for a Change Facilitators' Training Program Graduates
WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING
Lesley K - Mountain Valley Counseling Associates, Phoenix, AZ
I am impressed with Angela's training skill and style. She is energetic and easy to pay attention to. I found her extra insights from her own experiences with delivering T4C to be especially helpful. This was a great learning opportunity and I feel equipped to implement and facilitate a T4C program.
Pamela W - Circle Park Behavioral Health Services, Florence, SC
Angela is energetic and knowledgeable in T4C and is very creative in her demonstration. She is patient and addressed all questions and concerns thoroughly. I highly recommend that anyone wishing to be trained in T4C seek a training with Angela.
Rhonda J - Grace Harbour Behavioral Services, Peachtree City, GA
The training was great. I learned a great deal and as a result of this training, I am sold on the Thinking for a Change program. I grew both personally and professionally as a result of my participation in this training.
Stacey H - Spectrum Outreach Services,
Ironton, OH
All I can say is Wow! This program exceeded my expectations. There is no way someone could properly facilitate this program without training...Thank you, Angela!