IMT certification

The table below summarizes all training requirements for IMT Certification. You may also wish to download the IMT Certification Work Plan (PDF) to plan and track your progress toward certification. However, please note that requirements may change over time. The most current information will always be available on this website.

Click here for our Schedule of Trainings.

The definitions and descriptions below address common questions about IMT Certification requirements. See also the descriptions of trainings on the IMT Training page.

IMT Mentorship Hours

In order to advance in the IMT training continuum, there are associated mentorship hours following each training, with the exception of Basics and Internship. These hours are required for anyone wishing to pursue the next level of IMT training.
Post-level 1 training hours are available to anyone, even if they are not intending to move to the next level at this time, as a means to better understand the method and the program and to have individualized support from a certified IMT therapist.

Each Level 1 training packet has included within its manual a complete description of the required mentorship hours associated with that training. In order to complete mentorship hours, the student must contact one of the designated IMT supervisors (listed here) to set a time and date for mentorship. Most of these hours can be completed by skype, phone or another web-video platform. The only ones that cannot be done remotely are hours that require hands-on or interactive study, including Thai yoga practice, body scan and individual IMT sessions. Mentorship session rates are set at a standard rate of $85 per hour, payable directly to the mentor, prior to the session. Session times are recorded and are expected to last exactly 60 minutes, in order for the student and supervisor to practice and model session timeliness. This 60 minutes must include taking payment and scheduling subsequent sessions.

Mentorship is a wonderfully rich opportunity for the student to have their individual questions answered and their journey supported by an experienced IMT therapist. Many of our students have reported that these individual mentorship hours have been one of the highlights of the training program and one of the things that have created the greatest learning opportunities. In order to register for Level 2 retreat, students must have completed all three of the Level 1’s as well as their accompanying mentorship hours.

Current IMT mentors:

EB Ferdig, Portland email EB.

Molly Lannon Kenny, Mexico email Molly.

Jaime Bedard, New York City email Jaime.

Andrea Flores, Portland email Andrea.

Rachel Plies, Portland. email Rachel.

RW Alves. Seattle. email RW.

Danelle Cartun. email Danelle.

Bess Abrahams. email Bess.

Karen Oberg. email Karen

Kathleen Dowd email Kathleen

Independent Clients

Following the Level 2 and Advanced trainings, students wishing to continue must see two “independent” clients. These are clients that the student finds themselves, through avenues including social media, word of mouth or other means of promotion, or through the Student Clinic. Once the student has found the potential clients, they are required to arrange and carry out between four and seven sessions, depending on specifics requirements and guidelines. These sessions are mainly unsupervised, however the student has worksheets and guidelines and is required to discuss the client, session, goals, objectives, concerns and successes in mentorship sessions. The student may not charge for these sessions.

Student Clinic: Students living in the Portland or Seattle areas may take advantage of Student Clinic opportunities. This is a program, run by unfold studios in Portland, or by RW Alves private practice in Seattle, where qualified Integrated Movement Therapy practitioners-in-training have the opportunity to practice their skills, gain insight into the IMT process, and learn to work in a semi-clinical environment.

In this program, the Student Clinic finds the clients, schedules the intake, takes payment from client, allows student to use office space, and provides materials and forms. Following the intake, the mentor gives feedback and recommendations to the student relative to on-going therapy based on the client’s stated goals. After this initial consult, the student and client schedule six additional sessions – five therapy sessions and one exit interview. Session duration is based on client needs.

The student is loosely supervised in the sessions, supervision may be limited to the mentor asking questions or providing feedback on a session plan, or the mentor may ask to sit in on a partial or full session. The student IMT therapist is practicing independent critical thinking, processing and planning, and evaluation skills.

After six consecutive sessions (one intake and five follow-up sessions – must be completed within eight weeks) the student and client will participate in an exit interview process with the mentor, in which the client gives feedback to the student and the student does a self-evaluation which may be discussed with the client as appropriate.

These sessions may be counted towards Level 2 or Advanced mentorship hours, or may be used for additional experience and some documentation towards internship.

Individual IMT Sessions

In order to maximize a student’s understanding of the IMT therapy process, every student wishing to apply for IMT Advanced training must receive a minimum of four individual sessions with a certified IMT therapist. These sessions are arranged directly by the student with the IMT therapist. Payment is made directly to therapist and is dependent on therapist’s rates. These sessions must occur in person and cannot be carried out remotely.

Scholarships

We offer two scholarship programs and work-trade opportunities are also available at some of our trainings and retreats. Learn more here.

The International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) offers a grandparenting program through which IMT students and practitioners may be eligible for IAYT certification.

Grandparenting refers to a process in which someone with the specified experience and expertise in a particular profession is granted certification along different pathways than others entering the profession. The grandparenting process usually begins just after a profession starts to certify practitioners and is limited to a prescribed period of time.

As a field develops standards, grandparenting is typically addressed in a generous way, respecting original training, continuing education, and experience.

The IAYT grandparenting process being developed is similar to that of other emerging complementary and alternative medicine professions.

Learn more on the IAYT website.