Facilitator Resource page | The Wholeness Method

ETHICAL DO'S & DON'TS

DO'S

Do Build Rapport: Establish a trusting relationship with clients to create a safe and open environment.
Do Maintain Confidentiality with only two exceptions: Safeguard client information and only disclose it upon one of two conditions: You have obtained written consent, or when legally required (for instances when you believe there is physical abuse that could cause bodily harm or suicidal risk.
Do Practice Active Listening: Engage fully in conversations, reflecting and summarizing what clients share to validate their feelings.
Do Take Notes: Whenever you enter into the session exercises, clients will be sharing many things about themselves and their perspectives. Please take detailed notes as well as you can and refer back to these notes throughout the sessions.
Do Prepare: Before you meet with any client take at least 15 minutes to pray, and empty yourself of any baggage, stress, fear or ego from the day. Prepare yourself to be fully present, and ready to embody wholeness. Pull up your previous notes on the clients and remind yourself of their lives.
Do Use Empathy: Understand and relate to clients' feelings, showing compassion and understanding.
Do Set Professional Boundaries: Clearly define the boundaries of the counselor-client relationship to avoid dual relationships and potential conflicts of interest.
Do Encourage Client Participation: Involve clients in their own treatment planning and goal-setting to empower them.
Do Stay Sensitive: Respect and understand the diverse backgrounds, emotional wounds, values, and beliefs of each client. Instead of making judgments, ask questions when it seems like one partner is clearly in the wrong.
Do take control of meetings: Start your sessions with telling clients the order and final goal of the day’s session. Continuously steer the session back on track whenever clients stray by gently reminding them of the time constraints.
Do Engage in Continuous Learning: Stay updated with current practices, research, and professional developments in counseling.
Do Seek Supervision: Use supervision and peer consultation to explore difficult cases and self-care. If you feel uncomfortable or underqualified, tell them that and ask if you can have some time to consider how to approach the situation.
Do Be Upfront With Billing: At the beginning of each session, tell clients what you charge and ask them how they would like to pay. Always collect the same day. Don’t let debts accumulate.
Do Be Honest and Authentic: Communicate openly with clients about processes and limitations in therapy.

DON'TS

Don’t Breach Confidentiality: Avoid disclosing any client information without consent, except in specific exceptions (e.g., harm or abuse).
Don’t Team Up Against One Partner: While you should feel free to offer your experienced opinion, you should not do it in a way that alienates one partner. The best way to do this is by asking questions instead of making judgements.
Do Not Diagnose: Do not diagnose or label anyone with anything unless you are credentialed to do so professionally.
Don’t Meet One on One with the Opposite Sex: Avoid developing any personal connections with the opposite sex. We maintain a strict policy of only holding sessions with both members present. Let clients know that you can receive emails with personal questions or concerns, but talking over the phone or meeting privately with a member of the opposite sex is one of your facilitator boundaries. If they request a private session, you can say you don't do one on one sessions with the opposite sex but if they invited a trusted friend you could.
When Messaging and Scheduling, Message Both Parties Together: Avoid messaging individually as this has the potential to create several communication mishaps.
Don’t Impose Personal Beliefs: Refrain from imposing your personal or spiritual values or beliefs on clients; respect their perspectives.
Don’t Interrupt Clients: Allow clients to express their thoughts and feelings completely while gently steering the conversation to stay on target.
Don't talk about yourself or your own relationships beyond brief mentions of relevant or encouraging substance.
Don’t Rely on Assumptions: Avoid making assumptions about clients based on stereotypes or previous experiences; treat each client as an individual, basing your understanding on things they have already said in the past.
Don’t Dismiss Client Concerns: Validate all clients' feelings and concerns, even if they seem irrational or exaggerated.
Don’t Neglect Self-Care: Neglecting self-care can lead to burnout; prioritize your own mental and emotional health.
Don’t Rush the Process: Understand that the session exercises can vary in time. Allow for 60-120 minutes for each session, but have a plan in place for when they may go longer.

FACILITATOR BUSINESS PLAN

Choosing Your Business Structure

Selecting the right business structure ensures legal compliance and aligns with your mission to facilitate wholeness through love and connection. Consult a local attorney or accountant to finalize your choice, considering your goals and resources.

Church’s Non-Profit: Operate under your church’s 501(c)(3) status, ideal if you primarily serve your congregation. Pros: No setup costs, tax-exempt, trusted brand. Cons: Limited control, church oversight, restricted to church-approved activities. Best for facilitators starting small within one church.

Own Non-Profit: Form your own 501(c)(3) to run Wholeness Method independently. Pros: Tax-exempt, eligible for grants, mission-driven. Cons: High setup costs ($275-$600 filing, legal fees), extensive paperwork, ongoing compliance. Suits facilitators with large-scale vision but requires significant resources.
Sole Proprietorship: Operate as an individual, simplest structure. Pros: No setup cost, full control, easy taxes (report on personal return). Cons: Personal liability for debts/lawsuits, no tax benefits. Ideal for new facilitators testing services with minimal risk.
LLC (Limited Liability Company): Form a separate entity for protection. Pros: Limits personal liability, flexible taxes, professional image. Cons: Filing fees ($50-$800, varies by state), annual reports. Recommended for facilitators scaling to multiple churches or online clients.

Best Business Practices

Operate with Integrity: Embody Wholeness Method principles—love, honesty, connection—in all interactions. Be transparent about services, pricing, and outcomes, reflecting love’s abundant economy.
Stay Organized: Use Google Calendar or Trello to manage bookings, workshops, and follow-ups. Send invoice at end of each session or before session begins. Track income, expenses, and client progress for accountability.
Pursue Personal Growth: Attend annual Wholeness Method refreshers and reflect personally to deepen self-honesty, modeling transparent intimacy.
Build Trust: Secure client consent for testimonials, protect confidentiality, aligning with trust as connection’s foundation.
Set Fair Pricing: Offer tiered rates ($50-$200/session, $200-$500/workshop), with sliding scales for church members, reflecting generosity.

Simplified Business Plan

Mission: Facilitate wholeness in individuals and couples through love-centered coaching, fostering connection within marriages, families, churches and communities.
Suggested Service Costs: You can charge whatever you wish, but for those who want to do this part or full time as a career, we would recommend the following: 1:1 same-sex coaching ($50-100/hour), couple’s sessions ($100-$200/per session ~90-120 minutes), group workshops ($100 per couple ~ 2-3 hours, 3-6 couples).
Target Market: Couples (ages 25-55), Churchgoers, and church leaders in your city’s church network, plus online clients via Zoom or other virtual meeting space.
Revenue Goals: Year 1: ~$25,000 (20 client sessions per month at $100 average, plus 4 workshops at $400). Year 2: ~$40,000 (30 client sessions per month, plus 8 workshops).
Expenses: $5,000/year (marketing, website, Zoom Pro, travel). Net profit: $20,000 Year 1, $35,000 Year 2.
Legal Structure: Choose based on above guidance; LLC or sole proprietorship recommended for most. Obtain liability insurance ($200-$500/year).
Timeline: Month 1: Set up structure, website. Month 2: Launch marketing. Month 3: Start sessions, host first workshop.

FACILITATOR MARKETING STRATEGIES

1. Citywide Church Network

Strategy: Partner with churches to offer workshops and talks, emphasizing connection as divine design.
Actions:
- Contact 5-10 church leaders monthly (email, in-person), offering a free 30-minute talk on intimacy (e.g., voice-raising example).
- Propose workshops at retreats, charging $200-$400, with 50% discounts for hosts to reflect abundance.
- Join church coalitions, attending quarterly meetings to network and share your certification’s value.
Goals: Secure 2 partnerships by Month 3, 5 by Year 1, hosting 4 workshops annually.

2. Through Your Own Church

Strategy: Use your church as a trusted base to pilot services and gain testimonials.
Actions:
- Offer a free 4-week Wholeness Method series for small groups, citing Colossians 2:13-14 (debt cancellation).
- Host monthly “Wholeness Nights” ($10 donation), teaching distinctions (e.g., Separated/Connected).
- Share anonymized success stories in bulletins or sermons, e.g., intimacy deepened via Session 4 exercise.
Goals: Enroll 5 church clients by Month 4, host 6 Wholeness Nights in Year 1, generate 10 referrals.

3. Social Media

Strategy: Share authentic content to engage church communities and couples, per best practices.
Platforms:
- Facebook: Create a page, join church groups, post 3-4 times weekly (sermon clips, tips). Use Events for workshops.
- Instagram: Share Reels (e.g., 30-second vulnerability tips) and Stories, posting 3-4 times weekly with hashtags like #WholenessMethod.
- LinkedIn: Connect with church leaders, posting monthly articles on facilitating wholeness.
Content Pillars:
- Educate: Share principles (e.g., “How honesty heals marriages”).
- Inspire: Post client stories or scriptures (e.g., Matthew 18:23-27).
- Engage: Ask questions (e.g., “What blocks intimacy?”).
- Promote: Announce workshops or talks.
Tools: Canva (free) for graphics, Buffer ($15/month) for scheduling, Social Champ ($26/month) for analytics.
Policy: Post positively, respond to comments within 24 hours.
Goals: 500 followers on Facebook/Instagram by Year 1, 10 workshop sign-ups via social media.

4. Other Channels

Website: Build a site ($100/year via Wix) with bio, services, testimonials, booking form. Optimize for SEO (e.g., “Wholeness Method [City]”).
Email Newsletter: Use Mailchimp (free for <500 subscribers) for monthly updates, tips (e.g., Session 4 exercise), and stories.
Community Events: Table at Christian events, offering free 15-minute consults and flyers ($50 printing).
Referrals: Ask clients for 1-2 referrals, offering 10% discounts.
Goals: Launch website by Month 2, grow email list to 100 by Year 1, secure 5 clients via referrals/events.

Metrics for Success

Year 1:
- Clients: 20/month (240 sessions).
- Workshops: 4 church-based, 2 community-based.
- Social Media: 500 followers, 10% engagement.
- Revenue: $30,000 gross, $25,000 net.
Track Weekly: Engagement, inquiries, RSVPs.
Adjust Monthly: Refine content and outreach based on analytics and feedback.

Tips for Ongoing Success

Stay Authentic: Share your facilitator journey, reflecting self-honesty.
Pace Growth: Start with 1-2 churches, one platform, scaling gradually.
Seek Feedback: Ask clients and leaders for input quarterly, embodying love’s openness.
Pray for Guidance: Center work in God’s abundant love, trusting divine connections.

INITIAL COMPLEMENTARY CONSULTATION OUTLINE:

We recommend all our mentors use a similar process:

FIRST CONTACT & THE INITIAL CONSULTATION (FREE): Answer questions, then help them sign up to become a member and help them access the membership landing page and large assessment. (< 20 minutes)

- Go over your protocols and boundaries.
  - No one on one meeting with the opposite sex
  - They can request a personal session but must bring a friend if opposite sex
  - We collect payment (if applicable) during scheduling or before each session.
  - Total confidentiality except on condition that they give consent or you believe someone is at risk of physical or abuse or risk of suicide.
  - You will take notes and keep a log of their progress and breakthroughs.
  - Make them feel comfortable and make them feel like you are a safe person to talk to
  - Offer a short testimony about how God used this course to transform or heal you and your marriage.
  - Sessions last ~60-120 minutes but often around 90 minutes.

- Show them the Wholeness Method website and make sure they know how to access their members page and resources.

- Tell them their homework is to go through both the video and written introductions and to complete the “Full Assessment”

- Talk about how valuable of an investment their marriage is, that making simple adjustments and healing certain perspectives will positively affect every day of their life moving forward.

- Talk about membership and facilitation pricing.
  - Talk about how much you charge. “I charge $170 per session. There are seven sessions, and each one lasts between 1-2 hours usually, sometimes longer. I will guide you through seven interactive exercises that transform perspectives, heal hearts and mend brokenness and dysfunction within relationships. I guarantee my clients satisfaction.” You can ask if that sounds like something they want to invest in. Yes?
  - Once they show a desire to continue, you can tell them that they will need to sign up for a membership to access all your online resources, tools and assessments you will be using. The cost is $99 for the online membership. This gives access to both the Wholeness Method and 12 measures training resources along with full access to all the online tools, guides and assessments. This deal won't last long as these will likely soon become two separate memberships.
  - If a couple is in financial distress, you can let them set their own price, asking what they think a transformed marriage should be valued at in light of their income.

- Ask if they would like to schedule the first session, called "The Two Operating Systems."

- Collect the first payment as a down for the first session.