Summary report
Participation Evaluation of ART training course: 19-21 March 2010, Auckland, New Zealand
Based on the responses of 15 participants, including psychologists and psychotherapists.
The following questions were asked:
What were your expectations;
Were your expectations met;
What are the most important concepts you learned today;
What questions do you have;
Do you have any suggestions regrading training style and content;
Were you given enough access to the trainer for questions;
Is there anything else you would like to comment on;
Rate the venue.
What were your expectations?
Participants expected to learn more about theories regarding affect regulation, to acquire practical techniques for managing stress and affect regulation and to learn more about neurological aspects of affect regulation.
Were your expectations met?
Participants unanimously agreed that their expectations for the training had been met.
What are the most important concepts you learned today?
Most important concepts learned were how to conduct an ART session; the effects of stress on the sensory system; how to manage stress in a session; recognising signs of stress release; how to use the sensory system in therapy, importance of implicit memory in trauma; affect regulation as a developmental skill.
What questions do you have?
Half of respondent had no questions. Questions included applications with various mental health disorders, how the mechanism of assessments work, what can be achieved with short term therapy.
Do you have any suggestions regarding training style?
Half of respondents made no suggestions regarding training style. Several expressed satisfaction with the experiential learning, the therapy support materials like charts and workbooks and the teaching style. One requested more discussion time and one requested more practice time.
Do you have any suggestions regarding content?
Half of respondents offered no suggestions regarding workshop content. Feedback on content included that less information be covered during the workshop and that more pre-reading be required instead, more information on the mechanisms of change during ART and a DVD on ART was requested.
Were you given enough access to the trainer for questions?
Participants all agreed that they had been given enough access to the trainer.
Is there anything else you would like to comment on?
Half of respondents had no further comments. A request to have the workshop conducted during weekdays was made. The following positive comments were made: an interesting and well organised course, with useful comprehensive materials, recognition of participant comments and helpful teaching style, a resourceful program, intention to attend Level 2 training.
Rating the venue
The venue was considered good to excellent by all.
Telephonic follow up two months later showed that nine participants intended attending level two training (long term ART), four had submitted three case studies and six still intended to submit.
Compiled by Anca Ramsden