Faculty Internship

An internship program is available for individuals who are well versed in Neufeld’s approach and are willing to become involved in mentoring, supervising and supporting others (our Advanced Study students) who are keen on teaching and practicing Neufeld’s approach. The internship leads to a Faculty appointment in the Neufeld Institute. The length of the program is typically two years and is designed with existing work commitments in mind. The first year may involve going through the paces of authorization as a course facilitator and/or practitioner where individuals have not already attained this authorization through our Advanced Studies program. All potential Neufeld faculty must be in the know regarding the authorization process and to be able to take the lead with others who are seeking authorization. The second year involves taking on leadership responsibilities, with Gordon assuming a supporting/mentoring/supervising role.

Advanced Studies is the typical route to authorization

Those seeking authorization for themselves as course facilitators or practitioners should consult our Advanced Studies program, typically a two year commitment that involves individualized study, practicum experiences and personal integration of the material, with the support and under the supervision of a Neufeld Institute Faculty member. The prerequisites for acceptance into Advanced Studies include successful completion of the foundational courses: Neufeld Intensives I and II. Both courses are available through Distance Education and every summer, onsite in Vancouver.

The Neufeld Intensives are the prerequisite for internship

The pathway to internship starts with successful completion of the Neufeld Intensives, both Level I and Level II. Those seriously interested in pursuing a faculty appointment are advised to enroll in the Advanced Studies program first.

Faculty appointments

Upon successful completion of this two-year internship, individuals are appointed to the Neufeld Institute Faculty, joining more than a dozen others who have already received faculty appointments since the inception of the internship program in 2006. These faculty are involved in leadership across Canada and United States. We will soon have faculty members as well in Germany, Mexico, Sweden, and Israel, forwarding the paradigm in their languages and culture. Dr. Neufeld only takes a small number of individuals into internship at any one time.

Faculty expectations

Neufeld Faculty are expected to assume key leadership roles in their geographical regions and/or their arenas of involvement: parent education, parent consulting, mental health, the school system, etc. In addition, Neufeld Faculty are expected to take on advanced study students pursuing authorization in their arenas of expertise.

Structure of the internship program

The internship program is fairly simple in its structure. It involves monthly consults with Gordon via telephone or Skype, about six to nine master classes a year via online videoconferencing and held on Saturday mornings Vancouver time, attendance if at all possible to an annual conference and faculty retreat in Vancouver, collegial support with other faculty and interns via the Neufeld Virtual Campus, and leadership involvement in some way. The monthly consults are for the purpose of personal integration of the material, case consultation, and interaction regarding leadership involvement and projects. The agendas for any particular consult are set by the intern. The practicums may involve case consultations, presentations, implementation projects, course instruction, or leadership assignments of some kind. The core practicum involves doing a couple of case studies. This is in keeping with our primary distinctive: ‘making sense of kids’. These case study practicums apply to all faculty interns and advanced study students, not just the mental health professionals or practitioners in private practice.

Financial considerations

The tuition for internship is $4200 CAD for the first year and $2400 CAD for the second year. Those authorized as presenters are expected to forward 15% royalty fees on honorariums received for presentations based on Neufeld’s material, to the Neufeld Institute. The opportunities for remuneration as Neufeld Faculty are fairly modest and varied and should not be the motivating factor for anyone. The money to be made would come mainly from increased opportunities to present (Faculty set their own honorariums) and from taking on their own advanced study students.  If there are sufficient funds within the Neufeld Institute organization and there are demands for the leadership a Faculty member is providing to the organization, token monthly stipends are also a possibility. While it is possible for a Neufeld Faculty member to support themselves through this work, it should not be expected nor should it be the motivating factor in becoming involved, and this may take some time.

What we are looking for in our faculty

Key to seeking a faculty appointment should be a vision for forwarding this approach, and some space and time to be able to commit to this mission. What we look for in our internship candidates is a mastery of the paradigm, the ability to make sense of kids, strong leadership capabilities, clear and transparent communication, an ability to establish good working relationships with others, and most importantly, a soft heart and a good head.

Next steps

Interested individuals should communicate with Dr. Neufeld directly and submit a letter of intent. If not previously enrolled in our Advanced Studies program, the application process would begin with a review of the completion assignments for the Level One and Level Two Intensives. If these courses were taken onsite instead of through distance education, we will forward you these assignments to be completed.