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Dear Hope Certificate Applicant,

I’m glad you’ve decided to pursue becoming a certified Hope focused couples therapist. We at the MMATE Center are dedicated to supporting pastoral care providers, clinicians and students in training to become excellent couples therapists using the Hope approach. If you are seeking this certificate you are demonstrating your dedication to providing outstanding assistance to couples in your community. This certificate will distinguish you in your community as qualified in the use of the Hope approach to couples counseling.

Steps to becoming a Certified Hope Therapist

To qualify a therapist or pastoral care provider must:

  1. Either be a matriculating graduate student or hold at least a master’s degree in a mental health or pastoral care program, or be licensed in a mental health profession, or an ordained minister. There are several “classifications” of certificate in keeping with ethical scope of practice: student, pastoral counselor or licensed therapist.
  2. Read the textbook “Couples Therapy: A Hope Focused Approach” by Jennifer Ripley and Everett L. Worthington, Jr.
  3. Watch the accompanying video training with lecture and demonstrations of Hope couples counseling found on the website,
  4. Take the Hope certification test- both multiple choice and open ended questions, passing at 90% is required.
  5. See one couple using the Hope treatment manual (under supervision if needed), submit case intake report, case conceptualization paper, and turn in audio tape or video tape of at least 90 minutes worth of therapy to be reviewed by Hope staff for acceptance. [ It is the therapist’s responsibility to obtain consent and ensure client confidentiality with case reports and recordings. We strongly recommend using pseudonyms in all written records in keeping with industry standards of confidentiality protection].

Many blessings as you seek this certificate.

Sincerely,

Jennifer S. Ripley, Ph.D.

Professor of Psychology Regent University

Director of the Marriage and Ministry Assessment Training and Empowerment Center

Print pages 2-3 and submit with your check to begin the certification process.

MMATE Center Application for Certificate in Hope Focused Couples Counseling

Name:

Address:

Phone:

Email:

Certificate: Student ($79) Pastoral ($99) Professional ($119)

Applicant must include documentation to support their type of certificate.

  1. For student certificate application, a copy of student identification as graduate student and transcript or documentation of enrollment in a regionally accredited graduate mental health program or divinity/theology school.
  2. For pastoral care certificate application, a copy of ordination certificate and proof of counseling education (e.g., transcript from divinity school or Bible collegecourses in counseling) to qualify for pastoral couples counseling.
  3. For professional certificate application, a copy of professional license in mental health care.

Once accepted, applicants can submit their documentation of completion of the Hope focused couples counseling training.

Checks should be made out to Ripley Consulting.

Mail to

Jennifer S. Ripley Ph.D.

Professor of Psychology

Regent University

1000 Regent U Dr CRB161

Virginia Beach VA 23464

Applicant Professional Ethics Disclosure Information to be submitted with application.

All Applicants: circle an answer for all questions

1. Were you ever placed on probation, disciplined, formally reprimanded, suspended or asked to resign during an internship, residency, fellowship, preceptorship or other professional (mental health or clergy) education program? If you are currently in a training program, have you been placed on probation, disciplined, formally reprimanded, suspended or asked to resign? If yes, please attach an explanation to this application. / Yes / No
2. Have you ever, while under investigation or to avoid an investigation, voluntarily withdrawn or prematurely terminated your status as a student or employee in any internship, residency, fellowship, preceptorship, or other clinical education program? If Yes, please attach an explanation to this application / Yes / No
3. Have you ever been convicted of, pled guilty to, pled nolo contendere to, sanctioned, reprimanded, restricted, disciplined or resigned in exchange for no investigation or adverse action within the last ten years for sexual harassment or other illegal misconduct? If Yes, please attach an explanation to this application / Yes / No
4. Have you ever been convicted of, pled guilty to, or pled nolo contendere to any felony? If Yes, please attach an explanation to this application / Yes / No
5. In the past ten years have you been convicted of, pled guilty to, or pled nolo contendere to any misdemeanor (excluding minor traffic violations) or been found liable or responsible for any civil offense that is reasonably related to your qualifications, competence, functions, duties as a mental health care professional or pastoral care, or for fraud, an act of violence, child abuse or a sexual offence or sexual misconduct? If Yes, please attach an explanation to this application / Yes / No
6. Do you use any chemical substances that would in any way impair or limit your ability to practice your profession and perform the functions of your job with reasonable skill and safety? If Yes, please attach an explanation to this application / Yes / No

For ordained ministers and licensed professionals (students can skip questions 7-13) :circle an answer for all questions

7. Has your license, ordination, registration or certification to practice in your profession ever been voluntarily or involuntarily relinquished, denied, suspended, revoked, restricted, or have you ever been subject to a fine, reprimand, consent order, probation or any conditions or limitations by any state or professional licensing, registration or ordination or certification board? If Yes, please attach an explanation to this application / Yes / No
8. Has there been any challenge to your licensure, ordination, registration or certification? If Yes, please attach an explanation to this application / Yes / No
9. Have you voluntarily or involuntarily surrendered your license or ordination, limited your privileges or not reapplied for privileges while under investigation? If yes, please explain in attachment. / Yes / No
10. Have any of your board certifications, ordination or eligibility ever been revoked? If Yes, please attach an explanation to this application / Yes / No
11. Are you currently the subject of an investigation by any church officials (if minister), hospital, licensing authority, DEA or CDS authorizing entities, education or training program, Medicare or Medicaid program, or any other private, federal or state health program or a defendant in any civil action that is reasonably related to your qualifications, competence, functions, or duties as a medical professional for alleged fraud, an act of violence, child abuse or a sexual offence or sexual misconduct? If Yes, please attach an explanation to this application / Yes / No
12. Has your professional liability coverage ever been cancelled, restricted, declined or not renewed by the carrier based on your individual liability history? If Yes, please attach an explanation to this application / Yes / No
13. Have you ever been court-martialed for actions related to your duties as a medical professional or clergy member? If Yes, please attach an explanation to this application / Yes / No

I attest that all information in this application is accurate. If yes to any question, please include a full description and any documentation to support your description. The MMATE Center reserves the right to deny the certificate in the Hope Approach due to ethical concerns.

______

SignatureDate

Printed Name
Confirmation of Hope-focused Couples Counseling Certificate Requirements. Submit after completing each step in the certificate process.

____ (initials) I confirm that I have read the book “Couple Therapy A New Hope Focused Marriage Counseling” by Jennifer Ripley and Everett L. Worthington, Jr. in it’s entirety

____(initials)I confirm that I have watched the required video trainings for the Hope Focused Marriage Counseling” training in their entirety (available online at in the “Counselors” then “Video Series Training” page)

____Passing Score on the Online Hope focused marriage counseling multiple choice test (90%) (please request access when ready by emailing )

_____ Passing Score on the Online Hope focused marriage counseling essay test (4 out of 5 on the rubric; please request access when ready by emailing )

_____ Passing Scores on the Intake Report and Case Presentation (submit by mail or email to )

_____ Passing Scores on the Video or Audio work sample (mail to our office at MMATE Center, Regent University, CRB 161, 1000 Regent Dr, VA Beach 23464)

I certify that all of the above are true for me.

______

SignatureDate

I certify that all of the above are true, in as far as the MMATE Center as evaluated this individual’s work.

______

Jennifer S. Ripley, Ph.D., DirectorDate

MMATE Center

Hope Focused Marriage Counseling

Overall Certification Testing Results

Name: ______

Passing: ____ Yes ____ No (If retest, indicate which number ______).

Certificate seekers may take the tests up to 4 times in a given calendar year.

Date: ______

_____% correct in questions 1-20. 90% required for passing.

_____Essay 21- assessment (4 or 5 out of 5 required for passing)

_____Essay 22- assessment (4 or 5 out of 5 required for passing)

_____Essay 23- assessment (4 or 5 out of 5 required for passing)

_____Essay 25- assessment (4 or 5 out of 5 required for passing)

_____ Average rating on Intake Report (4 required for passing)

_____All subscales for Intake Report were at least a 3

_____ Average rating on Case Presentation (4 required for passing)

_____All subscales for Case Presentation were at least a 3

Jennifer S. Ripley, PhD

Professor of Psychology, Regent University

Hope Focused certification official

Hope Focused Marriage Intervention Certification

Couples Intake Report Writing Evaluation

Name: ______

Evaluator: ______

Supervisor (if needed):______

Passing: ____ Yes ____ No

Date: ______

To pass the evaluation of the report must score at least a 3 on any one criteria and an average of at least 4 on the entire rating rubric.

Structure

Completely inadequate (1) / Somewhat lacking (2) / Acceptable
(3) / Good (4) / Superior (5)
Report appropriately identified
Appropriate headings to sections patterned near to the model in Worthington textbook
Logical structure
Clear description of what data or assessments are being used for assessment

Readability

Completely inadequate / Somewhat lacking / Acceptable / Good / Superior
Clearly and concisely written
Minimized use of jargon, technical language, etc
Readable for clients no more than 10th grade level [Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level] *
Correct grammar and spelling

* Reviewers will run readability statistics on the report. These can be run in Microsoft Word

Competence

Completely inadequate / Somewhat lacking / Acceptable / Good / Superior
Conclusions are clearly supported by the report
Adequate coverage of relevant areas of relationship
Appropriate coverage of any individual issues, diagnoses, or problems that may exist
Appropriately follow Hope Focused approach without digressing
Communication of concepts could be understood by clients without any psychological knowledge

Hope Focused Marriage Intervention Certification

Case Presentation Evaluation

Name: ______

Evaluator: ______

Supervisor (if needed):______

Passing: ____ Yes ____ No

Date: ______

Passing score requires inclusion of all necessary information in the case presentation, with passing quality and conceptualization.

Case Presentations Adequate Inclusion of Necessary Information

Yes / No / Identifying information (marital status, age, diversity identifiers)
Presenting Problem
History of Problem
Complicating Factors (could include individual diagnoses, medical issues, substance use, family history of diagnosis, and mental status if relevant to problems; omitting any of these indicates that there are no relevant issues)
Strengths and Weaknesses
Conceptualization
Conclusions and Recommendations

General Case Presentation Quality

Complete, relevant and plausible review of case clearly supported by case presentation. (passing)
Relevant, plausible case presentation provided and supported but at least some relevant issues overlooked (passing)
Relevant and plausible case presentation given but not well supported
Possible issues in case overlooked
Inaccurate or unsupported case presentation. Includes any case not using the Hope Focused concepts

Case Conceptualization

Conceptualization of case is highly plausible with rich explanation of the clinical issues in the case from Hope Focused approach (passing)
Case conceptualization is consistent with Hope focused approach but omits a few relevant key applications of the theory (passing)
Case conceptualization provides a plausible but incomplete account of the clinical issues from the Hope Focused approach
Case conceptualization provides a few plausible explanations of the clinical issues but only minimally incorporates concepts from the Hope Focused approach
Case conceptualization demonstrates an inaccurate understanding of concepts used from the chosen theoretical perspective.

Hope Focused Couples Therapy Case Work Sample Evaluation

___yes___no / Applicant’s audio or videotape was audible and at least 90 minutes (if longer just the first 90 minutes should be evaluated)
___yes___no / Applicant matches appropriate treatment to client with consideration of relevant factors:
• Nature of clinical problem
• Issues of client diversity
• Competence in technique
___yes___no / Applicant maintains objectivity with both partners, does not take sides.
___yes___no / Applicant competently implements treatment strategies outlined in case presentation.
___yes___no / Treatment interventions are performed in an intentional manner consistent with the Hope Focused approach (not digressing)
___yes___no / Applicant implements therapeutic interventions in a manner that is
adequately responsive to issues of client diversity.
___yes___no / Applicant uses underlying microskills adequately to maintain therapeutic alliance and implement interventions.
___yes___no / Applicant uses process skills to maintain therapeutic alliance with the couple.
___yes___no / Applicant is alert to therapeutic impasses, resistances, atypical treatment response, and unexpected outcomes which require flexible clinical problem solving.
___yes___no / Applicant obtains appropriate consultation and practices within
range of training competence.
___yes___no / Applicant addresses religious/spiritual domain when appropriate.

Evaluated by:

______

Work sample reviewerDate

______

Jennifer S. Ripley, PhD, supervisorDate