
ACT Certification
Requirements
The certification process has two tiers—Abide Coach and Abide Mental Health Coach. You will be in touch with two key people—the Intake Supervisor, who distributes intake forms and oversees Abide Network providers, and the Educational Supervisor, who oversees the certification process.
Notes: Certification is not a guarantee of client referrals. It is a resume-builder and a good training experience. Abide Mental Health Coaches will be given preferential consideration for referrals.
Practicing professionals: Individuals who are already practicing as licensed LPCs, LMFTs, MFTs, or other graduate-level providers need only fulfill steps 1-8. However, we highly recommend taking steps 10-13 for professional enrichment.
Supervisors

Jeanine Goodwin
Intake Supervisor
healthycoupleshealthyfamilies
@gmail.com

Jennifer Schwirzer
Educational Supervisor
Level One - ABIDE COACH
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"13 Weeks to Peace":
Biblically-based individual psychology. Read the book, answer questions, complete worksheets, and write a one-page reaction paper for the Educational Supervisor.
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"The 7 Deadly Psychological Sins":
Explores common destructive habits and their replacements. Watch the series (DVD or YouTube), and write a one-page reaction paper for the Educational Supervisor.
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"13 Weeks to Love":
Biblically-based relationship psychology. Read the book, answer questions, complete worksheets, and write a one-page reaction paper for the Educational Supervisor.
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"The 7 Deadly Relationship Sins":
Common destructive relationship habits and their replacements. Watch the series (DVD or YouTube), and write a one-page reaction paper for the Educational Supervisor.
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"God Made Love: The Design, Departure, and Redemption of Human Sexuality": Watch the DVD series on YouTube, and write a one-page reaction paper for the Educational Supervisor.
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Abide Coach Training:
Applies the concepts and methods found in the previous materials and gives practical instruction in how to help people with mental health issues, when to refer to a professional, how to set up a counseling or coaching ministry. Attend in person, on Zoom, or watch online. Covers approximately six hours of live instruction. Take the quiz at the end and submit it to the Educational Supervisor. Course folder link provided.
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Dr. Jen Techniques:
A work-in-progress catalog of live demos of counseling and coaching techniques.
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The Feast Bible Studies:
Abide Network initially aimed to provide biblically-grounded mental health services within the Seventh-day Adventist community. While always open to clients from any belief system, our providers were exclusively Seventh-day Adventists, aligning with our Adventist-supportive mental health services. However, as we expanded, we decided to offer coaching certification and platforming to individuals who agree with the basic tenets of our faith. These tenets are expressed in a series presented at our weekly Zoom Bible study. If you are unfamiliar with Adventist beliefs, we encourage you to review the studies to determine if you sincerely align with our "brand".
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Conduct 10 coaching or group sessions
Reporting to and receiving supervision from the Intake Supervisor. Volunteer opportunities available through Abide or tap into the local community. One suggestion is to conduct a Zoom or in-person small group using the 13 Weeks books. Contact the Intake Supervisor to get started.
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Monthly group call for counselors and coaches
First Monday of each month at 8 PM ET in Zoom @ 656 079 5097. Attend the meeting or watch the videos. Email reminders will be sent after completing the training.
Level Two
ABIDE MENTAL HEALTH COACH
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"Anxiety & Depression Relief Workshop":
Attend the six-week workshop, watch videos, read the workbook, and write a one-page reaction paper for the Educational Supervisor. Provide six 30-45-minute coaching sessions to another attendee.
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"Abuse, Trauma, & Faith Workshop":
Attend the six-week workshop, read the workbook, and write a one-page reaction paper for the Educational Supervisor. Provide six 30-45-minute coaching sessions to another attendee.
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"Try This at Home: Marriage Workshop":
Attend the six-week workshop, read the workbook, and write a one-page reaction paper for the Educational Supervisor. Provide six 30-45-minute coaching sessions to another attendee.
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Project Safe Church Training:
Attend the one-day event on preventing and responding to sexual abuse in a church context. Write a one-page reaction paper for the Educational Supervisor.
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Conduct 40 additional coaching or group sessions.
These sessions can be associated with the workshops or be the applicant's own coaching sessions or group sessions in collaboration with Abide. Report to and receive supervision from the Intake Supervisor.
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Complete two additional elective courses
–in mental health-related fields. Discuss course options with the Educational Supervisor (e.g., college-level psych and counseling courses, Nedley Depression & Anxiety materials, Light University courses).
Summary and approximate costs:
ABIDE COACH Certification
Successful completion of activities related to:
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13 Weeks to Peace $15
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The 7 Deadly Psychological Sins
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13 Weeks to Love $15
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The 7 Deadly Relationship Sins
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God Made Love
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Abide Helper Training $200
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10 coaching sessions
ABIDE MENTAL HEALTH COACH Certification
Anxiety & Depression Relief Workshop $150
Abuse, Trauma, & Faith Workshop $150
Try This at Home: Marriage Workshop $300
Project Safe Church Training $100
40 more coaching sessions
Two additional courses
Monthly Abide Network meetings
Most products can be purchased from Dr. Jen's online store and many of the videos can be accessed for free on YouTube.
To register for workshops/trainings, click here.