The Greenspan Floortime Approach Certification Program

Learn the fundamentals of The Greenspan Floortime Approach that every professional should know, and learn the techniques and goal writing specific to your field.

The Greenspan Floortime Approach® understands that Speech and Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Educators and Mental Health Professionals all operate in different environments and have different challenges when integrating Greenspan Floortime into their work.  As a result, different types of therapists need to be trained by and get feedback from professionals in their field who have already successfully integrated the techniques and goals into their practice.  The Greenspan Floortime Approach has uniform fundamentals principles that must be used, and may even look similar to the untrained eye across many curriculums, but the skills and techniques each type of therapists must learn are different based on their background.

   The Greenspan Floortime Approach also recognizes for children to make optimal progress that it should be used across many disciplines.  A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM approach is necessary to accomplish this.  To help build more of these teams we are offering special discount packages for teams of professionals of 4 or more.  If you are part of a team or are trying to organize one in your area, then contact us for discounts and scheduling, certifcation@greenspanfloortime.com.

Our training will include universal multidisciplinary components, as well as a focus on what you individually as an OT, SLP, Educator, or Mental Health professional need to do to integrate Greenspan Floortime techniques and goals into your practice.

The training will consist of,

  • The Fundamentals of Dr. Greenspan’s Model: Online Lectures from Jake Greenspan and Tim Bleecker (Dr. Greenspan’s protégés)
  • The Fundamentals of The Greenspan Floortime Approach: In-person or Online Lectures from Jake Greenspan and Tim Bleecker (Dr. Greenspan’s protégés)
  • Interdisciplinary Lectures in Greenspan Floortime:   Pre-recorded lectures from the lead SLP and OT Greenspan Floortime Therapists.
  • Feedback from a lead Greenspan Floortime Therapist in your field: 12 videos can be submitted for feedback, depending on your certification track. (submitted over an 8-16 week period)
    • The first 6 video submissions can be substituted  with Hands-On Training at The Floortime Center or with a group at your facility

Once you begin the training there are no refunds. If you have to stop the training due to unforeseen circumstances and need to resume later on, then we will work with you and your schedule.

All applicants must…  Prerequisites and application requirements

Applications (If there isn’t one for you, then please contact us.  Ask for Jake or Tim 301-657-1130 or email certification@greenspanfloortime.com

Speech and Language Pathologist Application

Occupational Therapist Application

Educator Application

Mental Health Professional Application

Click here for Permissions and Disclaimer

Certification Tracks:

There is a choice of two types of certification tracks: the Traditional or the Experienced.

Prerequisites

We recommend the Traditional Track even for those with some experience in Floortime Therapy. An individual who has been to Floortime conferences, completed readings on Floortime, and applied the Floortime principles in work with children should still begin with Level 1.

Level 1 and Level 2 Certifications MUST be done together. We have separated the 2 levels to give professionals a temporary certification allowing them to practice Greenspan Floortime and receive ongoing supervision.

There are a number of ways to start the training process in Level 1.  Please pick the one that best fits your availability.

Level 1 Options

Option 1:

Train at The Floortime Center (schedule your trip by contracting 301-657-1130)

2 days of hands-on training/observation at The Floortime Center in Bethesda MD

$600

Level 1 Options

Option 2:

Video Submissions (of 4 different children)

6 Greenspan Floortime video submissions with feedback and discussion

Click here for video requirements

$600

Level 1 Options

Option 3:

On-Site Training (Not at The Floortime Center)

Attend a 1-2 day Hands-on training hosted by an organization other than the Floortime Center. Jake or Tim of the Floortime Center must provide this training. 

$900

Level 2 Video Submissions

 

6 Greenspan Floortime Video Submissions (of 4 different children)

(Each video must be 10 minutes of a trainee doing Greenspan Floortime with a child)

3 videos will be reviewed and provided feedback via audio clips, or discussed during calls with a lead Greenspan Floortime therapist in your field.  Feedback calls with Jake Greenspan or Tim Bleecker may also be necessary if sufficient progress is not being shown as your videos progress.

$600

 

Experienced Track

Contact The Floortime Center directors if you are interested in this track.

The Experienced Track is for individuals who have had extensive supervision in the Floortime model. Individuals on the Experienced Track can bypass most of Level 2 certification training.

To qualify for the Experienced Track, an individual must submit videos of two different cases that will be graded by an evaluator who is trained in The Greenspan Floortime Approach®. (To prevent a conflict of interest, the evaluators will not be the directors.) After reviewing the videos it will be determined if the individual is ready for the Experienced Track and then how many hours of training are needed to graduate Level 2. Depending on the quality of the videos an individual may be required to do between 2 to 6 hours of additional training.

The training for the Experienced Track is done in groups of 3 to 4 participants. If you are not applying with a group, you may have to wait until there are enough individuals to create a small group. There is a non-refundable charge of $75 to apply for the Experienced Track.

 

Certification Levels

Level 1 Provisional (Temporary) Certification

Graduation from Level 1 gives the trainee a provisional license for one year that allows them to provide Greenspan Floortime® Services. It permits trainees to use The Greenspan Floortime Approach® as a provisional description referring to services they provide to children, including the use of the trademark as a descriptor of the services and as a credential they have earned from completing the Level 1 training. This is only a provisional license, and Level 1 graduates must begin Level 2 training within one year of receiving the provisional license to maintain it.

Level 2 Certification.

Graduation from Level 2 permits the trainee to be a non-provisional practitioner of The Greenspan Floortime Approach®. **This does not permit trainees to coach parents or professionals with a child.

Level 3 Certification

Level 3 training is similar to requirements for level 2 training, including Interactive training and video/conference calls.

Graduation from Level 3 permits trainees to coach parents and professionals in The Greenspan Floortime Approach® during their sessions with families.

Level 4 Certification

Level 4 training is similar to requirements for level 3 training, including Interactive training and video/conference calls.

Graduation from Level 4 permits trainees to give educational lectures on The Greenspan Floortime Approach®.

Requirements for Applying For Certification

  • Be 18 years or over.
  • Be proficient in English (Reading, Listening, and Speaking).
  • Have worked in child development for at least two years. Acceptable experience includes working at a school, clinic, or hospital with children with developmental challenges. (Self-employed individuals can only apply if they are a licensed professional).
  • Have attended the two-day introductory training course given by Jake Greenspan and Tim Bleecker within the last two years, or passed the Professional Course at www.stanleygreenspan.com
  • Used The Floortime Manual -Online
  • Have a detailed knowledge of the 6 basic and 3 advanced milestones.
  • Submit an application, resume and essay to be considered for this training. A follow-up phone interview with one of the directors may be part of the process.

Costs

  • Level 1 – $600 (provisional license) There is an additional $300 per person if training is done at your location
  • Level 2 – $600
  • Level 3 – $1,500 ($900 for Interactive training, $600 on-going conference calls)
  • Level 4 – $1,500 ($900 for Interactive training, $600 on-going conference calls)

Dr. Stanley Greenspan believed strongly that Greenspan Floortime could not be learned purely by listening to lectures and only getting feedback on how to use it with one single case or child.  He felt that truly learning how to do Greenspan Floortime required understanding how to apply the principles across a broad range of children at many different developmental milestones and ages. As a result, you’ll see the two options for training, a 6-video submission option (plus in-person hands-on training) or a 12-video submissions option to learn Greenspan Floortime. The new training system is focused on learning to apply Greenspan Floortime and is feedback intensive. 

Disclaimer

All participants will be asked to sign a contract before participating in the intensive training.