Training Agreement  |  PT5  |  2026–2027

The Training

The Shamanic Practitioner Training (PT5) runs for approximately one year. The programme combines live online workshops, one-to-one practice with volunteer clients, written and video case study submissions, required reading, and deep and ongoing personal development work.

Completion of The Cauldron’s Way (Intro, Lower, Middle, and Upper) is a prerequisite and must be completed before the Induction Week.

Our Commitment to You

Rhonda McCrimmon and the Teaching Faculty commit to:

• Showing up to all scheduled workshops prepared and fully present. If a facilitator is unable to hold space due to illness or personal circumstances, this will be communicated honestly and any lost time reallocated so that nothing in the curriculum is missed.
• Providing thoughtful, constructive feedback on your case studies within four weeks of submission. We are committed to fully understanding your unique process and will ask questions rather than make assumptions.
• Holding a firm, safe, and sacred training space, grounded in the values of the Centre for Shamanism, for the full duration of the programme.
• Being available via Circle and group calls. Rhonda will be present on group calls and on Circle 1-2 times per week (except during holidays). All questions will be acknowledged within 5 working days. During summer and winter breaks, response times may be longer. You are always welcome to follow up if something has been missed.
• Supporting you to grow into your own unique voice and spirit-led practice. We are not here to shape you into any particular image of what a shamanic practitioner should be.

Your Commitments

Please read each item below carefully. 

Attendance and Participation

• I am enrolling with the genuine intention of graduating from this programme.
• I will make every reasonable effort to attend all live workshops and to arrive on time. I understand that consistent absence, or absence without communication, puts my place in the programme at risk. If I do have to miss a live workshop, I will review the recording in a timely manner to stay current with my training.
• I commit to being fully present when I attend: prepared, available, and willing to engage with the work.
• I understand that if circumstances arise that affect my ability to participate, it is my responsibility to communicate with the Teaching Faculty promptly. The Teaching Faculty will work with me wherever possible, but cannot support what they do not know about.

Case Studies and Coursework

• I understand that completing and submitting case studies is a core graduation requirement across all training modalities, and that they must be submitted on a consistent basis throughout the year.
• I understand that some case study submissions require video format, recorded via Zoom or equivalent software. I confirm that I have access to a laptop or computer capable of recording video. I understand that a phone-only setup is not sufficient for the video submission requirements of this programme.
• I will engage with case study feedback openly. I understand that questions from the Teaching Faculty are aimed at deepening understanding, not at judging my work. I commit to remaining willing to discuss and expand on what I have submitted.
• I commit to completing the required reading during the course of the training year, and engaging with it using critical and self-reflective thinking.

The Training Container

• I understand that this training operates within a shared sacred container, held by the Teaching Faculty and co-created with all participants. I commit to contributing to the health and integrity of that space through my conduct, honesty, and care for others.
• I will hold everything shared in group calls and in Circle in strict confidence. I am welcome to share my own experience. I will not share anyone else’s.
• I will give other participants feedback only when they have explicitly asked for it. I trust in every member’s ability to navigate their own journey.
• I will approach disagreement and conflict with directness and integrity. If I have a concern with another participant, with Rhonda, or with the Teaching Faculty, I will address it directly and respectfully rather than allowing it to fester or involve others unnecessarily.
• I understand that this space is often challenging and initiatory. I understand that feeling uncomfortable is part of the process. Managing my emotions and asking for support when I need it is my responsibility.
• I commit to using group calls and Circle as my primary channels for questions and shares during the programme. Direct contact with Rhonda or the Teaching Faculty is reserved for specific needs.

Personal Responsibility and Conduct

• I take full responsibility for my wellbeing during this training. I commit to continuing my own personal development work, including engaging with my shadow, triggers, and any factors that may affect my ability to hold effective healing space for others.
• I acknowledge that my own history, shadow, and life experience can colour my perception, and that I do not always have the full picture. I commit to approaching this work with an open heart, genuine humility, and a willingness to be changed by it.
• I commit to conducting myself with integrity and respect in all interactions: with the Teaching Faculty, with fellow participants, and with any clients I see as part of my case study work.
• I agree to consider my own biases in all interactions. Others holding different views or experiences from my own does not make them wrong, and does not make me right.

Wellbeing and Informed Consent

• I understand that the content of this training can be emotionally and psychologically demanding. I take responsibility for consulting with a relevant health professional if I have any concerns about my capacity to engage with this material safely.
• If I am currently under the care of a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional, I understand it would be wise to inform them of my participation and ensure they are supportive. This is not a formal requirement, but I recognise it is in my best interest.
• I understand that this training is educational in nature and does not constitute psychotherapy or a substitute for it.

Graduation and Continuation

Graduation requires completion of the case study requirements across all modalities, consistent attendance and participation, and demonstration of the values and conduct described in this agreement.

The Teaching Faculty are committed to supporting every participant toward graduation. However, if a participant is not actively working toward completion due to extended absence, non-submission of coursework, or persistent conduct issues, the Teaching Faculty reserve the right to have a direct conversation about whether continuation is appropriate.

This will never happen without warning and without genuine effort on our part to find a way forward. We hold the integrity of the training container as a responsibility to all participants, and we will act accordingly.

Intellectual Property and Confidentiality

All curriculum materials, teachings, recordings, and content shared within the Practitioner Training are the intellectual property of the Centre for Shamanism and/or Rhonda McCrimmon. You are granted a personal, non-transferable licence to use these materials for your own learning and practice only.

You may not reproduce, distribute, publish, teach from, or share programme materials with any third party without explicit written permission from the Centre for Shamanism.

Rhonda McCrimmon and the Teaching Faculty may discuss anonymised themes from the training with supervisors or peers as part of their own professional practice. No identifying information will be shared.

Data and Privacy

Your personal data will be held and processed by the Centre for Shamanism for the purposes of administering your participation in the programme. This may include sharing basic contact information (such as your name and email address) with other participants in the training group. We hold your data in accordance with applicable data protection law.

Governing Law

This agreement is governed by the laws of Scotland. Any disputes arising from participation in the Practitioner Training will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Scottish courts.