Who is it for?
This program is designed for cross-cultural and national care providers who already have experience in pastoral care, counseling, spiritual direction, coaching or healing prayer, but want more! We will help you build off your particular discipline to assess and treat a broad range of problems/disorders from a Biblical, Evidence-based perspective that addresses the whole person (Body, Mind, Heart, Spirit); and then prepare you to train others in your current context.
WHOLISTIC CARE TRAINING
WHAT IS IT?
A One Month Certification Program designed to equip and empower Wholistic Care providers who want to become trainers themselves within their cultural contexts. Over the 12 months, students will join a cohort with on-line classrooms and two in-person training weeks in Malaga, Spain. The training will be hands-on, experiential and include field assignments conducted in whatever context students serve. Our hope is to have Fully Equipped Trainers who are…
Skilled in the Wholistic Care of God’s people
Able to contextualize Wholistic Care within their culture
Able to provide training and supervision in Wholistic Care
What is the time commitment?
Approximately 2 hours per week or 8 hours per month during the 12 month program, not including the two in-person trainings.
Training Overview
You will learn how to integrate whatever care practices you have been providing into a much broader, wholistic care model. The Curriculum includes:
Introduction to the Discipline of Spiritual Direction; Mental Health Care; Inner Healing Prayer; Coaching
Integrated Interdisciplinary Care
Multi-Dimensional Assessment
Discernment Containers, Discernment Practices, Models of Spiritual Growth, Prayer Practices
Psychological First Aid and Crisis Debrief
Immanuel Prayer for inner healing
Applying the Wholistic Model to the treatment of:
Mood Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Trauma
Addiction Disorders
Psychosomatic Presentations
Crisis Intervention:
De-escalation Techniques
Domestic Violence
Suicide
Ethics, Self Care, & Professional Development
Principles and Practice in Adult Learning and Training
Models for Supervising Care Providers
Trainers
Dr. X. Nader Sahyouni is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a spiritual director with a Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Formation. He also has a background of research in neuroscience and cardiology. He regularly speaks at retreats and conferences on the intersection of psychotherapy, spiritual formation, and brain science. Nader is the author of “Anxiety Transformed: Prayer that Brings Enduring Change,” as well as “The Three A’s of Anxiety” prayer workbook. Nader lectures annually at North Park Theological Seminary’s Center for Spiritual Direction. He also volunteers as Asst. Director of Spiritual Foundations for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
Dr. Alex Galloway is a Clinical Psychologist providing counseling and training to cross-cultural workers in high risk areas. He serves with SentWell.org, a multidisciplinary team of therapists, spiritual directors, coaches and pastors living in community in Southern Spain to serve workers in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Alex has specialized interest in trauma, sexuality, and the holistic care of God’s people. He enjoys encouraging, equipping, and empowering those who minister on the “front lines.” He is married to Amy and has three grown daughters.
Please apply before November 1, 2025
Online start date: February 1st, 2026
In Person Training in Malaga, Spain: June 1st - 5th, 2026
The required In-Person Training for your Wholistic Care Certificate will take place at La Morada, SentWell’s retreat centre in Alhaurín de la Torre, Spain. This is a peaceful and safe area just inland from the Costa del Sol, ten minutes from the Mediterranean and fifteen minutes from Málaga airport (AGP). Málaga is well-served by many international carriers and connects with dozens of European countries with good onward connections to cities outside of Europe.
Complementary transfers are available from the Malaga Airport or Málaga’s Maria Zambrano train station on arrival day and departure day within the arrival and departure windows:
Arrivals on Sunday the 31st of May: 3pm--6pm
Departures on Saturday the 6th of June: 8am--12pm
Please plan to arrive by 3pm at the Málaga airport or train station on arrival day. If you are traveling by car, please plan to arrive at La Morada in Alhaurin de la Torre by 4pm. La Morada’s address: Av. el Alamillo, 13, 29130 Alhaurín de la Torre, Málaga.
You are free to leave anytime in the morning on departure day and complementary transfers will be available from 8am--12pm on this day.
Check out from the rooms: 11am
Wholistic Care Training Full Board
Your registration fee includes:
Full room and board (five nights’ accommodation in double room)
Three healthy, tasty meals per day and all snacks and drinks during the day
Content & materials
Access to Individual Professional Care Services
All of our professional staff raise full support which enables us to keep these prices low for cross-cultural workers.
Double occupancy: 799€
Single occupancy: 999€
Both trainers have agreed to donate their time and expertise to keep the costs as affordable as possible for our students. Please let us know if finances are a concern for you. Scholarships may be available.
Please let us know if finances are a concern for you. Scholarships may be available.
There are three options for payment:
1) If you are part of Novo, you may pay by internal transfer. Contact Maya.gancheva@novo.org for details.
2) You may pay in euros by making a payment into our Spanish bank account. Contact maya.gancheva@novo.org for details.
3) You may pay by credit card in US dollars via the “Registration” tab.
STEP 1
We are delighted that you are ready to sign up for the Wholistic Care Training! Please complete the application form via the button below. The event facilitators review all applications before inviting you to confirm your registration via payment. If you have any questions at any point, please email xnader@myspiritualdirector.com and we will do our best to help you.
Please apply before November 1, 2025
STEP 2
Once we have reviewed and accepted your application, you will have three possible payment options.
1) If you would like to pay by credit card in USD, please pay by clicking the button
2) If you would prefer to pay in euros by bank transfer, please contact Maya.gancheva@novo.org.
3) If you are part of Novo, you may make an internal transfer to the following fund: 9808-00 SentWell La Morada.