Frequently Asked Questions
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The Restoring Connections mentoring programmes are created for individuals. We have found that working with individuals on their own personal growth has the greatest transformational impact on their relationships, especially their relationship with their romantic partner. We encourage both members of a couple to engage in their own unique Restoring Connections Personal Mentoring programme.
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We are not, and we do not see what we do as counselling. We journey alongside those engaged in our programmes, offering proven tools, support and gentle guidance in how to develop good practices for dealing with conflict and deepening relational connections.
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Yes. Reach out to us directly to find out what prerequisites are involved in having a Restoring Connections Mentor assist you with mediation in an important relationship.
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We are currently developing our Mentor Training programme as we know there are many out there that would do an incredible job journeying alongside others. One of the prerequisites to join our Mentor Training programme is to have done at least two years of personal mentoring.
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Restoring Connections consists of a complimentary free introductions course and then four core courses:
Course 1. Personal Responsibility
Course 2. Proactive Care
Course 3. Powerful Communication
Course 4. Healthy Boundaries
Each course comprises 4 videos that are approx. 20 minutes long, each with three distinct sections of processing questions that we recommend taking about a 1hr – 1.5hrs to work through. Participants are able to work through the courses at their own pace and reflect back at any time unless a pace is agreed on by the Restoring Connections Mentor and the Participant.
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Restoring Connections is a non-profit initiative with tax-deductible, charitable status in Aotearoa, New Zealand. As such, all of our programmes and day-to-day operations are funded through the generosity of individuals and organisations that believe in the community-focused work that we do, as well as financial contributions from programme participants.
General
Personal Mentoring
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Personal interaction with the Restoring Connections Mentor via video messaging and live sessions.
Exclusive access to Restoring Connections online courses for programme participants only.
Advice and guidance towards recommended action points and strong accountability.
Concludes with an opportunity to pursue becoming a Restoring Connections Mentor.
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What you contribute is entirely up to you, as everything we do is fuelled through mutual generosity. We make your growth our priority and trust that our costs will be covered. Your contribution goes towards our charitable trust and helps us to continue serving and supporting others.
People who invest in their own growth tend to see the highest level of personal transformation. We suggest a donation of $85NZD per month as a means of keeping yourself motivated & engaged.
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The course is only available within one of the Restoring Connection programmes, which is not just limited to Personal Mentoring; we also offer Team Mentoring, Couples Retreats, Workshops and Mediation. Participants will be given access to the online courses whenever they engage in one of these programmes.
Team Mentoring
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Our Restoring Connections Team Mentoring Programme runs in two phases.
We treat each phase as a unique arrangement, with an in-depth checkpoint upon the completion of each phase before heading into the next phase.
There is no expectation of going forward into Phase 2 upon the completion of Phase 1. This gives us a chance to reflect on the effectiveness of the strategy and make adjustments, as needed to suit your group.
o Phase 1 - Team Workshops
o Phase 2 - Mentoring Sessions for Leaders
Each phase has optional Strengths Coaching ‘Ad-Ons’ if this is of interest.
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Phase 1 Team Workshops for all team members [including Managers etc]
We have found that for Phase 1 to be most effective, it needs to be kept within a 2-month period, max. There are eight 1.5-hour workshops in total. This means that within the 2-month max period, a team leader can decide between the below options.
8 workshops to be completed within two months [includes workbooks and access to Restoring Connection Online Courses] either as:
o eight x 1.5-hour sessions
o four x 3-hour sessions
o two x 6-hour sessions
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Managers / Team leaders can choose whether or not they’d like to include the CliftonStrengths Coaching as an ‘Ad-On’ for their team.
For Phase 1 adding Strengths Coaching includes the following:
o Each team member completes a Clifton Top 5 Strengths Assessment. [Note: Clifton charges $35NZD each for these assessments.]
o Each team member does a 90-minute, Individual Top-5 Strengths Coaching Session with our Coach.
Please note: To be able to engage the Strengths Partnership or Team Coaching Add-On in Phase 2, every member of the team must complete an Individual Strengths Coaching session first.
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Mentoring Sessions for Leaders (approx the 2-3 key team leaders).
Phase 2 is also ideally kept within a 2-month period, max.
This includes weekly one-on-one, 90-minute mentoring sessions with your top two or three most influential team members, including the Manager/ Team Leader.
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Managers/Team leaders can also choose whether or not they’d like to add ClftonStrengths Team Coaching for their whole team in Phase 2 of Restoring Connections Team Mentoring.
For Phase 2, adding Strengths Team Coaching includes the following:
o As many 3-hour Team Strengths Coaching sessions as you would like, according to our Coach's availability.
o As many 90-minute Partnership Coaching sessions as you would like, according to our Coach's availability. [note - these sessions are for any two individuals within the team].
Please note: To be able to engage the Strengths Partnership or Team Coaching Add-On in Phase 2, every member of the team must complete Individual Coaching first.
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CliftonStrengths Coaching
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The Restoring Connections Team Mentoring programme walks teams through the Restoring Connections training curriculum while offering additional personalised support and mentoring.
CliftonStrengths Coaching is offered by trained and accredited CliftonStrengths Coaches and looks specifically at the outcomes of CliftonStrengths assessments and how individuals, partners and teams can best flourish in their identified strengths.
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Generally, no, as most individuals will not see meaningful changes in their results. The times we may advise retaking the assessment are if the individual was distracted while taking it, took it in a non-native language, or took it early on in their life, and more than 10 years have passed (as they may interpret the questions differently).
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"Strengths science answers questions about what's right with people rather than what's wrong with them." -- Don Clifton
Traditionally, the field of psychology was focused more on interventions that decreased an individual's misery. But Don Clifton saw an opportunity to supplement this traditional science -- a way to build the "enabling conditions of life." Strengths science answers questions about what's right with people rather than what's wrong with them.
Clifton initiated early work on strengths and received a Presidential Commendation from the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2003 as the father of strengths-based psychology and the grandfather of positive psychology for his efforts.