Train to work at the deepest level of somatic performance therapy
The Focal Dystonia Method and Free to Perform Certification is the only professional training of its kind — an 18-month personal and clinical journey, open to a maximum of 12 practitioners per year, that takes you beneath the symptom, into the nervous system patterns behind focal dystonia and performance blocks, and prepares you to guide clients back to natural movement, freedom, and flow.
Train to work at the deepest level of somatic performance therapy
The Focal Dystonia Method and Free to Perform Certification is the only professional training of its kind — an 18-month personal and clinical journey, open to a maximum of 12 practitioners per year, that takes you beneath the symptom, into the nervous system patterns behind focal dystonia and performance blocks, and prepares you to guide clients back to natural movement, freedom, and flow.
On Certification
Completing the certification is not the end point — it is the beginning of a new chapter as part of an exclusive community of practice.
On successful completion, certified practitioners receive:
- A listing on Ruth Chiles’ website as an approved practitioner — visible to clients doing the online focal dystonia programme who are seeking 1:1 support
- Certification in both the Focal Dystonia Method and the Free to Perform framework
- The right to attend the focal dystonia programme’s monthly live sessions as a recognised certified practitioner
- Priority access to Ruth’s diary for regular 1:1 consultancy sessions
- Membership of an exclusive certified practitioner community
- A front-row position as the Free to Perform online programme launches in 2027 — opening a new and growing client stream in elite sport and performance
Full programme details including the competency framework are available on request. Contact Ruth’s assistant using the form.
Who this programme is for
This programme is for therapists and coaches who are ready to go beyond technique — into the nervous system roots of performance, and into their own personal process as the foundation for genuinely transformative clinical work.
You do not need prior knowledge of focal dystonia or performance enhancement. What you need is clinical grounding, personal willingness, and professional commitment.
Places are limited to 12 per year. We look for practitioners who are not only qualified and experienced, but who bring the depth of personal investment that this programme demands.
Psychotherapists
Bring the depth of nervous system science to your existing clinical framework. Expand your capacity to work with performers, athletes, and anyone whose body has become the site of their distress.
Counsellors
Move beyond talk into the somatic roots of performance blocks and focal dystonia. Work with the whole person — body, nervous system, and story.
Coaches
Specialise in the high-performance space with a method that goes further than any coaching approach — into the nervous system patterns that stand between performers and their full potential.
Somatic Practitioners
Deepen your existing somatic work with a specific, neurobiologically grounded approach for the most complex end of the performance block spectrum.
Who Can Apply
All applicants must hold a recognised professional qualification in psychotherapy, counselling, or coaching, with a minimum of 2 years post-qualification practice and membership of a recognised professional body.
How Certification is Awarded
Participants must successfully complete the full programme requirements, including a demonstration of key clinical competences assessed by Ruth Chiles. Full details of the competency framework are available in the programme information pack — request yours using the contact form below.
Please note: completion of Brainspotting Phases 1 and 2 with a recognised trainer is required before certification can be awarded. For those who have not yet completed this training, we recommend Mark Grixti at Brainspotting UK (bspuk.co.uk). This training can be completed alongside the programme.
The Focal Dystonia Method is currently applied in work with Olympic athletes and teams.
Your investment
LEVEL 1
Personal Process
12 Months
4,900€
Pay in full
390€
Per month
LEVEL 2
Clinical Preparation
6 Months
2,450€
Pay in full
Or
390€
Per month
Cohort Note
This is an exclusive programme. Places are limited to a maximum of 12 practitioners per year, with one cohort annually. The first cohort begins January 2027.
Payment Note
1000€ deposit then beginning 1stmonth of each program 390€ over 10 months for level 1 and 5 months for level 2.
The application process
This programme is deliberately exclusive. A maximum of 12 places are available per year, and every application is considered individually by Ruth Chiles. We are not simply looking for qualified practitioners — we are looking for the right people: those with the professional grounding, the personal depth, and the genuine commitment that this programme demands and deserves.
The process has been designed to be thorough without being onerous — and to ensure that everyone who joins does so with full clarity and the confidence that they are joining a cohort of equally serious peers.
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Initial Enquiry
Complete a short online enquiry form. We will confirm your eligibility and send you the full programme information pack — including the competency framework — within 5 working days.
Written Application
Complete the full application form, including a personal statement reflecting on your therapeutic journey, your clinical or coaching approach, and your readiness for this programme.
Professional Reference
Provide one reference from your clinical supervisor or a senior colleague who knows your work directly.
Interview with Ruth
Shortlisted candidates are invited to a 45-minute video call with Ruth Chiles — a genuine conversation to assess fit on both sides.
Decisions are communicated within 10 working days of interview. A non-refundable deposit of £1,000 secures your place.
Common Questions
Do I need experience of focal dystonia to apply?
No. You need clinical experience, personal commitment, and an openness to somatic, nervous-system-based approaches. The programme gives you the knowledge of focal dystonia and performance blocks — and the personal experience of the path to flow.
What professional qualifications do I need?
You should be a qualified psychotherapist, counsellor, or coach with membership of a recognised professional body (such as BACP, UKCP, BPS, ICF, EMCC, UK Coaching or equivalent) and a minimum of 2 years post-qualification practice.
How much time does the programme require?
Approximately 3-4 hours per week for the online modules and learning journal, plus one 3-hour live group consultancy session per month with Ruth Chiles. Accepted participants begin the online programme immediately on enrolment, ahead of the first group session in January 2027.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes — a monthly payment plan of 390€ per month is available for both Level 1 and Level 2, set up by direct debit. A non-refundable deposit of 1,000€ is required to secure your place.
What happens after I qualify?
On certification you are listed on Ruth’s website as an approved practitioner, certified in both the Focal Dystonia Method and the Free to Perform framework, and welcomed into an exclusive community of certified practitioners. You receive priority access to Ruth’s diary for regular 1:1 consultancy sessions, and a front-row position as the Free to Perform programme launches in 2027.
Is Brainspotting training required?
Completion of Brainspotting Phases 1 and 2 with a recognised trainer is not required to begin the programme, but must be completed before certification can be awarded. We recommend training with Mark Grixti at Brainspotting UK (bspuk.co.uk).
When does the first cohort start?
The first cohort is exclusive to 12 practitioners. Accepted participants begin the online programme immediately on enrolment. The first monthly group consultancy session with Ruth takes place in January 2027. Applications are open now.
Is this a trauma-informed training?
Yes. The Focal Dystonia Method and Free to Perform framework are deeply rooted in trauma-informed principles, polyvagal theory, and nervous system science. The programme approaches focal dystonia and performance blocks as expressions of nervous system adaptation — not mechanical faults or mental weakness — and works with the whole person accordingly.
Is this programme relevant if I don't currently work with performers or athletes?
Many practitioners find that the nervous system principles they develop through this programme apply far beyond the performance world. However, the certification is specifically designed for those who work with — or wish to work with — musicians, athletes, performers, and anyone whose body has become the site of their professional.
The first cohort begins January 2027.
A maximum of 12 places. One cohort per year. Applications are open now.
If this work resonates with you, we warmly invite you to apply. The application process begins with a short enquiry form — it takes one minute and allows us to confirm your eligibility and send you the full programme information pack before you complete the full application.