Video interaction guidance (CPD108)
Learn a new intervention to help parents and carers, experiencing communication difficulties with their children, develop better relationships
This four half-day online training course with one afternoon to study the VIG Theory will provide an introduction to video interaction guidance (VIG) and its theoretical origins and gives practitioners the skills to start delivering VIG face to face and online.
Video interaction guidance is a relatively new intervention approach in the UK whose methods, quality and standards are specified by the Association for Video Interaction Guidance UK. VIG works in a respectful and collaborative way with clients using edited video clips of ‘better than usual’ communication between people as the basis of reflective dialogue about how to develop the relationship further.
It is a relationship-based intervention which helps parents become more sensitive and attuned to their child’s emotional needs, regardless of the age of the child. There is a growing evidence base for the effectiveness of relatively short sensitivity-focused interventions with parents using video feedback in an attuned way.
VIG has been used by a wide range of staff including educational and clinical psychologists, social workers, CAMHS workers, health visitors, residential care staff, speech and language therapists, children’s centre workers and peripatetic teachers in early years and special education settings.
It has often been used in situations where communication and relationships between adults and children or young people have almost completely broken down as well as in situations in which good communication has been slow to develop.
There is a developing evidence base for the effectiveness of VIG in promoting change in families where a history of professional input has failed to lead to change.
This new carefully adapted VIG initial training course provides the official AVIGuk accredited ITC PLUS training in online delivery of the intervention.
Aims and learning objectives
After this course, participants will understand how and why VIG works and will be able to describe the principles of attuned communication.
Participants will be able to take their new awareness of initiatives and reception and other principles of attuned interactions into their professional observations of parent-child or teacher- student communication.
Having seen themselves on video and experienced supportive feedback about their communication style from peers, participants will also be able to describe their own strengths in communication with clients and identify for themselves a working point or goal for change in communication. Participants will also have practice in using a camcorder and downloading video on to a laptop.
Who is this course for?
This course provides introductory training in the approach of VIG for professionals who work with parents and carers who are experiencing difficulties in communication with their children and wish to develop better relationships with them.
VIG is also relevant to staff who work with children and young people in care settings, special education, for staff in higher education support, or staff working in specialist projects such as the family drug and alcohol court.
Course details
On the first day there will be a 3.5 hour half day session, followed by afternoon reading and a final half hour discussion at the end of the day. Following this, there will be three half -day sessions, each lasting 4 hours:
June 2025 Cohort: £550
| Sessions | Date | Start time | End time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1/4 | Tuesday 10 June 2025 | 9.00am | 4.00pm |
| Session 2/4 | Wednesday 11 June 2025 | 9.00am | 1.00pm |
| Session 3/4 | Thursday 12 June 2025 | 9.00am | 1.00pm |
| Session 4/4 | Friday 13 June 2025 | 9.00am | 1.00pm |
November 2025 Cohort: £575
| Sessions | Date | Start time | End time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1/4 | Tuesday 18 November 2025 | 9.00am | 4.00pm |
| Session 2/4 | Wednesday 19 November 2025 | 9.00am | 1.00pm |
| Session 3/4 | Thursday 20 November 2025 | 9.00am | 1.00pm |
| Session 4/4 | Friday 21 November 2025 | 9.00am | 1.00pm |
This course will be delivered remotely using Zoom, and the sessions will not be recorded.
You will need a device with a microphone and camera together with a suitably fast internet connection. Although mobile devices and tablets can be used, we recommend the use of a laptop or desktop PC for the best experience. Some devices provided by employers may have restrictions in place. Please use this Zoom test link to check your set up before booking.
You will be sent the necessary login link about a week before the course start date. Should you have any concerns about the accessibility of remote delivery please contact us to discuss how we can best help you.
The course provides illustrations of clips used by guiders with clients and an introduction to the framework for micro-analysis of attuned and non-attuned interaction, based on the work of developmental psychologist Colwyn Trevarthen.
The ratio of trainers to participants will be roughly 1:4, to allow close support to the small group skills based practice sessions that participants will engage in on both days.
There are many opportunities for discussion in pairs and small groups plus an immersive experience of delivering VIG online in small groups led by an experienced trainer.
All you need to experience the VIG Initial Training Course is an up-to-date laptop. However, to continue with VIG you will need a simple camcorder with you such as an encrypted phone, tablet or simple video camera, and an up-to-date laptop where the video taken can be uploaded and edited ( the basic editing packages on laptops is sufficient eg Photos on all PCs and IMovie on apple devices).
The course in delivered through the AVIGuk Learning Platform and provides recommended pre-reading and in addition the book Video Interaction Guidance: a relationship-based Intervention to Promote Attunement, Empathy and Wellbeing, edited by Hilary Kennedy, Miriam Landor and Liz Todd and published by Jessica Kingsley is recommended and is a core text for the whole VIG training. The learning Platform also provides modules which enhance the VIG Training Course
Testimonials
Course facilitators
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Hilary Kennedy
Chartered educational psychologist and VIG trainer
Forthcoming course dates
Our courses run periodically throughout the year. Choose your preferred start date from the list below and book your place today.
You will receive confirmation by email, and we will be in touch approximately one week before the course starts with detailed joining instructions.
CPD certificate 
