Hi Alex-
Nice to see you're getting serious about the work. When Leonard Orr first invented the Rebirthing Breath, he put together some things he had learned from the Kriya Yoga tradition, in which I also happen to be initiated, 40 years ago. By speeding up the connected breath, he and his group produced radical results in going into the subconscious. This has expanded into the other breath formats available.
In my view, this breath can be very useful in self-work. However, I would recommend that you think of it as that special, mind-bending peyote trip that you're going to take on special occasions, let's say a few times a month, or maybe once a week for 10 weeks. I don't see it as something you want to make an everyday practice, because its too intense. What you can do everyday is gentle Ujjayi breathing, connected. This form of gentle breathing has the same effect, drawn-out, that the speeded up connected breath has. It allows prana to build up, and do its job as it sees fit, and it gently stirs up the subconsious, so it will appear and you can then process it. You can make it your daily practice, and its not so dramatic - its grounding and nurturing.
While the breath can be helpful, more important is the sense of relaxing into the moment - as you do the practices - so that you're not seeking something. The seeking is of the mind, never satisfied, always looking for more.
I don't see any reason why would necessarily need a facilitator for the Rebirth breath - there's no danger, except you might have a hard time keeping awake, which is the main facilitators main job.
