FAQs about THJ
Who has trained to conduct THE HUMAN JOURNEY®?
- Therapists in private practice
- Chaplains
- Addictions counselors
- Hospice social workers, chaplains, nurses, and administrators
- Geriatric care managers
- Medical social workers
- Volunteers with facilitation skills
- Occupational and expressive arts therapists
How much time does the training take?
You’ll read the Guidebook in advance of the first session and you’ll conduct two practice sessions using your family and friends, so plan on an additional evening for each of the two middle weeks.
How hard is it to learn to conduct THE HUMAN JOURNEY®?
Between Sessions 1 and 2 you’ll have a chance to practice a “Half Journey,” and between Sessions 2 and 3, you’ll conduct a full Journey.
Between your two practices, the live webinar instruction, and having the Conductor’s Guidebook as a reference manual, you’ll have everything you need to be a successful THJ® Conductor by the time you complete Session 3.
And don’t forget: you’ll have a private “touch-base” session with us after you’ve been putting THJ® into play in your professional setting, so you’ll be able to get any targeted support you need.
How much does it cost to become a Certified THE HUMAN JOURNEY® Conductor?
What if I can't make all the training dates?
Why do you use the term Conductor instead of facilitator?
That combination of warmth and firmness can be found in others besides therapists! We’ve trained Conductors who are volunteers as well as people who work in geriatric care management, addiction counseling, social service agencies, administration, nursing, and spiritual counseling.
Those who have been teachers, consultants, facilitators, yoga teachers, or coaches would be likely to be “naturals,” but if you have the twin skills of “holding space” and “holding firm,” you’ll be successful as a THJ® Conductor.
Is THE HUMAN JOURNEY® just for hospice? I see a lot about hospice here.
THE HUMAN JOURNEY® helps any group that wants to support a loved one or to deepen their relationships. While it was developed in consultation with hospices, it’s helping folks in a wide variety of settings.
I'm not a therapist, but I'd still like to provide this experience for families or groups. Can I still train?
That combination of warmth and firmness can be found in others besides therapists! We’ve trained Conductors who are volunteers as well as people who work in geriatric care management, addiction counseling, social service agencies, administration, nursing, and spiritual counseling.
Those who have been teachers, consultants, facilitators, yoga teachers, or coaches would be likely to be “naturals,” but if you have the twin skills of “holding space” and “holding firm,” you’ll be successful as a THJ® Conductor.
How long does THE HUMAN JOURNEY® experience typically take?
Therapists who use THE HUMAN JOURNEY® in their practice will find the experience divides neatly into three sections that can be completed in three conventional hourlong sessions.
If you're conducting THE HUMAN JOURNEY® in a hospice setting, is the patient supposed to play?
Often, the patient is the one most invested in gathering others to take part. However, if the patient is not well enough to take part in the THJ® Experience, we recommend playing in the patient’s presence. It can be a great comfort to hospice patients to feel and have confidence in the family’s enduring commitment to each other, even if he or she cannot actively participate. Indeed, what they experience during THJ® may be a kind of felt, rather than voiced, permission to make their own best decision.
What if someone in the family or group doesn't want to participate?
Our philosophy is that whoever wants to take part are the right people to do it. THE HUMAN JOURNEY® is invitational, meaning, it invites people to participate, and to continue participating, without any coercion. It has many “safeties” built in to make participating, for as long as each participant elects to, easy and without judgment.
Sometimes people want to start out just sitting on the sidelines, and that’s fine, too. It’s common for them to choose to jump in sometime along the way.
Is there a minimum age that's appropriate to play?
Keep in mind it’s fine for children (like adults!) to participate for part of the THJ® Experience if they’d like.