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The Certified Journal Facilitator Program

What is the Certified Journal Facilitator training program?
The Certified Journal Facilitator (CJF) program is a comprehensive, intensive, distance learning course of study that prepares individuals to facilitate writing groups and individual sessions that are intended to have healing, growth and/or therapeutic outcomes. It is offered by the Center for Journal Therapy, Inc., a for-profit corporation through its CEO, Kathleen Adams, who serves as the Training Director. The Center for Journal Therapy is not an unbiased, independent provider of professional certification. It is, however, an organization that has worldwide respect and credibility as a premier training institute in journal therapy.

What is required for admission?
Minimum entrance requirements include bachelor's degree or professional license (e.g., RN) if bachelor's degree is not required for licensure. Other admission requirements include written application, letters of reference, personal interviews, transcripts and a personal statement. Application forms will be provided on request.

Must I be a licensed psychotherapist to undertake this training?
No. However, those who are not trained and licensed in psychotherapy will be assessed carefully for their interest and prior experience in the human potential movement, their history and experience with journal writing as a means to personal growth and healing, their own experiences with healing through methods such as: 1) psychotherapy; 2) spiritual direction; 3) extensive personal growth work; and/or direct work with a teacher/mentor, as well as their emotional and psychological maturity and readiness for immersion into an intense course of study.

If I am a licensed psychotherapist, may I call myself a Certified Journal Therapist at the end of training?
No. The Center for Journal Therapy, of its own authority, cannot issue a credential with the word "therapist" in the title, even when licensure exists. However, licensed psychotherapists whose work in the 400 Series includes clinical populations may apply for and receive the Certified Clinical Journal Facilitator (CCJF) designation.

What is required for completion?
The CJF program is divided into five groups, or series, of coursework. All five series must be satisfactorily completed before the CJF is granted; however, it is not necessary to take the series of classes in strict chronological order. Each series can be taken contemporaneously with at least one other series. The entire program is comprised of 42 educational units, each of which represents 10-12 hours of study and/or supervised practice.

What if I have already taken some classes that you are offering?
There will be tuition adjustments for courses that have been completed and for which documentation exists. Examples include: 1) those who are currently certified as instructors for the Journal to the Self training; 2) those who are currently credentialed as Certified Applied Poetry Facilitators or Certified or Registered Poetry Therapists; 3) mental health professionals who can document the program's psychology coursework on graduate transcripts.

How long will it take?
The entire course is designed to be completed in 18-24 months. Those who transfer in portions of the program, as above, may find it possible to complete in as few as 15 months.

What are the learning methodologies?
Although this is a distance learning course, there is a strong element of community built in. One primary learning methodology will be teleconferences. These audio "classrooms" will allow trainees to connect with and learn from each other as well as from the core and guest faculty. An on-line asynchronous "classroom" where ongoing threaded discussions will take place for all series also contributes to community. Guided independent study, small groups, individual teleconferences with faculty, conferences, and residential intensives are other learning methodologies. In all, there are more than a dozen learning methodologies that combine for a maximally effective learning experience.

Is there the opportunity for "live" training?
Optional retreats and intensives are offered in Denver twice a year. These are typically long weekends (Thurs evening-Sun noon) that focus specifically on the experiential learning and professional practice portions of the program, along with whatever specialized learning that particular cohort of trainees requests.
Because they are optional, these retreats and intensives are not included in the course tuition.

Journal Conference 2008 (June 18-21, 2008 in Denver) offers an unprecedented opportunity to study with many of the leading authors, theorists, thinkers and practitioners in the field.

Kathleen Adams travels the country teaching a one-day Clinical Journal Therapy training for Cross Country Education. All trainees will be updated with her current schedule as it is known.

What is unique about this program?
Several components make this program unique. One is emphasis on research and publication in the field. Research studies will be structured to gather data on the cumulative effect of writing over time, as facilitated by a supervised professional in training. Dr. James Pennebaker, the preeminent researcher on the topic of writing and healing, has accepted an invitation to serve as guest faculty for the Research Methods class.

Another unique feature is an emphasis on learning curriculum development skills. Each writing group curriculum will be submitted to a curriculum archive so that there will be an extensive, growing library of facilitation plans and curricula for writing groups of all descriptions, with all populations, including reports on outcomes. CJF program graduates will continue to have access to this library for as long as they are active members of the CJF community.

Participants will learn fundamentals of business success, including business planning, marketing, fee-setting, grantwriting and business development. This program builds long-term success into the training model, and trainees will begin charging fees for their work starting with their first groups. This "earn-as-you-learn" aspect is a third unique feature of the CJF program.

Is the CJF available for continuing education for licensed therapists or registered nurses?
The Center for Journal Therapy is an approved provider of continuing education for the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). Licensed professional counselors (LPCs), nationally certified counselors (NCCs), and other psychotherapists whose licenses are recognized through NBCC, or whose state licensing boards accept NBCC-approved continuing education, may receive up to 500 clock hours (50 CEUs) for the entire program. If there is sufficient interest, application may be made to the American Holistic Nurses Association for CEUs for RNs.

Who is the faculty?
Kathleen Adams, CEO and Director, Center for Journal Therapy, Inc., is the creator and Training Director of the CJF program. She is a gifted and wise mentor who has facilitated journal groups continuously since 1985. Her six books are considered essential texts in the field, and she is known worldwide as a leading theorist and practitioner of journal therapy. From 2000-2006, as an approved mentor/supervisor for the National Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy, she focused her attention on training facilitators in a dually focused program of poetry and journal therapy. The CJF program marks a return to her full-time practice of education and training in journal therapy.

Additional core and guest faculty will be added by the time the program is ready to launch in January 2008..

The program begins in January 2008?
The tentative launch date is January 21, 2008. Applications will be accepted beginning November 15, 2007.

How many trainees will be accepted?
Probably 12-15 to begin. New classes will start in September 2008.

How can I see the full curriculum and fee structure?
Two steps: First, email Kathleen Adams at KAdamsRPT (at) aol.com with a letter of interest. Then, schedule a telephone conference to discuss the details of the program by calling 888-421-2298.

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