College Program
What is an HRHP?
An HRHP (Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner) is a graduate of Justisse College International. An HRHP work to empower females and their partners by sharing knowledge without prejudice, encouraging and guiding them in developing a healthy relationship to their reproductive bodies.
Justisse College provides comprehensive educator training in the Justisse Method of fertility awareness, all forms of birth control, holistic sexual and reproductive health, and basic counseling. We support Naturopathic, Integrative/Complementary and Functional medicine modalities, while making sure that our practitioners are well versed in the conventional Western medicine approach.
HRHPs support every client in making informed and independent decisions regarding their reproductive health, encouraging clients to develop a knowledgeable relationship with their body, while respecting sexual and reproductive rights, ethnic and cultural diversity as well as ideological and religious beliefs. They have a solid working knowledge of all methods of birth control, fertility issues, medical and surgical treatments, and preventive measures.
An HRHP will typically work with clients 1:1 or in groups to provide information about these topics. For more about what it’s like to work as an HRHP, read here.
The HRHP in training develops a broad, deep, and practical knowledge of male and female reproductive health, indicators of fertility and infertility, natural and artificial birth control, basic sexual and reproductive health counseling, the psycho-social aspects of sexual and reproductive health, and holistic approaches to reproductive health.
Training focuses on educating the HRHP to teach women how to observe, chart, and interpret their menstrual cycle events, as well as how to use the menstrual cycle chart as a mirror for general health. HRHPs learn how to assist those with normal or problematic menstrual cycles, and those facing challenging sexual and reproductive health situations or choices.
The program is academically rigorous and includes essays and tests, alongside continuous journaling for personal development. At Justisse we are mindful of both the complexity of this field as well as the power position one inevitably has as a health care provider, and teach our students to honor this role with humility and multidimensional knowledge. Students are also supported in developing their practice through a graduated learning process that uses a midwifery model of care and a standard medical case management model. This prepares them to comprehensively apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations, in order to develop a responsible HRHP practice.
The Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner program includes the following courses:
Unit A: Reproductive Studies
- Focuses on menstruation, contraception, abortion, conception, pregnancy, birth, infertility, puberty, and menopause from a psycho-social perspective.
- Discusses the impact of historical attitudes on reproductive and menstrual health care.
Unit B: Sexuality
- Examines the foundations of human sexuality, including behaviors, relationships, and reproduction.
- Covers various aspects of sexuality, such as sexual identity, response, diverse practices, and relationships.
- Encourages reflection on personal biases as well as cultural influences in understanding sexuality.
Unit C: Anatomy and Physiology
- Covers female and male reproductive anatomy and physiology.
- In-depth discussion of hormonal and endocrine considerations, the parameters of the menstrual cycle, and the biomarkers of fertility.
- Explores mammary gland anatomy, lactogenesis, thyroid function and hormonal health.
Unit D: Reproductive Planning and Technologies
- Focuses on methods of female and male birth control, including FABMs, barrier methods, hormonal contraceptives, herbal solutions, and surgical methods.
- Covers emergency contraception, abortion procedures, and sexual health counseling.
Unit E: Holistic Health
- This unit introduces the theoretical and practical aspects of maintaining menstrual and ovulatory cycle health, as well as addressing reproductive health challenges and concerns with a holistic approach.
- Covers diet and lifestyle factors that affect reproductive health
Unit F: HRHP Essentials
- Introduces the scope of HRHP work, the values of Justisse College, and the code of ethics.
- Discusses scientific literacy and different forms of knowledge.
- Covers communication, counseling, teaching the Justisse Method and providing ethical and compassionate client care.
- Includes sample charts and perspectives on normal and atypical cycles, pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding and perimenopause.
Unit G: Client Care and Internship (Including Supervised Case Management)
- Guides the HRHP trainee through teaching the Justisse Method and providing client care.
- Focuses on applying the acquired knowledge in a clinical setting.
Commitment and ongoing education
The estimated time commitment is 20-25 hours per week. The actual time study time needed varies from student to student based on individual pace and/or prior experience.
Once graduated, students may request ongoing mentorship for their HRHP practice. As members of our practitioner’s organisation JuPA they are also invited o partake in regular continuing education events.
Materials
The estimated cost of materials (books) not included with tuition is about $500 CAD. Each unit incorporates a mix of required and recommended resources. These include the courseware text, books, articles, online texts, podcasts, and videos.
In 2022, substantial changes were made to include more BIPOC writers to the required and recommended reading lists in Unit A and Unit B. Efforts to expand the diversity of authorship within the later curriculum are ongoing.
Please note, Justisse College International does not provide a complete syllabus or reading list to prospective students; the entire list of books and materials is provided upon acceptance to the program and as students move through the units. However, anyone can request information on the types of books included both generally (or as it relates to a specific interest) by emailing admissions@justisse.ca.
HRHP program FAQ
The Justisse College HRHP program is a two (2) year, year-round, self-paced online distance learning program. Faculty members direct the student’s study and support them in achieving the goals necessary to finish the course work, with the aim of following the standard progress pace. Classes are conducted via Zoom or Google Meet, and communication with trainers primarily via e-mail.
Start dates:
- April 1st (application deadline January 31st)
- October 1st (application deadline July 31st)
Students can expect to devote 20 to 25 hours of focused time per week to their studies and the development of a Justisse HRHP practice. The HRHP Trainee is given individual support and follow-up from two Justisse College faculty members approximately twice/month, and may also be expected to attend a number of group lectures. Between meetings with faculty the student will engage with the curriculum online and accomplish a number of tasks per unit (course). In the second year of the training you will also be taking clients. It is possible to add extension months to the program (at an extra cost) if needed, and take a leave of absence. It is recommended that you only commit to one training program at a time, in order to give the HRHP program your full attention – if you are already studying another program you may wish to wait until you have finished it before starting this one.
There are regular group learning opportunities through Justisse Practitioners Association (JuPA) online continuing education events. All Justisse students and graduates are invited to a HRHP slack channel for clinical and community discussions.
Learning takes place using the following modalities:
1) reading texts and listening to audio and video recordings (books, articles and on-line course material),
2) assessments in the form of research papers, response journals, multiple choice and short answer exams, recorded presentations, and case management reports.
3) one-on-one training and feedback sessions with faculty.
| HRHP Training Information Session Fee | FREE |
| Application & Orientation Fee | $149 CDN non-refundable processing fee |
| Tuition | The tuition is $18,000 CAD, or $9,000 Canadian (CAD) each year of the 2 year program. Our flexible payment plan allows students to make 8 installments, conveniently paid every trimester. |
| Learning material | The cost of texts is not covered by tuition. Obtaining required texts is the HRHP Trainee’s responsibility. Required material is often free, provided by Justisse or available second hand and at the library. |
*Tuition is paid in Canadian dollars and the student is responsible for any bank fees for the cost of conversion from other currencies. Please note that any bank fees incurred for currency conversion from other currencies will be the responsibility of the student. Kindly note that the Canadian Goods and Services Tax (GST) is applicable only to Canadian applicants.
Justisse College has prestige within the fertility awareness education field. All our graduates are accredited by the Association for Fertility Awareness Professionals (AFAP). AFAP is the international accrediting body for secular, fertility awareness educator (FAE) training programs.
Justisse College was founded on the principle of justice and feminism, and remains committed to inclusion, diversity and to serving all people with respect and integrity, as well as growing in understanding. We are continuously updating our published materials (internal and external) according to new science and with regards to sexual diversity, social justice, and an intersectional understanding of reproductive health matters.
All prerequisites are required, though alternative previous education is considered for equivalency at the discretion of Justisse College.
As fertility awareness is steadily recognized and legitimized, the demand for HRHP services increase. However, it is pioneering work and there are no ready-made positions, so working in the field requires some self-direction and creative entrepreneurship. Our graduates usually establish private fertility awareness and sexual reproductive health practices, or incorporate their education into women’s reproductive health care in a variety of other fields that they work in, for example functional medicine, psychotherapy, chiropractic care, body and movement therapy, and other holistic health practices. Some give public talks and host webinars, write books, create retreats, debate and influence, or simply see individual clients in their own office. Some graduates find ways to collaborate with other care providers, for example as a member within a group practice such as a naturopathic-, birth control- or midwifery care clinic. The HRHP curriculum includes support for developing a successful practice.
As a practicing medical professional in Sweden, I was drawn to the FAE field because I felt like us doctors schooled in conventional, Western medicine have a large gap in knowledge regarding women’s reproductive health issues. I felt we more often than not, do not actually help cure our patients but rather cover up symptoms. Hearing the testimonials of so many women feeling let down by their health care provider, who’d gotten their life back through working with a fertility awareness educator, the Justisse program offered me a way to learn not only a method of fertility awareness, but how to think like a Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner. Now I’m learning more than I ever imagined possible. Entire paradigms of health and disease have changed for me, and I now relate to both patients and myself in a completely different way. It has changed the way I practice medicine and given me a deeper respect for the body. I truly believe the concepts taught in the Justisse program are things that everyone – women, men and health care practitioners – should know about, and I hope, in the future, they will.
When I was 18, I got pregnant with my IUD in. I was shocked, to say the least. I didn’t feel like I could trust hormonal birth control anymore, which created a lot of internal conflicts because I had been taught that the only responsible way to avoid pregnancy was by using some form of hormonal birth control. I began to study mindfulness, yoga, and energy work and it became very clear to me that hormonal birth control wasn’t in alignment with me. I began to research and learned more about the risks that I was unknowingly exposing myself to just to prevent pregnancy. A friend of mine mentioned that I should learn more about cycle tracking. Back then, it was incredibly challenging to find any information about it. The information I could find was confusing and did not seem very reliable. At the time, I was teaching tween menstrual workshops and more and more questions were starting to arise about birth control. I felt overwhelmed in my personal and professional life. I was absolutely not open to pregnancy at that time, so I started to dig. Who is actually teaching this stuff? I found Justisse as one of the few certified schools in the work to train Fertility Awareness Educators. The program was in depth, but since it was online I could do it from anywhere in the world. I also loved that I would have opportunities to self-reflect as well as get access to a mentor from the school. The two years that I spent studying and training to teach were jam-packed with hard work, epiphanies, several existential crises, learning about myself, and becoming a stronger and more compassionate educator. I graduated 2 years ago and I still regularly attend continuing education events and am able to receive support from my fellow students and from the faculty at the college. This program was incredibly challenging but I am so grateful for the support I continue to receive and all that I have learned.
I was introduced to Fertility awareness at the age of 23 and was shocked that 10 years of my reproductive life had already passed without me knowing a single thing about my fertile body. Anger and excitement drove me towards learning more and I ended up finding my way to Justisse college. It intrigued me with its depth and the vast knowledge it keeps. The years that followed took me to a place of reverence for the female body as well as a painful understanding of how bad this miracle had been treated. The school does not only provide a thorough understanding of how to support, treat and optimize fertility in humans, but restores a deep understanding of the actual sacredness that it holds. Fertility Awareness is your birthright, and with every woman/person that learns body literacy and to understand her cyclical body, ground is gained for the future generations to thrive. The ripples on the water that I see in my clients is amazing, because I give them more than just Fertility Awareness. I give them freedom through access to knowledge and the right to love their bodies just the way they are. Nowadays I´m savouring every day of all the different seasons of my body since it gives me so much joy to be nourished by my hormones AND know that this type of cyclical life has an end. I will meet menopause with dignity and grace after praising my cyclical body for at least half of my fertile years! I´m beyond grateful to have been given the keys to both walk and guide people on the path of body literacy, and the relationships that have formed through the years with Justisse create a root network that gives me courage and strength to carry out my work.
The journey of this training, as I’ve experienced it myself and seen with my many students over the years, is very cathartic. The students entering this program already have a passion for this work, and they are open to meeting themselves in their menstrual cycle charts. Not only do they get to delve into all of their favorite topics within this program, they are also confronted with hundreds of years of women’s wisdom – alongside new science – as well as centuries of patriarchy and what that has meant for women’s lives, medicine and well-being. Having to reflect on all of this personally and academically, and actively integrate it into a pioneering profession, does things to you as a person. You change, your worldview changes, and you see the patterns in both yourself, society and nature so much clearer. Even after nearly 15 years of being with Justisse, I’m still a student of the human body and our fertility, and perpetually touched by the impact our work has.
As a functional medicine doctor specializing in reproductive health, my training with Justisse College International has led to a deeper understanding and more effective treatment of menstrual cycle and fertility challenges. Teaching my clients to chart and understand their cycles not only directs our care but also informs us as to what works and does not work. This personalized data is invaluable and facilitates quicker and more profound healing. My Justisse education has shed light on so many areas of reproductive health that are often poorly understood; even in functional medicine. I am grateful for my Justisse education as it allows me to better serve my clients.
