Justisse Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner (HRHP) Training Program
You're invited to attend an HRHP Program Public Information Session to learn about the training, inquire about your suitability for the program, and meet with members of the faculty.
Information sessions are hosted at 8 am PST on Saturdays. The next sessions will be May 13, June 10 and July 8.
Sign up to RSVP to an information session and receive details on how to access the call.
Comprehensive and academically sound worldwide program for training fertility awareness and body literacy educators.
Since 1987, Justisse College International has trained HRHPs to teach fertility awareness and serve overall health and well-being. Many graduates establish their own HRHP practices while others incorporate this vital education into a variety of helping professions: naturopathy, psychotherapy, chiropractic, massage, therapy, and midwifery, among others.
No program other than Justisse offers such a uniquely integrated practice of scientifically based mainstream and holistic health education, and client-centered care. Justisse HRHPs provide education and support needed to follow through on reproductive health choices and reproductive freedom.
Justisse method founder Geraldine Matus significantly contributed to the development of the Core Competencies for certification of Fertility Awareness Educators (FAE) by the Association for Fertility Awareness Professionals AFAP Core Competencies. The Justisse College training both meets and exceeds those competencies.
Currently, Justisse College is the gold standard for secular fertility awareness educator training. See the HRHP Application Process for FAQs, costs, and details about the application process.
You Will Become
The Justisse HRHP Training Program prepares you to be an educator and clinician. You will learn to provide private consultations and advise your clients and colleagues on fertility awareness methods and natural approaches to reproductive health and natural birth control. You will learn to be a fertility awareness educator and be able to present to a variety of audiences on fertility awareness, body literacy, and related topics. You will become part of the Justisse professional association and will become a representative of the principles of Justisse College, and hopefully participate in the global community of allied fertility educators.
The Strengths of Justisse Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner (HRHP) Training Program
(1) The Justisse HRHP Training Program trains practitioners to teach the Justisse Method for Fertility Management, which uses systematized techniques that enable accurate and reliable observation, charting, and interpretation of the signs and events of the menstrual cycle, and which reflects the state of sexual and reproductive health. This information is the foundation for making sexual and reproductive health choices, including avoiding or achieving pregnancy. It is the foundation for body literacy.
(2) The Justisse HRHP Training Program teaches the HRHP student to help their clients recognize and manage normal as well as atypical events in their menstrual cycle, especially those discontinuing hormonal contraceptives.
Over that past several decades there has been a steadily increasing number of persons experiencing atypical menstrual cycle events, which is related to a variety of causes, including but not limited to the use of hormonal contraceptives and synthetic hormones (HRT), the exposure to synthetic hormones and xenobiotics in water and food, the nutritional degradation of the standard Western diet and its adoption by developing nations, metabolic environmental pollutants, noise and light pollution, and psychological stress from exposure to images of violence and socio-cultural decay through media offerings.
To successfully serve clients the practitioner needs to be able to identify and manage a broad spectrum of cycle variations and sexual and reproductive health problems. Many are cautious about using prescription drugs, synthetic hormones, or surgical techniques to achieve reproductive health. Many benefit from exploring holistic reproductive health options available to them. Fertility is a continuous process, changing throughout the reproductive life span. Many reproductive health and menstrual cycle problems are addressed safely and naturally with changes in diet and lifestyle, and/or the use of naturopathic or complementary medical treatment. Justisse HRHPs are trained to address these concerns. Justisse supports a Naturopathic and Complementary Medicine approach to managing reproductive health problems and enhancing fertility, and encourages HRHP practitioners to work closely with those health care providers. Justisse supports practitioners in learning how to manage the menstrual cycle as the 5th vital sign of a woman's health.
(3) The Justisse HRHP Training Program teaches students to work using a reproductive justice model that respects the ethnic and cultural diversity of the individual, and their individual ideological or religious beliefs. Justisse HRHPs have a solid working knowledge of all methods of birth control, and are trained to instruct those clients who wish to know how best to use any method of birth control. Justisse HRHPs work to empower women and their partners by sharing, without prejudice, knowledge about the reproductive body-system and encourage them to develop a healthy relationship to their reproductive body.
(4) Justisse HRHPs are professionally trained sexual and reproductive health care providers. They are well grounded in their knowledge of all methods of natural and artificial birth control, human sexuality, basic counseling skills, and are committed to sexual and reproductive health education. They learn how to interface with other fertility awareness instructors and sexual and reproductive health care providers to provide accurate and consistent care for their clientele.
(5) The Justisse HRHP program is grounded in three philosophical traditions: 1) a midwifery model of care, which includes continuity of care, normalcy of the female sexual and reproductive system, dialogical interpersonal relations that focus on the reality of the woman in the moment, and autonomy and self-care skills; 2) a communcation style that assumes contemplative and compassionate client-practitioner interrelations have in mind the best interest of the client, the realization of shared meaning by minding the healthy function of the transference space; 3) the utilization of a growth model of education that gives primacy to the value of the process of learning and how it shapes the individual intellect and psyche.
(6) The Justisse HRHP program approaches menstrual cycle health from Functional and Naturopathic Medical perspectives, attending to clear identification of the etiology of disease and treatments that cure rather than cover over symptoms.
Justisse HRHP Training Program Overview
The Justisse Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioners (HRHP) 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. The particular focus of the training is 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 reproductive health investigative and educational tool; including exploration of the practical and symbolic meaning and value of menstrual cycle charting for women. HRHPs will learn how to assist women with normal or problematic menstrual cycles, and those facing challenging sexual and reproductive health situations or choices.
Students are conscientiously supported in developing their HRHP practice through a graduated learning process that uses 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 an independent HRHP practice.
Once graduated students may request ongoing mentorship for their Justisse HRHP practice and FAE continuing education.
Unit A - Birth Control in Social and Historical Context
- This unit explores the field of reproductive studies and political and ethical issues that surround human reproduction. It also identifies and explores timelines for the development of the various forms of birth control and the important historical and scientific developments and trends that have affected their practical use. Additionally, this unit examines historical and prevailing attitudes towards females and female reproductive bodies, how the politics of health care and human sexuality influence birth control and abortion availability and design, and menstruation and the menstrual cycle from a sociocultural perspective.
- Major themes: Reproductive Studies, Contraception and Abortion, Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technologies, Reproductive Justice, Reproduction and the Biomedical Model, Fertility Awareness Based Methods, History of Contraception and Abortion, History Of Birth Control, Menstruation in a Socio-cultural Context, and Menstrual Activism.
- Equivalent to 9 credits
- Supportive prerequisites are foundational women’s/gender studies that focus on reproductive justice and female health; and/or practical or volunteer experience in the aforementioned areas.
Unit B - Human Sexuality in a Foundations of Diversity and Tolerance
- This unit builds a foundation for understanding how historical and environmental influences affect human sexuality in its myriad expressions, as well as for understanding issues of diversity and tolerance with respect to the acceptance of individual sexuality and sexual health choices. Additionally, this unit identifies and explores human sexual development, sexual deviations and dysfunctions, and sexuality in relation to reproduction.
- Major themes: Foundations of Human Sexuality, Sexuality and Social Justice, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, Sexual Behaviors, Sexuality and the Life Cycle, Sexuality and Relationships, Sexual Coercion, Sexuality and Menstruation, Sexuality and Fertility, Postpartum Sexuality.
- Equivalent to 9 credits
- Supportive prerequisites are human sexuality studies and/or practical or volunteer experience in that area.
Unit C - Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology for Fertility Awareness Educators
- This unit explores female and male reproductive anatomy and physiology, with a particular focus on the identification of the biomarkers of fertility and infertility and the parameters of the menstrual and ovulatory cycles. Additionally, attention is given to reproductive endocrinology for the fertility awareness educator, and advanced fertility awareness techniques.
- Major themes: Female Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology, The Ovarian Cycle, The Menstrual Cycle, Male Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology, The Endocrine System, Thyroid Function, Normal Parameters of the Menstrual Cycle, Events Indicating Fertility or Infertility, and Other Considerations, Atypical Menstrual Cycle Events, Return of Fertility Postpartum (Breastfeeding and Non-Breastfeeding, Coming off the Birth Control Pill, Climacteric and Menopause, Menstruation as the 5th Vital Sign.
- Equivalent to 9 credits
- Supportive prerequisite is human anatomy and physiology studies and/or practical or volunteer experience in that area.
Unit D - Contraception and Abortion
- This unit explores in detail different contraceptive methods, their techniques, and systems of delivery. Additionally, it addresses abortion methods, personal and political aspects of contraception and abortion, and sexual health counselling.
- Major themes: Contraceptive Effectiveness, Barrier Methods, Hormonal contraceptives, IUDs, Fertility Awareness Based Methods, Herbal contraceptives, Surgical Methods, Male Contraception, Emergency Contraception, Abortion, Sexual Health Counselling.
- Equivalent to 9 credits (45 LSEH Lecture/Seminar)
- Supportive prerequisite is contraceptive technology and fertility awareness studies and/or practical or volunteer experience in that area.
Unit E – Developing Your HRHP Practice
- This unit prepares the HRHP trainee for starting their practice. The initial portion of the unit invites learners into contemplative reflections on the current psychosocial dynamics of fertility awareness practices in their community and the world. They are introduced to contemplative reflections on their ethical process as a helping professional and basic contemplative communication and active listening counseling skills. The latter portion of the unit invites the learner to prepare their business and marketing plan for a HRHP practice that is sustainably related to the reproductive justice and the deepest compassion for the otherness of the other.
- Major themes: Psychosocial Dynamics, Professional Ethics, Communication and Counseling Skills, Contemplative Dialogue, Business Skills, Marketing,
- Equivalent to 12 credits
- Supportive prerequisite is studies and/or practical or volunteer experience in the areas addressed.
HRHP Program Practicum – Internship (Units F, G, H)
- The purpose of the HRHP Practicum is to put into practice the theory learned in previous units and to enhance the skills necessary for becoming a competent and independent HRHP. This part of the HRHP Training Program is the opportunity to gain experience and to learn from it. The learner has the advantage of highly skilled supervision regarding client and case management, and the management of a HRHP practice.
- Prerequisite: successful completion of HRHP Training Program Units A, B, C, D, E
Unit F – The Justisse Method Introductory Session
- During this unit, under supervision, the learner initiates their HRHP practice and begins to teach the Justisse Method. The assignments are both practical, reflective, and theoretical. Practical assignments include recording introductory sessions for assessment, creating and managing a focus group, and preparation of documents for a disciplined and ethical practice.
- Major themes: Conducting the Justisse Method Introductory Presentation, Client Contact and Gathering Client Information, Arranging for Client Follow-Up, Contraceptive Counseling – Choosing a Method
- Equivalent to 15 credits
Unit G – Case Management
- During this unit, under supervision, the learner initiates their HRHP practice and begins follow-up sessions with clients. Follow-up includes, but is not limited to, client skills assessment, chart interpretation, teaching interventions and treatment, referrals. The assignments are both practical, reflective, and theoretical. The learner is responsible for collecting the data and preparing ten case management reports as part of their practical assessment for this unit.
- Major themes: Conducting the Justisse Method Follow-Up, The Case Management Report and Clinical Progress Notes, Interpretation of the Female and Male Reproductive Health Information Forms, Menstrual Cycles with Normal Parameters, Atypical Menstrual Cycles, Postpartum, Coming Off Contraceptive Endocrine Disruptors, PMS, Perimenopause and Menopause, Referrals
- Equivalent to 24 credits
Unit H – Holistic Health
- In this unit the learner learns the practical and theoretical aspects of maintaining menstrual and ovulatory cycle health. Here they begin to understand the interventions and treatments for maintenance of the 5th Vital Sign of female health. Diet, lifestyle, and environmental issues are addressed as regards their influence on the 5th Vital Sign.
- Major themes: Menstruation: The 5th Vital Sign, Macronutrients and their Fertility Applications, Micronutrients and their Fertility Applications, Lifestyle Factors, Education, Guidance and Support for the Client
- Equivalent to 9 credits
- Supportive prerequisite is studies and/or practical or volunteer experience in the areas addressed.
Unit I – Learning the Justisse Method – Charting with Supervision - Charting "The Lived Experience"
- This unit is a most valuable part of the HRHP training. It provides the learner with the opportunity to experience the process that they, as HRHPs, will invite others to engage with. The learner and trainer engage in a contemplative dialog process that gives the learner an opportunity through the HRHP Unit I Justisse Method introductory session and charting follow-up series to explore the space between I and thou as a dynamic and informative field that will better prepare them for clinical practice, in that they will have had a lived experience of what they will expect to engage in with others. They will learn how both the professional and the one seeking professional help learn from and are benefited by each other.
- During the Unit I sessions the student has the opportunity to learn how to successfully practice the Justisse Method under the supervision and guidance of a skilled HRHP Educator. Additionally, they will receive a personalized holistic reproductive health assessment and interventions consistent with the material they will learn from Units F, G and H during their internship.
- Equivalent to 12 credits