Self-Guided, Cohort-Based Diploma Program

Core Principles

1.     We believe in the importance of supporting a diverse population in both our students and our faculty.

2.     We believe that students deserve to be treated in a way that is always respectful of who they are and what they bring to the program.

3.     We believe that a program which is strongly body based needs to be taught in a way that supports the health and well-being of faculty and students.

4.     We believe that Process Work training can be both deep and serious as well as full of fun and playfulness.

5.     As much as possible, we believe in having our training in natural settings that nourish the soul.

6.     We believe that faculty relationships should model our deepest principles of connection, conflict work, and community.

7.     We believe that people of every economic level have the right to study Process Work and will work to help that happen as much as possible.

8.     We believe that there shouldn’t be a split between good training and good business and want to create a training center that is economically sustainable.

9.     We believe that not every student should have to take the same courses. We believe in offering lots of learning opportunities and individualized learning plans to navigate through the program. We are tailoring this program to the whole range of students, from those beginning to people joining very close to taking their exams. The study committees will be the keys to tailor making the learning programs.

10.  We believe that exams should be primarily an integrative learning process that students go through and come out of with a positive, affirming experience.

11.  We believe that our training needs to be career enhancing and that the investment in the program is worth its value in terms of personal and professional growth and career advancement. 

Beginning the Program

First step begins with sending in an application, along with a $100 application fee. The application focuses on the dreaming process that calls you to study and will sustain you through the program. It revolves around writing about a dream or dreamlike experience that calls you to study Process Work.

Second step is an interview with someone on the admissions committee, which is Gary, Jai, or Ingrid at this time.

Once you are accepted into the program, the third step is to create a study committee. This consists of 3 people from the faculty of the Process Work Institute Hawai’i. Our current staff are listed on the website, and other diplomates from all over the world may join us as the program grows.  

Structure of the Program

Your study committee maps out your journey together with you. They are your core faculty to guide you through this program, and must be faculty members of the Hawai’i Center. Study committee meetings happen a minimum of 2 times a year. 

This program has a unique approach. The diploma students will go through as a cohort together. We will admit new students every 6 months. A cohort means that there will be triads to work together, as well as you will be available to help each other by showing up for individual supervision sessions for each other, and helping people form and process together group processes. The cohort is a community of support, as well as processing and having fun together.

There will be all levels of students in the diploma program, from relatively new to long term students focused mostly on preparing for and taking their exams. There will be many classes offered in each of the 6 main areas of focus. These areas include deep bodywork; dreamwork and inner work; relationship and family work; working with altered and extreme states, addictions, and coma; worldwork; healing history (with a focus on trauma work and conflict work), and working with young people, adolescents, and community resilience.

Students can take a variety of courses or delve in deeply into specific areas and complete certificates in these areas. Students take the courses that they need to master their learning and Process Work. Because of the emphasis on integrating 1st and 2nd training materials, there should be lots of new material for everyone. Also, we don’t just do the same courses over and over, but will continue to develop these areas. Each class will be taught 2 times a year, and will bring lots of new material forward.

Again, the diploma students will be welcome at all of these trainings. You will map out your learning agreement with your faculty. Diploma students will be given the opportunity to learn at more advanced levels by working with the more advanced levels of the exercises, and by joining an additional advanced training day for diploma students only.   

Each unit will be taught for all the levels of Process Work experience. The beginning part of the classes will be review and more basic. Then all the classes are taught at a deeper level. All will focus on both 1st and 2nd training methods. The wide variety of classes taught are eligible for certificates of specialization in each area. People can take one course or all the courses in a given area and earn a certificate of specialization as well as a diploma. One extra day will be added on to all seminars for just people in the diploma program so that you can get the latest most advanced training and these days will include lots of practice and supervision.

Costs

The basic tuition is $2500 a year. The costs and recommendations below are for new students. People applying to the program can count the previous courses and therapy they have had in the last 4 years, so for many people, many of the requirements will have been met. For students who meet many of the requirements, they may just choose to take the advanced training day. For example, students transferring from other self-guided programs may have already met most of the requirements. Students from programs like MAPOF may have at least half of the requirements met.

Students pay for the classes they want to take. Most classes are 3-day seminars in person or 6 classes online of 2.5 hours each. The classes or seminars will all be $425 each. Course costs will be adjusted for people coming from parts of the world with lower income bases, and scholarships will be given as is possible, based on financial need. Small group advanced training days will be an additional $150 per day.

We recommend that new students attend all the classes offered. They will all have a hybrid component, meaning in person in Hawai’i or on occasion, Portland, and also online or via recordings.

Students should also plan to pay for both individual therapy and supervision. The average student cost is $100 per hour and this can be negotiated with your therapist and supervisor. In general, we recommend 1 hour of therapy at least every other week and supervision every 3 weeks in order to get the most out of this program. There is a recommended number of hours for all students and exceptions may be made by the study committee and director’s recommendation.

Whereas your study committee members and supervisors must be on the faculty of the Hawai’i Center, therapists can be diplomates from any program.

Students will need to also pay for 2 study committee meetings a year for a total of $540. This should be all the expenses except for final exams.  

We believe we can make this program affordable. If new students did all the classes and all the training days in a given year, they would owe a total of about $9000 a year if they paid the full amount for tuition and classes. Students coming in with considerable experience would pay significantly less than this figure. We think that is a very reasonable rate for the equivalent of a masters or post masters level program. Completion of this course also grants a diploma in Process Work that is recognized internationally by IAPOP.

Internships and Clinical Training

A key part of this program is the development of clinicians and facilitators. We recommend that students work at Rivers Way Community Clinic. This work is both in person and online. The main clinic is in Portland, Oregon, and we also have therapists seeing clients in Eugene, Oregon and online. A key part of Rivers Way is creating a learning community.

Anyone who has completed at least 6 months of their internship at Rivers Way and has a master’s degree can apply for the Rivers Way Masters Clinic. Interns at the Masters Clinic split the income from their clients with the Clinic.

Intensive supervision and training are given. Opportunities are provided to work with individuals, couples and families. We are also committed to finding internships for students to practice their facilitation and organizational development skills, particularly at non profits and NGO’s.

The beauty of a program like this is that you can go at whatever pace suits you!

Please send all inquires to Gary Reiss, current director of Process Work Center Hawai’i at greissoffice@gmail.com