Work with Us

Thank you for your interest in working at The Allender Center, a subsidiary of The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology and a nonprofit 501(c)(3).

Through our Narrative Focused Trauma Care (NFTC) training program, we train pastors, therapists, group leaders, lay counselors, and community and business leaders to understand their own stories in order to more deeply enter the lives of those they are called to love and serve.

We also offer workshops (such as Story Workshop and Recovery Weeks) to create transformative healing experiences for those seeking insight into how harm has impacted their lives, marriages, families, faith, and communities.

Join us in our mission to foster redemption and healing in individuals, couples, and communities by helping them tell their stories with awareness and integrity while also training leaders and professionals to engage the stories of others with courage, artistry, and care.

We are seeking facilitators, advisors, guest speakers and grounding exercise leaders for the 2024-25 program year.

Program dates and event descriptions are linked below.

Please review the role descriptions, qualifications & experience, and hiring information below. Qualified candidates are welcome to reach out directly to Danielle Zurinsky, Manager of Facilitator Development & Research, at dzurinsky@theseattleschool.edu to express their interest.

Role Descriptions

Please note that individuals may have multiple roles among those listed below (e.g., both an Advisor and a Guest Speaker, both a Facilitator and Grounding Exercise Leader).

Facilitator

A Facilitator serves an essential role in leading and participating in small group sessions throughout a program event. They guide participants in their small group using the NFTC methodology, and provide conscientious and informed leadership and feedback to the program participants.

Advisor

An Advisor brings expertise in NFTC methodology and its application in a group context to facilitators in partnership with the Facilitation Development Team. They participate in assigned program weekends by offering supervision and guidance to facilitators and occasionally supporting teaching sessions. They also serve as the liaison between the facilitation team and The Allender Center Programs team in regards to participant concerns as well as provide input to the Facilitation Development Team regarding training, mentorship, and development needs.

Guest Speaker

A guest speaker is a contributor and/or developer of the teaching content within a program event. This includes NFTC Levels I, II, or III or a workshop such as those listed above. Guest speakers are invited to contribute a teaching, topic, or exercise according to their areas of training, interests, and expertise. Teaching sessions typically range from 15- 90 minutes in length, and may be shared with another qualified guest speaker.

Grounding Exercise Leader

A grounding exercise is offered to program participants prior to each teaching session. This offers program participants the opportunity to practice self-regulation by becoming more aware of their breath, bodies, surroundings and/or belovedness. These exercises typically last 5 minutes in length and we invite the creativity of the leader to design and lead a session according to their interests or areas of expertise.

Qualifications & Experience:

Please note that we are only able to accept applications from individuals who meet the following qualifications, level of training and experience:

Facilitators, Guest Speakers & Grounding Exercise Leaders

Must have completed the following training:

  • Cohorts from 2022 or later: Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level III
  • Cohorts from 2020 – 2022: Apprenticeship
  • Cohorts from 2015 – 2020: Externship

Advisors

Must have experience facilitating with The Allender Center (2 years minimum). Must have completed the following training:
Cohorts from 2022 or later:

  • Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level III
  • Cohorts from 2020 – 2022: Apprenticeship
  • Cohorts from 2015 – 2020: Externship

Hiring:

We are always seeking to build a facilitation, advisory, and teaching team that reflects a spectrum of diversity with regard to age, gender, race/ethnicity, ability, sexual identity, vocational background and experience.

If you are selected to facilitate, advise, serve as a guest speaker or lead grounding exercises for an Allender Center training or workshop, please be aware that you will be employed as an independent contractor.