Dr. LJ Lee Certification
A mentorship pathway for ConnectTherapy™ Series Graduates ready to deepen their expertise — and distinguish themselves in practice.
Reason for Being
The demand from Series Graduates for more structured mentorship and professional development is at the root of LJ’s Certification Program. As Chief Curriculum Officer, LJ has developed an extensive curriculum to enable motivated clinicians to engage in advanced training — affording them the ability to deliver the ConnectTherapy™ and Thoracic Ring Approach™ models with a higher degree of confidence and expertise. As well, the opportunity exists to apply to participate in further training to support and teach other clinicians these approaches.
Who Says Certification Has to Be Rigid?
One of the most attractive features of LJ’s Certification Program is the flexibility it offers after Practitioner Certification. While the path to becoming a Certified Practitioner is a structured 18-month process (more on that below), what you do with that credential afterward is entirely up to you — the program offers students the opportunity to pursue as much, or as little, further training as they wish.
The entry point of the process is Practitioner Certification. It’s structured around mentorship in small group settings, where the student-to-instructor ratio is low — focusing on practical application of skills, clinical case studies, treatment progressions, assessment and treatment in the clinical setting, and intensive feedback and hands-on skills. Upon becoming a Certified Practitioner, application can then be made to engage in additional training.
Once certified, Practitioners may choose to pursue different pathways and create their own program from there.
- Certified Practitioner — the entry point of the Certification pathway, earned through small-group mentorship, hands-on skill development and clinical reasoning training.
- Certified Mentor — trained to provide skills development and mentoring in small group and patient consultation settings for therapists taking the ConnectTherapy™ Series and starting Practitioner Certification.
- Certified Assistant — provides high-level support on ConnectTherapy™ and Thoracic Ring Approach™ courses, with the option to apply for Short Course Instructor and Faculty training.
- Short Course Instructor & Faculty — trained to teach and deliver ConnectTherapy™ courses around the world.
The 18-Month Journey
Practitioner Certification is structured as an 18-month process, combining virtual and in-person coursework with individual and group mentorship sessions, assignments and exams.
- Virtual coursework — online lectures, case studies and directed learning between sessions
- In-person coursework — hands-on skill development and clinical application with LJ and the mentorship team
- Individual mentorship — one-on-one guidance tailored to your clinical practice and case load
- Group mentorship — small-group sessions for shared learning, feedback and clinical reasoning practice
- Assignments & exams — applied coursework and assessment to confirm readiness for Certification
The 18-month timeline is deliberate — it allows the time and space to integrate new skills into clinical practice as you go, rather than compressing everything into a short intensive window. This pacing is designed to help you maintain balance between clinical time, learning time, and work, family and life balance throughout the process.
Distinguish Yourself
Becoming a Certified Practitioner allows you to distinguish yourself in a business context, offering a distinct marketing benefit. With Certification comes the use of the Dr. LJ Lee Certified Trust Mark, which may be used on your website, letterhead, in-clinic materials and a host of your other communications. This Trust Mark tells the public that you have achieved a specific level of clinical expertise in the ConnectTherapy™ and Thoracic Ring Approach™ models.
Your profile will grow as consumer demand grows for these models. You also become part of a select group, gaining access to a global support network of ConnectTherapy™ Practitioners and resources. Your ConnectTherapy™ Practitioner Certification designation will also be listed with your profile on the LJLI Find a Physio Directory.
The ConnectTherapy™ Series & path to Certification
Put Your Name Forward
Next Cohort: 2027
Applications for the 2027 Certification cohort are open now. Spaces are limited to maintain a low student-to-instructor ratio, so early application is encouraged.
Application to Certification is based on successfully completing the ConnectTherapy™ Series — all 7 courses — and earning the ConnectTherapy™ Series Graduate designation. Once this prerequisite has been satisfied, students can apply to attend Linda-Joy Lee Institute (LJLI), where the coursework and examination process to become a Certified Practitioner takes place.
Email [email protected] to request more information on upcoming Practitioner Certification programs.
Dare Yourself
The Certification Program is one of the exciting developments happening at LJLI. Contact us if you have questions — we look forward to hearing from you and working toward certifying you in the ConnectTherapy™ and Thoracic Ring Approach™ models. Become part of our global network of Certified Practitioners, Mentors, Assistants, Short Course Instructors and Faculty.
We encourage you to attend LJLI. Dare yourself, challenge your mind, and change your world — and the worlds of your patients.