Certification FAQ

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

Thinking about becoming a certified intimacy professional, but stuck in the questions?

You’re not alone.

This field has grown fast. Really fast. And with that growth comes confusion. What training actually matters? Do you need certification? Is there even enough work to build a real career?

In this episode, we break it all down with real, grounded insight from inside the industry.

We’re diving into what certification actually does, how careers in intimacy work really get built, and what separates people who struggle from those who build something sustainable.

Because this isn’t just about getting trained.

It’s about building a career that lasts.

👂 What to Listen For

• Why the “rush to get hired” mindset is quietly sabotaging new intimacy professionals 
• The truth about whether intimacy work is a sustainable long-term career
• What most people don’t see when they watch experienced ICs and IDs work 
• How credibility and trust actually get built in this industry 
• How certification helps you get your foot in the door (even without connections)
• A behind-the-scenes breakdown of IDC’s 5-phase certification pathway

🔗 Important Links

• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit
   

Transcript

Welcome + Why Certification Matters Now

SPEAKER_01 0:13

Welcome back to the Intimacy Directors and Coordinator podcast, where intimacy professionals come to keep their finger on the pulse of what is happening inside the entertainment industry. My name is Dr. Jessica Steinrock. I am the CEO here at Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, and I am joined by the gorgeous Claire Warden.

SPEAKER_00 0:32

Hello, thank you very much. I am Claire Warden. She, her pronouns. I am the director of advanced training here at IDC. And I also work as an intimacy director and an intimacy coordinator. That's me.

SPEAKER_01 0:44

Well, and I think it's probably perfect that you're the one here on this particular episode of the podcast because today we're going to be talking about all things certification. And you're the director of our certification program.

SPEAKER_00 0:56

I am indeed.

SPEAKER_01 0:57

You are in the room with all of the students. You've been working on the curriculum in a bazillion different ways. You know the ins and outs of the industry and the ins and outs of our program. And so we are going to do a huge deep dive today about our certification program. Claire's going to give you the inside scoop about certification and the industry. So if you are someone who is considering work as an intimacy professional, you're feeling curious where to start, this is going to be the podcast to take a listen to. Of course, we're going to talk about IDC's certification program, but we're also just going to talk about training in general and what it means to build a long-lasting and sustainable career in intimacy. Because let's be honest, this has been a rapidly growing field in the last 10 years. And so there's a lot of questions about what it looks like to have legitimacy, to build a long-term sustainable career, what training is worth it and valuable, what's worth investing in, your time, your energy, your money. And if building a career as an intimacy professional is your goal, then certification is something you're going to really want to investigate and

The Reality of the Industry Today

SPEAKER_01 2:01

consider for yourself. So that's what we're going to be talking about today. Claire, anything else you want to add?

SPEAKER_00 2:07

No, I'm just so glad we're having this conversation because I, as you said, Jessica, I think things have moved so quickly when I think about how different the industry is and the need and the acceptance of the work now than when we started. And I think that can bring, I think there's a lot of kind of confusion around what do we, you know, how do I do this? How do I do it well? Who do what should I do? What shouldn't I do? There's mixed messages. So I'm just really glad that we're actually getting to talk about it and share some of our insights and what we've learned, you know, and building this program, being out there in the industry, seeing this change that we can now like pass on to everybody out there.

SPEAKER_01 2:44

Yeah. Well, okay, so then let's let's talk a little bit about the realities of the field right now. Because even though, you know, intimacy work as an established profession really has, you know, only been around for 10, 15 years. I mean, of course, we see roots of it for long before then, but you know, the term intimacy director, intimacy coordinator has really rooted in the last 10, 15 years. The role kind of went from non-existent to in demand, like crazy quickly, especially when we're seeing this role being unionized with SAG Aftra. We're seeing it show up in different union contracts. You know, intimacy is now required on almost all productions, whether they're theatrical or TV and film. And so there's been real opportunity booming in the intimacy world. But that also has meant that, you know, folks are rushing in or getting opportunities or, you know, coming to this work from a variety of different positions and experiences and excitement. You know, and so that's really affected the way that people are feeling about how to enter this work in the way that's really going to set them up for success.

SPEAKER_00 3:49

Yeah, and I think I think the the rapidity with which it came in kind of jumped a couple of stages in that a lot of people out there have not been able to have the understanding of a conversation about how to build their way into this, right? Because you know, we would build something and then the industry would respond and react and accept. And then as the industry shifts, then the work shifts and therefore the training shifts a little bit to fulfill and to work together, which is so wonderful now that we can actually say, yes, the industry is working together with us. But I think that's meant that those that aren't like, you know, I'm lucky, I count myself very lucky to be in here designing these programs and consistently updating them. So I have a real like deep understanding of what is really needed to do this work in a kind of ethical, responsible, full way that protects not only the industry but the intimacy professional themselves. So I think that that speed has left some gaps in understanding how do we, how do I do this? How do I, what do I need to know? What do I, what's my pathway into something that is now kind of got itself a groove in its own path?

SPEAKER_01 5:09

Well, and I guess let me ask you this. As someone

Sustainability + The Biggest Mistake

SPEAKER_01 5:12

who has helped and trained hundreds of intimacy professionals to get their feet on the ground in this industry, what trends have you noticed work really well for someone who ultimately ends up building a more sustainable career for themselves versus, you know, things that you've seen that might be mistakes that ultimately lead to a little bit more struggle when it comes to building that kind of like long-term sustainable career?

SPEAKER_00 5:35

It's a great question. I think, you know, one thing that is that is always true in our industry and especially in the situation that we had when when building this, which was there was a great need and a real awareness of harm and a want to change the system and to provide support many places as we can, which can lead to this sense of urgency of gotta like get it. And and for those that are really like see that, feel the call, want to place their purpose, their advocacy, their efforts in an industry that they care about or an excitement about joining this this new possibility for making change. But there's like an urgency to get into it all from the other side, the industry being like, oh, oh, we get what we need. Yes, we need people now. Come be an intimacy coordinator on our show, come be an intimacy director in our production to the person that's just maybe started finding out about it, and that kind of, oh God, everybody needs me now. So I think urgency has been a big, a big challenge, I think, for people to recognize and allow themselves the time and the opportunity to really build the foundation, invest in this as a career change, not just like a you know, flash in the pan and do this for a couple of months and then something else will happen. Like this, I think what's become really clear is that this is not going away. Like this has fundamentally changed the industry, and from now on, this is a need and a support system that will remain. And uh, I often say at the uh at the beginning of our training courses when we we're doing our in-person work, you know, invest in yourself. Give yourself the opportunity to just be here and learn. Allow yourself that gift. And to because what I've really seen is those that build a really solid foundation from the beginning and kind of build on that foundation with the with you know layers of learning, as it were, or spirals of learning. They're the ones that can actually, you know, step into these jobs that are out there and and become so valuable that everyone's like, that. I want that and I want them again and again and again. And that's how you build the career in it. That's how you establish yourself as someone that people rely on, that people can trust, that people are like they know what they're doing, will listen to them, which then makes your job a lot easier to do when people are willing to. Yeah, yeah. And I think I think there's a fear I've often seen as well, uh, well, I it's not always a fear that, you know, sometimes there is a lot of pressure, especially if you're in an area that doesn't have many people that are uh trained to a higher degree. There's a want to serve your community or want to serve your productions. But people like that might take on a job that they're not fully prepared to do yet, or that's a little beyond their level of training, not only is a really difficult situation for them, but also the production they're working with. So that kind of ability to be really clear about where you are in your training journey and what what is a sustainable, appropriate, realistic level just to work at and where where you need to keep building your training, where you keep and the structure to do it. I I I think it's it can be really hard when you're trying to figure out well, what else do I need to learn in order to do this role? Because I think that the tricky thing, where if you have the opportunity to see like a really established and excellent intimacy director or intimacy coordinator work, you might see about 15% of what they're actually doing. You might notice it because everything else was either done way before they stepped into that room, or they're doing in they're doing in such a way that it is unnoticeable to most people that don't know what they're doing, but absolutely vital. And if it wasn't there, the whole room would feel different. So, so I think that is the under being able to know all the different levels of what it is that you need to learn in your training and experience as well. Like, what is what are the various experiences that come together that you're calling on and then adapting into this role that that they're doing now?

SPEAKER_01 10:27

Well, and I think you've touched a little bit on this question too,

Is There Enough Work to Make This a Career?

SPEAKER_01 10:30

that I certainly get asked a lot, which is, you know, from folks who are considering becoming an intimacy professional, and they're like, is there actually work out there? Has, you know, is this flash in the pan? Has it happened? Are all the jobs taken forever? Is it even worth investing in this training? And, you know, I think what you emphasize that I want to just also bring us back to is this idea that intimacy work is now a sustainable and stable part of the entertainment industry. We are in union contracts. This is becoming more and more uh just a regular normal job inside the entertainment industry, which is kind of incredible when you really think about what that has meant is to completely change the way rehearsal situations are operating in TV, film, and theater, and how the amount of work for this role has dramatically increased over the last few years, making it something that someone can step into and say, hey, this is how I want to devote my time and energy and advocacy. That intimacy can be a really viable career choice, but it's still a role in the entertainment industry. And that means it's likely gig contracts, it's likely going to be, you know, up and down. There's gonna be, you know, a little bit of building and foundation work that has to go into building a sustainable and long-term career. And that, you know, there are now processes, pathways, and support to actually building the foundation that can take you 10, 15, 20 years, and that we can plan for 10, 15, 20 years in the future because intimacy work is actually sticking around, which to me is just like an elated, exciting idea that we don't have to think about the next two, three years because we're really thinking about the next 10, 20, 30 years of career.

SPEAKER_00 12:11

Yeah, I mean, in just in the last couple of years, the the really fundamental leaps forward that have happened for intimacy work, you know, just a couple of years ago in the last TV theatrical contract at SAGAFTRA, which is the you know, enormous American on-screen actors union, was the first time that in their the actors' contract there was wording about using intimacy coordinators. That the the intimacy directors and the use and and protocols of intimacy directors have been appearing in more and more equity contracts, which is on the theater side. And so that's really established the the presence and the support behind them. And you're right, like we we also can't deny that you know the entertainment industry has been through a challenging couple of years, right? COVID shut us down. Then over here in America, we had the writer's strike, then we had the actors' strike. So we kind of shut down for COVID, we opened up in a frenzy, we shut down again for 10 months, opened up again with everyone kind of reeling from that. So I know that out there across the industry, there is that, there is a feeling of reduction in overall sustainability or overall career in the entertainment industry. And as someone who's been in this industry my entire career, it's always been up and down. Like it's it's that's just what a gig industry is. And I think what we end up doing is building resilience to and for that I don't know what I'll be doing in September because this job finishes in August. And then I have literally nothing. And you know, I have uh you know, uh friends and family outside of the industry like, I don't know how you could possibly not know where it is. And I'm like, you you just you build your life to to be ready for the Feast of Famine and you get used to it. But what I do know is that there are more productions bringing on intimacy directors and intimacy coordinators than there ever have been before. And and even in the last year, I mean, I know just the shows that I've been working on. I still remember it was just a couple of years ago where I was like, Oh, you're bringing someone on. And you'd ask, have you worked with an intimacy coordinator before? And they'd be like, actually, this is my first time. I I don't remember in the last year anyone

How You Actually Get Hired (And Rehired)

SPEAKER_00 14:49

saying, This is my first time working with an intimacy coordinator because it's now so established, and there is just it's become an expected part of the crew, and and that tells me that that will only continue. And I think it's also important to understand that in an industry like this, which is so kind of changeable and and ephemeral in a way, that uh building relationships, building trust, building a strong, reliable reputation is everything because most of the jobs that come to me come either because I've worked with someone before that was like, wait a minute, get Clarence, or someone's gone, oh, we need an intimacy coordinator, and you know, let me call my UPM friend, or you know, in the theater, let me call my stage manager, or we worked with someone on our other show, try them. And that comes from when you can really deliver in the room and you can really make people feel secure

Where Certification Fits In and Why it Matters

SPEAKER_00 15:58

and and that they can trust what you're gonna bring to their show.

SPEAKER_01 16:01

Well, and so where do you see certification fitting into the landscape of someone working to build that kind of you know currency of trust?

SPEAKER_00 16:11

Well, I think I think what's so important and supportive about certification is the comprehensiveness of it as a training, in that one, it's just in this this myriad of uncertainty and everything out there, it's this really clear structure where you go, I start here, and literally when I've done that, the you know, then my computer or my phone says, click here and do the next thing. And you just like it's all laid out for you. There's none of having to search, find the next thing, figure out do I do enough of this? Do it, can I afford to get this course and then do that course and then add on to it? Like it's all just literally step by step laid out for you.

SPEAKER_01 17:00

And then go, oh shoot, I actually need to go back and redo that thing. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:04

Yes. And I think what's lovely about that is not only does that make it so much simpler, but it build it it it's all the foundation is all built for you so that you can start with the real fundamental concepts and get those in your body. And once those are like getting rooted in your body, you then can start layering on a little bit of technique work, a little bit of choreography work, an understanding of of the hierarchies of a of a of a theater room, etc. etc. So that it's kind of doing the layering, the spiral learning, it's it's building it all for you as you work through. And so I think that's been, or I know that's been so helpful for so many people that have have trained with us is that ability to just to take the stress and the thinking out and just be like, that's the path I've chosen, and it's all been built for me. And I think, you know, to be doing it alongside a whole bunch of other people, like it this, you know, let's be really honest, it can be a bit of a hard, lonely job because you are a head of a department, and we have found that community is so important in that when you're out there doing it. But I also think it's so useful when you're learning because you have people that are learning at the same stage as you, or maybe they're a little bit further on, and you can have conversations with them, or you can, you know, go to a mentorship session or skill building and be like, wait a minute, I'm a little confused on this part, and or wait, I just figured this out, and everybody like, oh my god, that's so helpful. Thank you. So I think that's also to be part of a program, to be part of a group that are doing that. I think that's really helpful. I also know, having spoken to many people in the industry, because it is still so new and because there is such it's still kind of solidifying itself as a discipline in the industry, people want to work with someone that they can feel confident about bringing them into their production. And if they don't know you yet, or they haven't worked with you yet, some kind of like comprehensive guarantee that this person is is going to be able to do the thing I need them to do in a responsible way and is actually gonna be able to serve my production. Certification says that to them. They're like, okay, I it's the same as you know, you you wanna, you know, join an engineering firm and build a bridge. It's you know, it's helpful if you've got a degree in engineering because we know that you've done all the stuff that you're gonna need to do to join our team. You know, it's it's no different really than that.

SPEAKER_01 19:48

A friend of mine once said uh a warm introduction goes a long way. And I I sometimes feel that way about certification, that you know, in an industry that is so often based in who you know and networking and navigation, that sometimes getting in the door can feel really intimidating because you know it it's it is such a chaotic, informal network kind of industry. And the realities of that are just are what they are, but what it takes to actually then get in the door and you know have the skills to enter that space, to build credibility, to start building that foundation that will lead 10, 15, 20 years. Certification can be such a strong tool to get that initial intro, to get that initial trust block. And then when you have the skills to back it up, I mean, crazy. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:35

And that's it. That word credibility, I think, is is important. And very I've had many people that have have said just that has got uh got me the meeting or the conversation or the introduction where I then, you know, closed the deal as it were. I then was able to demonstrate my ability to do it, but I wouldn't even have been able to have that conversation without that certification. And I think the final thing is that it is it's a such a it is such a detailed and comprehensive program that it you know it builds actual real competency. Yeah, it's it's it's and helps you to integrate it all and that kind of apply the critical analysis. You know, you can read a bunch of books and you can go to a bunch of workshops and things like that, but but actually like knitting it all together and figuring out how to do all of those things at the same time and and really like building or sorry, really like dropping it deep down. I always think of it as as sinking deeper into your body so that when you're on set, you're in the house of a room and something happens, it's all there. You just like it, you know how to handle it because it is so integrated into your body. And that's kind of where we end up by the end of the certification program, is that that level of Of expertise as opposed to just a bunch of knowledge in your head.

SPEAKER_01 22:06

Well, and obviously, you know, we've spent a lot of time thinking about and designing a comprehensive program, you know, to get folks from point A to point B and make sure that it's a transformative educational experience. And also, you know, like I just firmly believe that having some kind of pathway training certification can be so beneficial, whether or not that's our program or a different program, you know. So, like, you know, as you're thinking about a career in intimacy work, thinking about training is going to be a huge part of it, no matter how you get it. But if you're thinking about IDC certification program, I want to just talk a little

Inside IDC Certification (Phases 1–3)

SPEAKER_01 22:41

bit about how we've structured it so you can kind of understand our approach and like see, you know, what the what we're talking about through our lens, which is that, you know, we have a five-phase program. And I'll talk a little bit about phases one through three, and Claire will talk about phases four and five. And we're just gonna give you a little roadmap of how we've structured it here at IDC and some of the things that we've really considered when cultivating our program. And then you can kind of use that information to say, okay, is IDC's program right? Or maybe you're gonna take that information and say, okay, there's gonna be a different way for me. And that's totally up to you. So at IDC, we have a five-phase program. And the first three phases are all about doing deep inner work so you know how you're showing up in spaces and in rooms. Our second phase is about all of the protocols and policies for both TV and film and theater. And our third phase is about building your career. Um, and all of these phases are really designed intentionally, you know, phase one being the kind of self-work you need to do, we think first before you're able to really access either any of those other phases. And then phase two includes both theatrical work as well as television and film, because we genuinely believe that it is helpful to have an understanding of both industries, even if you're gonna specialize in one. Because chances are you're gonna be working with an actor who's done a little bit of theater or a little bit of TV and film, and having that language for both industries is very powerful, even though later on you will be specializing in one discipline or the other. And phase three, I think, is something that a lot of other training programs uh I've seen, just in my life, whether it's intimacy or any other artistic discipline, sometimes miss out on, which is this idea that we are a gig-based economy. And so you have to have really clear strategies and what it looks like to build a career, to network with other folks, to enter into that space so that you can get that first introduction, that first job. And so we spend a lot of time really giving the tools to building a career and having you understand what it looks like to build your own business, to think about financials, to think about networking, what's on your website, how are you presenting yourself on social media? Those skills are just as critical when it comes to long-term success as how you show up in the room. All three of those phases are a self-paced program, meaning that you can, you know, divide and conquer as fits your schedule, as fits your needs. And it also means that you can go back and redo modules again and again and again. You know, as Claire was kind of talking about, this is the spirals of learning, the opportunities to, you know, watch something once and then go back and do it again and again and again. Those first three phases are lifetime access. You get tons of information and opportunities

Advanced Training + Real Practice (Phases 4–5)

SPEAKER_01 25:22

to really integrate that work before then you step into phases four and five on your certification journey. Uh, because four and five has a lot packed into it, which is where, you know, Claire has her hands deep inside these two programs, making sure they stay up to date with the latest industry trends. Claire, talk a little bit about what phase four looks like and then what phase five looks like.

SPEAKER_00 25:44

Yeah, phase five, phase four, we dive in. So phase four really is our kind of goes much deeper and advanced into our choreography of simulated sex. It goes, not only do we have a full demo library for you to watch, and we break down all the principles of the tools that we use when we're approaching this, and we kind of go over a little bit of revision of of the layers that you've already learned in one, two, and three. So we really kind of set you up. We look at our communication, and then we have our in-person work. So this is where we we gather together with our top teachers, and and we look at really putting all of that into practice. We build a really deeply held, brave space, and we do a little bit of that personal work as well. We're looking at great, let's look at how it manifests in the room, in your body, what your self-knowledge, what your self-understanding is, what your kinesthetic awareness, how you can manage yourself, your energy, the energy of others in the room. And we work our way through creating scenes of simulated sex, all the kinds of positions and everything you can want to learn, but also how we're really engaging with supporting, talking to actors when you're working with them, how we're working with directors and how that kind of dance of collaboration needs to be. Um, you're getting the chance to actually get up and do this with coaches or spotters. We're right here to help you to practice it again and again, to be able to be like, wait a minute, I'm gonna try and apply this concept that I've been thinking about a lot. But then when I stand up, everything falls out of my head. Okay, so let's go back and start again. And uh and we look at our practical use of modesty garments. So we're really looking at giving you that feeling of what it's like to actually do the work in a really held space and environment and to do it with other folks, to really build relationships with the other people in your cohort. I have to say, all of our cohorts, they're they're so they're so tight with each other. Everyone's got the little WhatsApp group, there, they meet up years down the line and act as a really tight-knit community of support from that point onwards. And once you've kind of completed your phase four and that in-person work and that really advanced, like practical diving in of applying everything and analyzing how it's working and going back again and trying again. Once you've done that, then we go to phase five, which is our mentorship phase. You know, I think it's really important. I I there are, I keep talking about these stages of learning, but great, once you've kind of it's very different sitting and learning a concept than getting up in a room and doing it. It's all very different going out into onto a set and doing it than it is in the room when you've got myself or one of our other teachers being like, okay, hold on a minute, time out, let's try that again. So we want to make sure that the support continues as you're going out and applying all this learning. So our phase five, which is our mentorship, allows you to have one or more mentorship with our mentors who are all out there actively working in the industry for your first project or whatever project you want once you've kind of done the in-person training. So we prep with you, we get ready for your calls, then you know, we we check in and something happens. We're like, we're here, let's talk it through. Once you've done a project, we debrief about it, we pull it all apart, we learn from it, we figure out what you're gonna shift for the next time. So it's it allows you to go out with us at your shoulder, like to step up further out with us at your shoulder and at your back giving you that support as you as you move further and further into the level of your career.

SPEAKER_01 29:44

Well, and kind of like we talked right at the beginning, those first few jobs are the ones that lay that foundation that says, are you going to get hired and rehired? And doing those well and with confidence and you know, with support and community and teamwork is something that we firmly believe in, is one of the best ways that you can lay the foundation for building long-term career work inside an industry that has lots of ups and downs.

SPEAKER_00 30:08

Yeah, and I think what's really important is, and what I is one of the kind of guiding principles of our training, and is really important to me personally, is that because this is such a human-led role, who you are, the authentic you as an intimacy director and intimacy coordinator is really important and is really makes a difference to you to be able to bring that to your work and is often what will build those relationships, what has people been like, yes, we want Jess. We clicked with Jess, what Jess brought really worked for us. And so for us, it's important that that kind of individualized support and that individual journey that you're taking, that you're maybe taking with 18 other people, but everyone's moving at the pace they need to move and focusing on the parts that they need to focus, allows you to really authentically live a career, to really authentically and true to yourself and who you are and what matters to you. We have, you know, IDs and ICs that specialize in different types of storytelling and context and communities, because that's really important to them. And I think that's what's so wonderful about this work is that you can really live a deeply authentic, value-based life through this career if you've had the support that's nurtured it alongside the technical training and the legal understanding and the business acumen. Like all of that goes alongside and and and keeps you and who you authentically are fully in focus so that you will do it unlike anybody else will do it. And that's what builds relationships, reputation, and uh and a sustainable career.

Enrollment + Rapid Fire FAQ

SPEAKER_01 32:04

Exactly. It's it's I I couldn't agree more. And so we're we're nearing the end of our time. So what I want to do is name a couple things. Number one is that our our current enrollment period for certification is currently open. However, it is closing on May 10th. So if you are interested in getting certified with IDC, we sometimes we have doors open, but we usually close doors to make sure that we are able to provide uh really strong support for the folks inside the program. So our doors are closing on May 10th, so that once once doors close, we can really turn our focus in onto the students who are inside of our program. So if you are considering becoming uh a certified intimacy professional with IDC, then now is your time to really dig deep into what our program looks like, whether it's a good fit for you, and how and what your goals are as far as uh your work within intimacy. And to end, what I'd like to do is Claire, do a little bit of a rapid-fire QA about our program specifically to give folks the information they need to make that decision for themselves by May 10th. So, question number one: do I need experience in the entertainment industry, TV, film, theater to become an intimacy professional?

SPEAKER_00 33:13

I I think not necessarily to start your journey, but you are gonna need it by the time you want to do the work. You know, I I think I think if we're gonna be changing, disrupting a system or if we're gonna be changing how a machine works, you really need to understand the machine. So you are welcome to come journ join us at any point in that journey of yours with the knowledge that you will need to gain that experience in order to then apply your intimacy training to that field.

SPEAKER_01 33:42

Great. Another question we get a lot is about timing and pacing. And I want to name that our program is fully self-paced. So once you join the certification program, everything inside of that program you can really do on your own timeline. And we've built it that way because everybody is coming to this work, like Claire was saying, from different levels of experience. Some people have long, you know, careers already in the TV and film industry, and they, you know, feel really strong in a lot of areas, and they just really need to hone in and specialize on intimacy work, and they've got the time, the space, the energy to like get it done and get it done well. Amazing. There are other folks who are coming to us who have a little bit less time or a little bit less availability, and that's also amazing too. We've made it so that they can piece apart their journey. So maybe it's a couple modules here, a couple modules there. We hold a number of phase four workshops every year. And so when you're ready for that phase four, you'll be able to register for a time that works for you when you feel most confident and making the most of that in-person training. We really wanted to make sure that once you commit to getting certified, that there's no time crunch where life can't shift and adjust and change, that you have a lot of space, a lot of support, and a lot of tools inside the program to really meet you where you're at.

SPEAKER_00 34:55

I think that's really helpful for our global members as well, because you know, you can you can do a lesson at, you know, sometimes if it's a live lesson, you have to get up at 3 a.m. to do it. You could do it whenever you want, and you can choose a time when travel to do your in-person works for you. And that's I think why we have a lot of our global community in our training programs as well, because it really can cater to that.

SPEAKER_01 35:20

Well, okay, this dovetails nicely. What kind of community and support is there inside the program?

SPEAKER_00 35:26

Well, we have we have monthly live sessions, both of we have a monthly mentorship session where you can just come on and ask one of our teachers whatever you want. We have monthly skill building sessions where our teachers will actually teach, you know, at uh specific aspects, and you'll not only be with our teachers, but also with other people in the program. So that's kind of live conversation there. We have, you know, a whole network of both like peers that are training with you and all our certified people and our teachers. We have a community board on which you can discuss regularly and make that contact. We have we have our regular summits that we do where we bring our folks together in further learning and community. It's one of the really big aspects that we have. You can always reach out to our teachers, you can always reach out to our team and get personal feedback, support, and interaction.

SPEAKER_01 36:23

Yeah, there's a lot of personalized touch because everybody's definition of what success looks like in this industry is a little bit different. There are so many ways to apply this work, and we want to make sure that every student gets what they need to be successful in their career. The next two questions we have are a little bit about the logistics and commitment inside the program. And I want to be really transparent, especially when we're talking about cost. You know, MFA programs, high-level training programs are often $40,000, $60,000, $80,000, depending on, you know, where you're trying to go to school. They require you to set aside multiple years of your life. And when we were looking at what it takes to build a high-level industry certification program, we didn't want to follow those models. So how we've pivoted is to create a slightly different model when it comes to that self-paced learning. And we also wanted to price it slightly differently. Currently, our training is priced at just shy of $8,000, which at the current SAGAFTRA base rate is just under a week of work, including your prep. Our program is designed to help get that work and make that work happen and sustainable and to build a long-term career. Which actually brings us to the next question of will this training actually work for me? And this is a question that I really want to honor because we've spent a lot of time in this podcast already talking about the feast and famine nature of this industry, the gig work, the growth, the contraction. And it can be very nerve-wracking to invest this much time and energy and money into a training. And we wanted to make sure that folks weren't trapped in a purchase they regret, that when they joined a program, they knew that the program was also committed to them. We have seen so many professionals build successful careers inside this industry with the support that IDC can offer, whether that's working on major studio sets, whether that's working in academia, in indie films, in community theater, there is so much impact that can happen when this training is applied. And we feel so strongly that the framework that we have built inside IDC can get you there. So, because of that, this is our promise to you. If you complete phases one through three and you do not find the value you are expecting to find inside this program, just let us know and we will refund every penny. Now, I want to be clear that this promise is not about you diving in and kind of poking around the modules and then going like, maybe this isn't right. This is not that kind of program. We want you to be committed to this program because when you are inside this program, we are going to be so committed to you. So this means showing up for the skill building sessions. This means showing up for the group mentorship sessions, asking questions, diving deep in the community. If you follow the steps we've laid out, we feel so confident that you will see the success you want that we feel amazing about that promise because of the success we've already seen other students have inside of our program. We firmly believe that certification is the clearest path into building a long-term career in this profession. If your goal is a real sustainable career, training is essential. And we are so immensely proud of the track that we had built at IDC and the ways in which it can catapult folks into the impact that they want to make for themselves and for others.

SPEAKER_00 39:42

I'm also so, I feel so blessed to be able to offer that kind of support, to have been able to build a structure that that allows people that have that passion, that have that goal, to be like, yes, I help me along the way. Like we're like, we've got it. Come with us and we will get you there. I'm it's such a joy for me to see people move through the program, to expand in so many ways, and then to see them out there, to be able to turn on my TV and watch the shows that they've intimacy coordinated and be like, yes, to go to the theaters that and watch, see their names in the program. That to me is why we do this.

SPEAKER_01 40:25

The world needs more intimacy coordinators, working as intimacy coordinators, working as other, you know, professions with intimacy coordinator and intimacy director training. It is incredible what happens when we have more intimacy, when we have a bigger community, when we have more folks doing this work together. And it is just an honor to be a part of folks' journey as they continue to make impact. Certification doors close May 10th for IDC. So if this is something you're interested in, please, please, please reach out to us at info at IDCprofessionals.com. We'll answer all of your questions. We'll make sure that you have all of the information you need to make a decision that is right for you. We hope you really consider IDC as a partner in your career journey. We would love to help make this possible for you and help you make the impact that only you can make.

SPEAKER_00 41:13

I can't wait to meet and train with you.

SPEAKER_01 41:15

All right, well, that's it for us. Thank you so much for joining us on this podcast. My name is Jessica Steinrock.

SPEAKER_00 41:21

My name is Claire Warden.

SPEAKER_01 41:22

And we'll see you next episode.