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The My Story Matters Certification and Apprenticeship pathway prepares individuals to effectively guide others through transformation, transition, and personal growth. Whether you are a helping professional, peer mentor, community leader, or someone with lived experience who wants to serve others, this pathway provides the training, practice, and support needed to lead with confidence.
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Through a combination of personal development, leadership training, practical experience, and workforce-based learning, participants develop both the internal foundation and professional competencies necessary to create meaningful impact in the lives of others.
Why Guides Matter
Transformation happens through relationships.
Programs, services, and resources are important—but lasting change rarely happens through information alone.
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People change when they encounter individuals who can create safety, ask meaningful questions, model accountability, and help them navigate challenges without judgment.
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At My Story Matters, we call these individuals Guides.
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Guides are not expected to have all the answers. Their role is not to rescue, fix, give advice or direct another person's life. Instead, they learn how to facilitate growth, strengthen self-awareness, encourage ownership, and help participants discover their own capacity for change.
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Our Guide Certification pathway develops individuals who can effectively support others through transition while maintaining healthy boundaries, professional ethics, and a trauma-aware approach.
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Whether working in schools, correctional settings, housing programs, workforce initiatives, recovery environments, or community organizations, Guides become catalysts for lasting transformation.
The Certification Pathway
Growth before leadership.
Effective guides are developed through experience, not simply through training.
The My Story Matters Certification pathway is intentionally designed to ensure that individuals first learn to apply the tools in their own lives before being asked to facilitate them for others.
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Participants move through a progressive development process that builds self-awareness, emotional regulation, communication skills, leadership capacity, and facilitation competence.
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We follow a formula of LEARN - LIVE - LEVERAGE
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LEARN
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Phase 1: Captain Your Story Class
Participants complete the foundational curriculum and learn the core principles of identity, vision, emotional regulation, accountability, and intentional response.
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Phase 2: Navigate Your Story Class
Participants deepen their understanding by applying these tools to real-world domains such as financial capability, parenting, trauma understanding, career exploration, and leadership.
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LIVE
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Phase 3: Leadership Class
Leadership begins with leading yourself. Participants deepen their understanding and integration of the Creator’s Framework® by intentionally applying the tools in their own lives. The focus is on moving beyond knowing the concepts to consistently living them—strengthening personal accountability, emotional regulation, and the capacity to lead themselves through everyday challenges, choices, and opportunities.
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Phase 4: Intentional Communication Tools Class
Intentional communication is essential to building meaningful relationships and creating lasting change. In this phase, participants develop practical communication skills and strategies that strengthen their ability to listen, understand, connect, and respond with intention. The focus goes beyond learning communication techniques to integrating these skills into a way of being—creating more authentic, empowering, and effective interactions in everyday life.
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Phase 5: Complete Navigate Your Story
Participants complete Navigate pathways and gain practical experience applying tools in workforce, family, trauma, and community settings.
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LEVERAGE
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Phase 6: Guide Certification
Participants transition from personal mastery to learning how to guide others through the Creator’s Framework®. This phase focuses on developing the skills, presence, and intentional communication necessary to create safe, empowering learning environments. Through facilitation training, practical application, and competency assessment, participants learn to support others in discovering their own insights, strengthening personal accountability, and creating meaningful change—without taking ownership of another person's journey.
Apprentices demonstrate competency and become eligible for certification as a My Story Matters Guide.
Next Steps: Choosing Your Pathway
Upon completing these foundational phases, participants will have greater clarity about how they want to continue their journey and apply what they have learned.
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Those who wish to guide classes within their own organizations or communities can pursue an introductory level of Phases 7–9, developing the practical skills needed to facilitate the curriculum within their own ecosystems.
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Individuals interested in establishing or administering an ecosystem partnership rooted in the Creator’s Framework® may pursue that pathway based on the foundational phases required for their specific partnership model. Learn more about the requirements and opportunities on our Ecosystems page.
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Those seeking to earn the Department of Labor–recognized Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Mentor Journeyman credential will complete the full integration of Phases 7–9, including the required on-the-job training, demonstrated competencies, and mentoring experience outlined below.
Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship
Turning lived experience into workforce opportunity.
The My Story Matters Registered Apprenticeship provides a structured workforce development pathway for individuals pursuing careers in human services, peer support, community engagement, workforce development, and helping professions.
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Registered through the Department of Labor under the occupation of Social and Human Service Assistant, the apprenticeship combines classroom learning, mentorship, and on-the-job experience to build both competency and confidence.
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Rather than relying solely on academic credentials, apprentices demonstrate mastery through practical application, real-world experience, and progressive skill development.
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Participants earn while they learn, building professional skills while contributing to meaningful work within their communities.
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The apprenticeship was specifically designed to create opportunities for individuals who are passionate about helping others and who want a clear pathway into human services careers.
The Apprenticeship Journey
A step-by-step pathway toward professional competency.
The apprenticeship follows a structured progression that allows participants to develop both personal mastery and professional capability over time.
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Complete Phases 1-6 before enrolling in Phase 7
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Phases 7–9: Workforce Application
Participants continue building experience through employer-based placements, service delivery, mentoring, facilitation, and professional development as they work toward full apprenticeship completion.
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By the conclusion of the apprenticeship, participants have accumulated both demonstrated competencies and substantial real-world experience.
Who This Opportunity Is For
Designed for people who want to make a difference.
The Certification and Apprenticeship pathway welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
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This opportunity is especially valuable for:
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Individuals with Lived Experience
People who have successfully navigated significant life transitions and want to help others do the same.
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Peer Mentors
Individuals supporting others through recovery, reentry, personal growth, or community-based programs.
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Helping Professionals
Case managers, social service workers, workforce specialists, educators, recovery staff, and community support professionals seeking additional tools and professional development.
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Community Leaders
Faith leaders, nonprofit leaders, volunteers, coaches, and mentors who regularly work with individuals in transition.
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Organizations
Agencies and community partners interested in developing internal capacity and equipping staff with a shared framework for participant engagement and support.
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No matter where someone begins, the pathway is designed to meet them where they are and help them develop into a capable, confident guide.
Career & Impact Opportunities
Creating pathways for service and employment.
Graduates of the certification and apprenticeship pathway are prepared to contribute in a variety of settings where human connection, leadership, and support are essential.
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Potential pathways include:
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Community-based organizations
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Workforce development programs
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Reentry and justice-related services
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Youth-serving organizations
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Recovery and stabilization programs
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Housing and supportive services
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Educational environments
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Faith and community initiatives
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Peer support and mentoring roles
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Many participants discover that the skills they develop not only enhance their professional opportunities but also strengthen their personal relationships, leadership capacity, and ability to contribute meaningfully within their communities.
Transforming lives begins with developing the people who help others transform theirs.
People don't need perfect guides.
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They need prepared guides.
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The My Story Matters Certification and Apprenticeship pathway equips individuals with the tools, experience, and support necessary to walk alongside others during life's most important transitions.
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Whether your goal is professional development, meaningful service, workforce advancement, or becoming a certified guide, this pathway provides a structured route toward lasting impact.