J.S. Park. The Therapriest

In this conversation, I speak with J.S. Park. 

His posts and words have, at times, moved me to tears.  It was such a pleasure to speak with him about work, life, death, birth, grief and bulgogi! 

More specifically, we talk about:

• his journey to becoming a chaplain
• climbing mount assimilation and what gets lost
• what he means about being therapriest
• what got him into consistent therapy and medication
• suicide and his attempt 20 years ago. CONTENT WARNING.  it's between minutes 12 and 28.
• the birth of his second child 
• people's misunderstandings about grief. 

Joon has a new book, As Long as You Need, coming out April 2024. You can pre-order your copy here.  And, if you are like me who likes to listen to books, I am so glad he is recording the audio for it because his voice,  like his words, are a balm.

J.S. Park (he/him) is a hospital chaplain, author, and online educator. For eight years he has been an interfaith chaplain at a 1000-plus bed hospital that is designated a Level 1 Trauma Center. His role includes grief counseling, attending every death, every trauma and Code Blue, staff care, and supporting end-of-life care. He also served for three years as a chaplain at one of the largest nonprofit charities for the homeless on the east coast.

J.S. has a MDiv completed in 2010 and a BA in Psychology. He also has a sixth-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. J.S. currently lives in Tampa, Florida with his wife, a nurse practitioner, and his three-year-old daughter and their adopted dog. They are expecting another child, their son. @JSPark3000

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please share it with a trusted person or call 988 or text 741741.