Holistic Therapies - Reflexology, Indian Head Massage... TRAINING HELP!

[flutterbybutterfly]

I have recently had a series of Indian Head Massages and Reflexology from a family friend following a car accident 6 weeks ago which has left me with neck and back sprain.

It has inspired me into finding out more about holistic treatments from a personal and professional point of view. In other words, I would like to train up in these areas as I think it would be beneficial to me as currently I am so pre-occupied with the children, house and husband that I feel a bit like I'm losing my identity. I also find it very hard to relax and although I am very creative and have hobbies lots of friends etc..., handcrafted cards etc... I would like to do something that takes me away from the house for a bit of me time. Well he has his golf...

I am on a 5 year career break and find it unlikely that I will return to my job. I would therefore like to take courses that would enable me to work as a holistic therapist if I enjoy itl.

I have researched my local college for reflexology but I can't start that until next September. Also as it is an evening class I think I might struggle with childcare as my husband works long hours. So the alternative is a correspondance course, I know it is a practical subject so I can't see how it can be offered as correspondence courses - but it is!

Maybe my first step is to do the Anatomy and Physiology Diploma as a correspondence course as it is theoretical and take it from there. The cheapest (reputable looking) course seems to be offered by www.oxfordcollege.com which is £175 with £25 cashback via quidco. It is endorsed by CMA but does this mean anything? There seems to be lots of groups and governing bodies out there for holistic/complimentary therapies but are they all self-regulating?

So, the purpose of my thread is to ask if anyone has any advice for me in taking this decision.

[Sazbo]

Hi there. I initially intended to do an evening course in the subject (having done the A&P unit), but in the end I qualified as a reflexologist after doing a course that was approved by the Association of Reflexologists (www.aor.org.uk). Some areas of complementary medicine, including reflexology, are not governed by one single body (although this may change with recent legislation that came into force), which makes it a bit confusing for prospective students.

I opted to do a reflexology course approved by the AOR - more expensive - but because otherwise I would have done the evening course and then had to have paid several hundred of pounds out to do a 'bridging course' that would allow me to apply for AOR membership, as I felt in terms of setting up a practice, this was the best route to go for me. But this isn't necessary - it depends on what your motivations are doing the course, I guess.

The A&P course can probably be studied by correspondence, if you already have some familiarity with anatomy etc, but I personally wouldn't recommend studying reflexology by correspondence. As you say, it is a practical subject and you do really need someone to guide you in terms of getting your technique right and learning exactly where the points are in the sequence.

Hope that helps,
Saz

[Turning_into_scrooge]

I did my training over a full 12 month course which is International Institute of Health and Holistic Therapist training which give me the training to work alongside heath professionals such as physio or occupational therapists etc.. Don't have any info on doing the anatomy and physiology as a correspondence course, didn't know it was available but i do do there are short courses of each therapy done that can all be tagged together for the I.I.H.H.T qualification. Why not contact the Federation of Holistic Therapist for advice, you will need to use this company for insurance anyway, do a google for their website, loads of info on there. I hope you enjoy the course whichever you go for as much as i did :)

EDIT: forgot to say that i did all my training at my local college and the I.I.H.H.T covers all the complementary therapies.

[*zippy*]

Just be careful with correspondance courses for therapies as you may have difficulty getting insurance.

[nappentass]

I'm in a similar position except I know that I want to train to be a Bowen Practitioner, but also need to get an A&P qualification to do that I'm researching doing a correspondence course for different reasons and am lucky in that the Bowen course has specific qualifications that it recognises.

It seems to me that for an A&P to be 'recognised' (and probably for insurance too, though I hadn't thought of that Thanks) it should be something like a VCTC (http://www.vtct.org.uk/) or ITEC (http://www.itecworld.co.uk/) or BTEC (though I have found less information about this) rather than one from a 'college' or business.

Hope that helps a little

Jill

[*zippy*]

I don't know if its changed, but I qualified for Bowen through the ECBS in 2005 and you didn't need the A & P qualification unless you wanted to join BTER (+first aid certificate). I already had my A & P, but not everyone did.