Help with VTCT Reflexology L3

[Dee123]

Hi everyone

I am just coming to the end of my L3 VTCT Reflexology course and it has been a very bad experience and will definitely not be using the same tutor for anything else in the future. I have basically been shown the basic routine, given the study book and been left to it with no support. I have asked various questions but have never managed to get a definitive answer and suspect she hasn't a clue.

I have been told to write something about everything in the book, but the workbook states that the sections are guidance. Anyway, I have done what she has asked and it has been a hard slog but I have come to the last section where you have to cover certain ranges. The first section covers relaxation, uplift/stimulation/balancing/stress relief. I have covered these with my case studies. The next section is temperature, colour, skin texture, etc which again I have covered in my case studies along with the medium used. The section that is bothering me and I have asked my tutor several times but cannot get a definitive answer is the last section where you have to cover all of the body systems. My case studies do not cover all of these, for instance I have not had anyone in with an endocrine problem, a nervous system problem or a cardiovascular problem. My tutor has told me to write about the body systems for the ones that I have not covered. I was under the impression that anyone with a cardiovascular problem, should not be treated. Should I have specifically sought out case studies to cover all of these areas as i was not told this and I have done all of my case studies now and have to have my work in by Tuesday morning. Not sure what to do.

Can anyone offer any help or advice, urgently please!

Many, many thanks.

[Footsie01]

Hi Dee, sorry that you haven't had any replies before today which is your deadline day. Its a few years since I did my VTCT and we had to have a range of case studies but you couldn't possibly cover every body system within your case studies so I'm sure this won't be a problem. You do need to have an understanding of all the body systems which you should have done in your anatomy and physiology - our tutor had a written paper for us to do which showed our understanding of the different systems.

I'm afraid its quite a familiar story with college tutors and VTCT - like any school and teachers - some are fantastic and inspirational, others are lacking and unfortunately there is no way of finding out before you start unless you are lucky enough to get a recommendation.

My advise following your VTCT is to read and study as much as possible yourself as you are correct in saying that the VTCT really is just the basics. Then try to get an idea of which area of reflexology you would like to learn more about and then attend a CPD course which will increase both your knowledge and your confidence in your own abilities. I did a maternity reflexology course 2 months after completing my VTCT and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Hope all goes well with you today and don't let the bad start put you off your reflexology journey. Best wishes Tracey

[Dee123]

Hi many thanks Tracey, I have now completed all of my coursework and my final assessment. I did cover all the body systems with the A & P and I couldn't see how my tutor expected me to cover all the systems with my case studies so I used poetic licence, for instance for the respiratory system I had someone with a bad cough.

It just so happened that an EV from VTCT turned up at our final assessment and made a beeline for me and gave me a grilling about whether I was happy with the course and I did I feel that I got enough support. I had to be truthful and felt a bit bad about putting our tutor down but she had to know. She had seen my coursework and couldn't believe how much I had done so I explained to her that my tutor had given us the manual and told us to write about everything in it and was then just left to it. I said I had queried with her if that was right as it says it is guidance. The EV confirmed that I was right and I should have been set papers rather than just be sent away with the book.

Will definitely be careful when picking my next course and funnily enough I was considering maternity reflex as I have two people in my family pregnant at the moment.

Thank you for your support, I absolutely love reflexology and I will definitely not let this bad experience put me off.

Dee x