Hi all,
I'm new to the forum and am hoping to receive some advice.
I am currently working as a learning mentor for a young boy with learning difficulties. I have just entered the final year with him, having spent 4 years helping him progress through primary school.
After this year I am thinking about changing careers and am very interested in a career in reflexology. I obtained level 1 in Reiki last year and have developed quite an interest in alternative therapies. I plan on progressing my Reiki further but would also like to learn and practice reflexology.
I have been looking on the ReflexologyForum and the Association of Reloxologists Websites for advice on what courses are suitable and would enable me to become members of these associations. I am having difficulty selecting the correct course as I'm not sure which are probably accredited and was hoping someone on this forum would be able to offer some assistance...
I live in West Yorkshire and due to my current work commitments am only able to either study an online course or one that covers weekends only. Travel is not a problem although I don't want to have to travel too far.
Any advice or links would be very well appreciated :confused:,
Lighty
Hi Lighty
Welcome to HP - I'm sure you'll find the forums really helpful especially if you do go on to study reflexology.
I trained and qualified with the AOR and this was after I did loads of research into the different courses available - I felt it was the best, most in depth, professional course and I am very glad I did. It was the hardest thing I've ever done but well worth it. I also think the AOR is a highly respected body as well.
I studied at Barnsley and that was a weekend course over a year. If you look at the AOR website there are all the training venues listed and there is definitely one that covers Leeds [Jubilee college I think] and also one in Harrogate.
All the best - reflexology is fab - its changed my life and I just love doing it!
Thank you so much. I will check them out. Its lovely to hear it was worth the hard work. I hope I haven't left it too late to apply!! Thank you once again and good luck with your reflexology!! x
Hello, one thing to consider is that you may like to eventually train in other therapies. Things may have changed since I did mine but the one thing about the AoR route was that the A+P and the professional conduct and business awareness parts were integral to my course, ie. they were not modular. An ITEC course for example is modular and once you have the A+P and professional conduct and business awareness qualifications then you dont have to take this again and you add on ITEC mudules such as aromatherapy and on site massage. What I found over the years once I got my AoR qualification, was that I had to do a lot more A+P and business awareness again for Indian Head Massage and the same A+P etc again for holistic massage. ITEC would have been a better route for me and would have given membership to the Complementary Therapist Assoc.
I think that whatever route you decide it would be wise to choose one with good business awareness. Many courses dont cover sufficiently how to find clients once you have qualified and how to run the practice as a small business which, looking back, is one of the most important areas to cover.
Many FE colleges run courses over 20 - 30 weeks and they often run on Saturdays and evenings.
Different courses vary within the same organisation so its worth doing some research.
Bob