Hi,
I'm fairly new to therapy and am interested in taking a Reflexology course. I live in Tyne and Wear and there is a course offered by Natural Therapy Studio in my area. I've done a couple of other courses through them but I'm wondering what my other options are and if anyone can recommend any good courses?
Thanks!
Hi B1
Personally I wouldn't touch a reflexology 2 day course that you have hinted at with as barge pole. Reflexology is a healing art and as such takes a long time to learn and be proficient at. It's hard enough for a reflexologist that holds a FE diploma or even a HE degree to make a living, let alone someone that has done a two-day so-called practitioner diploma. Reflexology is a core therapy qualification, not a Continued Professional Development (CPD) workshop.
I'm glad you have asked this question. To answer, it's better to do a college-led level 3 FE diploma accredited by ABC, ITEC, VTCT, C&G (and other organisations with a similar syllabuses), and that the qualification is based on National Occupational Standards (NOS), and that it can gain Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) registration if necessary (which is slowly becoming a prerequesite for employment or volunteer work in the formal healthcare industry).
Best wishes on your course hunting.
RP
Well said RP! There is a world of difference between undertaking and embracing a properly structured programme of training over a course of months (or longer), and attending a fast-track 'course'. With the former you will hopefully emerge as a therapist in your chosen field; qualified, knowledgeable and experienced. With the latter you will simply be someone who has attended a 2-day course. Totally different. RP is so right, many disciplines such as Reflexology take time to learn properly. Fact. It takes time and graft. There is no short cut. The thought of someone being sufficiently skilled and aware to practise on the public after a quickie 'course' is laughable. Well, it would be if it wasn't so worrying.
There seems to be a lot more quickie courses around now for less involved treatments too, such as waxing and facial therapy, and I don't believe these can't be safely mastered in a day (eeek...!) I lectured in Beauty Therapy for four years and know how long it takes students to fully learn a therapy. It can take weeks just to learn a full treatment routine, let alone all the theory, contraindications etc.
I do worry that some of these fast tracks can run the risk of compromising the student and their future clients. As a client, I'd be seriously un-nerved (and feel ripped off) if I thought my therapist had trained for just a couple of days. I expect expertise and experience, and these take time and work to acquire.
Good luck with the course search. I hope you find what you're looking for and that you enjoy it when you do.
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