Choosing a Training Provider

Being a skilled and knowledgable therapist requires continuous training at a certain level, so it is important to do your research, because so many courses out there promise everything but actually deliver very little, even when they have been accredited. It is important to really reflect on what it is that you want to gain from your training and what your long term goals are.

Practical Hours

Most of my courses are focused on gaining the knowledge needed to adapt the techniques you will already have, but some courses do require practical hours, so it is recommended that you find out how many hours will be covered and how easy it will be for you to build your confidence. I do offer one course where a placement of some kind is advised, and I am happy to recommend places where you could arrange this. While I do not assist with finding employment, I can offer some guidance regarding starting up or referring to other people who may help you to find additional opportunities.

Tutors Experience & Qualifications

Do your research as your learning experience will be much more positive with an experienced tutor. My experience and qualifications are very easy to find on my websites. My background is medical with dual qualification and I mentored students as a nurse. Since returning full time to massage, I have completed another 28 qualifications, many of which are in specialist areas. I also write for an international magazine, and this combined with my nursing mentality means that I have kept up to date with research.

Specialist Areas

REPUTATION & REVIEWS

Looking into the reputation of the training school can offer some insight into the likely standard and the experiences of other students. My websites cover my experience, awards, links to my published articles and if you can’t find my reviews online, I am happy to forward them to you.

CLASS SIZE & SUPPORT

If there is a higher number of student participating at any given time, this may mean that the amount of individual support you receive is less. My in-person sessions are usually no more than 2 students at a time so there is plenty of time for questions or repeating areas that you have difficulty with. Outside of these sessions I am also always available by email/whatsapp.

SPECIALISATION

When choosing a specialisation for your training, make sure that you are selecting a tutor who has specialised in the same field so that you can be sure to receive focused instruction from an experienced professional. For example many therapists come to me for pregnancy training because I was a midwife, so they know that I have specific knowledge and experience in that field.

TIME

Always check how long the course will take to complete so that you can identify whether it will fit in with other responsibilities that you may have.

COST

Let’s face it training is never cheap, and if it is, you might need to question the factors already mentioned, because sometimes more expensive might mean more experienced tutors. Plus it’s worth asking about flexible payment options or discounts for multiple courses.

VISIT/SPEAK TO TRAINING SCHOOL

Speaking to the tutor in advance to ask questions prior to making any commitment is always advised to ensure that this will be the right training option for you. You can contact me by email or phone.

Further Training

It is always worth looking at your long term objectives and thinking about where a course could lead to. Is there the potential to develop that topic further or could this course be a stepping stone to something bigger? This is why many of my courses focus on the knowledge, because anybody can learn practical skills but they are useless without a sound knowledge base. By expanding your knowledge you will really open up the possibilities or where you can go.

Your Goals

What area are you wanting to work in and what kind of therapy do you want to offer……sports therapy at the local gym will require very different training to working at a spa. Generic courses will not help if you are wanting to specialise in something. Most of my courses are one of a kind specialist courses for this purpose, and the focus is on the knowledge rather than necessarily learning a new practical technique.

Course Material

It is worth finding out what is included in the course material prior to registration so that you can be sure that the course will cover the subjects, techniques, and the amount of anatomy and physiology that you require. Anatomy is one area that is often cut short on many courses but with my medical background, you can feel confident that I will supply all relevant anatomy. Also find out about the methods used to deliver the course information as everyone has their own preferred learning style.

Accreditation & Certification

Finding a course that is accredited by a recognised professional body should give some assurance that the material is of a high standard, however, my own experience has taught me that even this is often not the case. However, my courses are IGCT accredited and I also have additional memberships and accreditations. Most of my courses are CPD training courses which offer CPD points, and are certified and insurable.