Our syllabus fully complies with the guidelines set out by the General Council for Massage Therapies, the regulatory body established to make sure that students receive the quality of training necessary to meet the standards required to set themselves up as professional therapists.
Supervised or contact education and training amounts to 160 hours spread over approximately 11 months. Topics covered include:
The holistic approach, including an understanding of how environmental factors, diet & nutrition, emotional and spiritual factors influence our health.
Stress & its many ramifications and effects on the body and mind.
Self-care and personal growth & development; getting to know one’s own body & recognizing areas which need attention.
Full range of practical massage techniques for all body areas; client care; good body use.
Case studies; client handling; listening skills; taking a case history.
Assessing and recording treatments; aftercare; reactions to treatment; the healing crisis.
Client confidentiality and record keeping.
Contraindications to massage; when to seek GP advice; when to suggest other alternative treatments.
Understanding of other complementary therapies.
Anatomy & physiology of all the main human systems of life and how they are integrated and maintained.
Pathologies of the same.
Health & safety in the workplace.
St. John's Ambulance Emergency First Aid at Work Certficate
Setting up a treatment room; health & safety.
Marketing & business awareness.
Ethics and good practice.
For more detailed information including our course timetable, topics covered and assessment criteria please click here.
As part of the OSM diploma, the student is required to complete 36 case study treatments. Extensive support and help is given while completing these. It is valuable experience for students to work in a continuing, real, situation with clients of different types and with different concerns. The case studies will need to reflect the student's growth as a therapist and show thoughtfulness and concern for their client throughout.
An individual progress assessment with the principal is generally scheduled about midway through the course with additional follow-ups, should they be needed.
In addition to the above hours, students should be fully aware that considerable home study is required. The hours required will be determined by the student's ability and commitment, but are unlikely to be less than 250 during the training as a whole.
