HELP - Career Change!!

[Moleculist.]

Hi there,

Firstly can I say how friendly you all seem on the 'Body Therapy' threads {My mother always said flattery gets you anywhere} Secondly can I ask you all a favour!!

After 8 years with my current position and several promotions later I am realising that this job is not me! I have been doing a lot of thinking lately and research, and am narrowing my possible field down to comlpementary Therapies!

Good grief! ITEC, IGPP, AOR, BCMA, AR, BIH, IIHHT, BRC, GCMT, FHT, IFPA, AOC, IFA, etc., etc. GULP!!!

I think I have concluded to start with an ITEC Anatomy and Phsioliogy course (poss with massage as well) as a starter! I have to continue with my current job {pay still important} and I will develop my skills over the next couple of years, before venturing out! However would it be better going on a course with say the London School of massage {Much more expensive-my time and cost} and you get "BTEC Professional Diploma in Sport & Remedial Massage Therapy"

OR DOES ANYONE WHO HAS STARTED FROM A ZERO POSITION SUCH AS I AM IN NOW HAVE ASUGGESTIONS - GOOD COURSES - PITFALLS TO WATCH!!

Thanks in advance!!

Stuart

 

[stimpy]

Hi Stuart

Welcome to HP... were a very friendly forum......just wanted to say "hello"

luv & peace
stormdeva x

 

[jus me x x]

hi Stuart. like you I am making these desions on changing career. I have looked in to it and I am going to start with Indian head massage in May, and then in Sept I am thinking about doing Anatomy and Physiolgy and holistic massage. I went and had a look at a school in Gerrards Cross and was very impressed. Good luck

 

[AbbVanauua]

Hi Stuart [sm=wave.gif]

Welcome to HP - it's a great place to be!

I'm a new member and in exactly the same position as you - same company for 8 years with several promotions, but was never really happy or satisfied with my work. I then took a step back and had a really good (and honest!) look at my job and realised that it wasn't for me. I'd always been interested in aromatherapy and reflexology, so decided to do something about it. At first I was thinking about an evening class at the local college, but then did a lot more research into all the different qualifications/associations and decided to first do an ITEC A&P with massage and then move onto the ITEC Complementary Therapies course. Also, I decided to go through a private colleage, it is going to cost a lot more, but they hold the classes on Saturday - I also have to carry on with my full time job [:'(] I work in IT, computers are boring - but it pays the bills!

I joined HP about 6 weeks ago and it's been a huge help, there is loads of information available and everyone is really friendly.

Anyway, good luck with your new career! Let us know how you get on.
Jo
x

 

[Timothy OBrien]

Hi Stewart and welcome to the forum

You need to decide what type of therapist you wish to be and that will determine the type of course you need to go on, if as you say you are thinking of remedial massage and sports injury then you really will have to go to the private schools who teach this and pay the fees and will allow you to become insured to treat injuries as opposed to doing general body massage.

The choices are yours but you do need to do your homework now before you start ;-)

 

[Giants S.F]

Thanks, Storn, Lynda and Pye - it is useful to know there are other learners out there!

 

[daffodil]

PS Not to confuse - I was previously the handle - tenbob, but I must have the ultimate record for forgetting the password and email address i used!!! SO had to create another account!

Thanks for this Paul - Can you give me the basic differences between the three that is: therapeutic, SPorts and Remedial

 

[HarvTeemnInethy]

Hi Stewart

Therapeutic or general body massage is generally given for non specific problems the type you receive in a health farm, good for a general loosen up and usually very relaxing so helps reduce stress and general tension.

Sports massage is designed to treat sports people who require pre warm up massages prior to events etc, sports injuries are usually covered on these courses so you should be able to use your qualifications to get insurance to treat professionals on site for footballers etc.

Remedial massage is primarily the treatment of muscular/skeletal dysfunctions and you should be insured to treat injuries including sporting injuries.

The definitions will very depending on where you train together with the amount of contra indications which seems to very considerably from what people have been posting on this forum so you need to get a curriculum from anywhere you think of training and see what you will be able to use the qualification for that they provide you with

 

[HappyDiva]

Hi Stuart

I asked my osteopath what would be the best foundation course and he said definitely the ITEC A&P with massage. (The diploma is now called Holistic Massage, it's basically the same with a small business element and you need to do a First Aid one-day course beforehand.)

He did an A-level in Human Biology and said he wished he hadn't!! He now teaches anatomy and osteopathy so I trust his judgement.

I think the massage is really important, if only to get 'off the page' and to have a palpable experience of what you're learning anatomy-wise.

I think IMHO Sports Massage is awful, very superficial and with such harsh pressure and manipulations that the practitioner can't really get any refined feedback through their hands about the patient's condition. I may annoy some by saying this, but I do feel that gentler more holistic approaches are more interesting and that the ruffty-tuffty sports approach is designed to avoid embarrassing macho blokes with any hint of physical pleasure or sensitivity [&:]

I'm starting with 6 days' intensive study in the first week of June and can't wait. If it's not what I hoped for I'll edit this post!

Try the ITEC website to see who teaches the course near you, there's a wide variety of timetables and course durations. Mine has an intensive week then 3 months of Thursday evenings and some experience to gain in our own time.

Good luck with the new career!
BV
[sm=cat.gif]

 

[Thanh]

Hi and welcome!

Well i guess you need to decide what therapies you would like to do..massage is always a good starting point i think, i did my training with MTI ( some more initials for you ! ) rather than ITEC as the course syllabus seemed to be more in-depth and it specalises in holistic massage, the website is www.massagetraining.co.uk ( i think ) and there are details of where courses are held throughout the country on there.

Good luck with it all...keep us posted !

regards
paul

 

[Baby #2 Coming!!!]

Welcome to HP Stuart! As my friends here are all saying it's about research and finding something you like the sound of and that works for you. Reading about different therapies and 'dabbling' by doing some short workshops and having a variety of treatments could be ways of researching. Our local college is always offering one day workshops on aromatherapy, crystal healing, reflexology, intros to reiki etc just to give you a taste of what's out there. It might be worth seeing if any HPers are in your area too. I think quite a few of us have struck up friendships that way and do treatment swaps as well as lending mutual support.

 

[sahtlover]

Hi Stewart

I completed a diploma in Swedish therapeutic massage at the London College of Massage last year. The course is a bit pricey but the teachers are excellent and very supportive.
The course came in three parts (you are tested after each part and have to pass each one to be able to go on to the next).
1. Beginners
2. Anatomy and physiology
3. Practioners
I have attached their website for you to have a look at.

http://www.massagelondon.com/

Good luck in whatever you choose to do.


Lisa

 

[Dani73]

I was in exactly the same position as you some time ago.

I contacted my local Further Education collage and found out what they had to offer. I decided on the ITEC Holistic Massage course. It was one evening a week for a academic year plus home study and case studies.

Go it it was well worth it.

 

[Xavs]

Hi. Just to add my bit....

'rufty tufty'! that made me laugh, very funny!

I did ITEC, four times. I think the a and p is very in depth (some other courses have a very scarey grasp on it).

The massage course will give you the basics. After that you will then learn as you work on people. Although massage is incredibly relaxing for most people (and therefore beneficial to them) a lot of therapists do excellent work and although not trained remedially they do achieve fantastic results. A lot of people who come for massages are surprised at the range of mobility, lack of headaches, lack of stiffness and pain that they achieve after treatment. It isn't necessary to train in remedial massage to get great results.

Basically you need to build up your expertise and trust your hands and good sense. This is something that comes with practice and you also need to know your limitations and when to refer on to somebody with more knowledge and expertise than yourself.

Good luck in whatever you choose, it is difficult at the moment, but go to the schools and ask questions and see if you can speak to some of the students and pick their brains about the course.

It's certainly the best thing I ever did and I love my job.

 

[nat]

And when I say i did ITEC four times, I don't mean I had to repeat it four times as I am thick!!!! I just re-read it....I did four different subjects.

Oh and talking about osteopaths, you should see what ours looks like after a massage. Effective or what?[sm=rollaugh.gif]