Studying massage by distance learning?

[Jayrverlohr]

Hi guys,
I know the subject of learning therapies by distance learning has been covered before, but im posting this because I feel quite strongly about it, and want to know how other therapists feel about massage distance learning courses (specifically massage) that call themselves 'practitioner diplomas, certificates etc.

My problem is, when people come on these forums for advice on massage distance learning courses, surely we, as massage therapists, should not be encouraging people to do a distance learning course (i have seen the lessons and they are exteremly poor), do a quickie one or two day workshop, watch a few video clips on YouTube, and then congratulate the learner who successfully 'qualifies', and goes out to practice as a massage therapist.

Surely its not just me that wants massage to be seen as a professional skill, which is learned and mastered over time, by attending a recognised (and there are lots and lots, with many different formats) course, which requires you to study A&P (distance learning courses do not), cover the theory in-depth, including contra-indication (which lets face it, is crucial), and ensures case studies are performed to ensure competence. On the previous thread, it was admitted that the distance learning course didnt even include draping.....surely surely surely this cant be right??

I do feel slightly guilty that in the last thread, I appeared to belittle the lady studying this way, but that was not my intention. If someone chose to do a distance learning course to study the theory, and perhaps try a workshop, to see if they wanted to progress to a recognised course, then fine, but to do it with the intention of setting up as a massage therapist, I think is wrong, and as a professional massage therapist, I could not or would not give advice to someone going down this route, its not fair to myself, genuine massage therapists, or the learners themselves.

 

[Bhuwisit]

And surley if they were REALLY all bad they would not be allowed to sell them and also my stonebridge course is excepted by the guild. If i could have done it your way then i would but we are not all as lucky as you and i have done it the best way i feel i could and i feel that perhaps may be you FULLY qualified therapists were more helpful in offering to help with practical training to help those like me who are not as fortunate to be able to do full time college we all would not be painting a bad picture. It would also give the therapist a good name as well as the studant so instead of putting us down why not help us?

 

[Heetlecut5]

Hi Susan,
I was not having a go at you personally, and I actually do help students that are training in massage, free of charge, but im afraid this would ever only extend to people that were doing recognised courses, as I want to see better standards in the industry, not worse.

I wouldnt say I was lucky enough to do it the right way, I would say I was steered in the right direction, which is the point I am trying to make on here. As a massage therapist, my advice would be not to undertake a distance learning massage course, and expect to become a practitioner when you have finished it.

I have checked on the website, and it does not say that the massage course is accepted by the Guild, and I know 100% that none of the Professional Associations that are members of the massage governing body (GCMT) accept distance learning massage qualifications, so surely THAT says something?

It would be nice if practising massage therapists gave their views.

 

[KeYpeceswaype]

It's simple: you can't possibly learn massage therapy by distance learning. It's a hands on, touch therapy. No argument, in my opinion - there's no way it can be learnt without a tutor and people to practice on in the flesh.

 

[Alondraa]

The guild does except the stonebrige because i asked the question a few weeks ago and if you look under general discussions on page three and click on advice you will see my answer. Like i say we can not be that bad or we would not be able to do them at all.

 

[midnight_blue_vampire]

I stick with what I said before. How can you learn what a tense muscle feels like? How you can you learn how much pressure to put on? How can you learn to recognise non-verbal communication?
All of these have to be learned on actual people.

 

[momof3]

I also checked the stonebridge site for the Holistic Beauty Therapist Course that Susan is doing and it states:

This course has also been accredited for The Guild of Professional Beauty Therapists Membership, insurance and 140 CPD points. For more information on the associated benefits of Guild Membership, please click here.


Susan and I have been swapping emails and i have said what i think about this course and i have highlighted its weaknesses and Susan is already proactively seeking support in her area for practical training.

If the intensive fast track courses or even home study are producing poor practitioners then why are insurance companies insuring them?? Surely in this day and age of people taking eachother to court over the slightest thing they simply wouldnt touch home study with a bargepole??

The Guild offer insurance to their members: http://www.beautyguild.com/membership.asp

 

[amafgjew]

Is the guild recognised by the CNHC?

Myarka.

 

[npetmusaiscipcech]

hi Susan,
yes, we are both correct, as I stated, the Guild do NOT accept the stonebridge massage course, however, I have just read on your previous thread that they accept the holistic beauty course that you are doing.

Hi Isis-training, yes it is true, some insurance companies do accept these qualifications, however I do know that the vast majority of professional associations through the governing body and regulator are working toward lobbying the insurers to ensure that these courses are not covered.

We do have National Occupational Standards, which in fact are being increased.

I understand 100% why some people choose do to distance learning courses, however there are some things that you just cannot complete via distance learning, and massage is one of them!

Three Headed Lizard mentioned three things that you cannot do via distance learning, and I could add a long list to that, just the same as you cannot do it in a one day workshop.

I can understand that you will defend one and two day workshops, as that appears to be your livelihood, and you seem to be aiming these at those that have done distance learning courses, however, surely as a training provider you are aware that your massage courses do NOT meet current NOS, let alone any new standards, and as a training provider it is your duty to be aware of these.

Im afraid just because an insurer is willing to provide cover, you cannot justify allowing poorly trained therapists onto an unknowing and unsuspecting public, it is unethical!

 

[heexwuaxihtijhelb]

and for the record, I also teach on a two day introductory massage workshop, so I know that you CANNOT teach practitioner level massage in this space of time, even if they have done a few lessons via home study.

 

[Soheil Sulimani]

Well done for the teaching.

If you go to my profile you can go through all of my posts on this matter as its been argued to death i feel, and i do have work to prepare for my students tomorrow and i would rather be putting effort into that than repeating myself over and over, its also only a small part of my "livelihood"

 

[Galbatorix]

Hi Myarka,
no, the Guild are not recognised by the CNHC.

Hi Isis,
as you have responded previously to everything else, its a shame you didnt respond to the question I posed. It would have been good to hear a training providers perspective.

"surely as a training provider you are aware that your massage courses do NOT meet current NOS, let alone any new standards, and as a training provider it is your duty to be aware of these"

 

[What ever...]

your question was posed about distance learning now you are arguing over short intensive courses, which one are we supposed to be debating, although its a bit of a one-sided debate as you've already formed your opinion.

 

[Lowly]

Point taken, I have gone off tangent, for which I apologise. My question is about massage distance learning courses. As far as I am concerned it definately isnt one sided, but yes of course I have already formed my opinion, and that is an informed opinion, borne from experience in massage therapy, in massage training and in distance learning courses

 

[Pompal 09.]

Thats fine, I am happy to debate this now we are back on track, I too have experience in all of the above too.

 

[Bitterford M]

I would also like to say that i would like to go into buisness when i have completed my course but surley if i can not massage they way it should be then my buisness would fold rather quickly so wouldn't that problem be just mine because of lack of knowledge and practical? Plus isn't it the job of the client to check me out to see what training i have before treatment then it is up to the client then if they want me to treat them or not

 

[blak diamond]

unfortunately it would not only be your problem, the way I see this situation is as follows.
If you qualify through a distance learning school, take up their own insurance and then provide sub standard massage treatments, then the industry as a whole suffers, your disillusioned clients will think that "massage" is the problem and not that you administer it poorly.

whether we like it or not, massage has become regulated, steps are underway from GCMT member PA's to police their accreditations more effectively, I also know of one major Pa who have recently taken Stonebridge college from their approved list of accredited schools, for the very reason that its courses fell far short of the current NOS,

as the meerkats say SIMPLES, hands on therapies need hands on training from experienced and appropriately qualified instructors. there is no negotiation here in my book, it either satisfies teaching aims and learning objectives or it doesnt.
Sorry to disagree here with those who have suggested "swapsies" as appropriate methods of learning, by going to see another therapist does not guarantee correct techniques are being taught or learnt, there is no assessment process to satisfy evidence requirements from awarding or accrediting bodies.
an interesting thread that deserves more input from those practising therapists, assessors, tutors whose livelihood is being diluted by some really quite shocking standards which a minority of HPers seem happy with

a slightly concerned BGFL who will be forwarding this thread to my PA to raise at GCMT and CNHC level.

 

[badkitty3168]

Hi Susan,
I wasnt going to get involved in this discussion as my views on this topic are widely known on here.....however, my fingers are too itchy!

Firstly, I have to commend anyone that wants to further themselves by education, and the fact that you are doing this is commendable.

Over the years I have done many, many distance learning courses, some good, and some diabolical, I also develop distance learning programmes, because I know that they are a much needed way of learning for lots of people, many in the same situation as you.

I have to say, that I dont think that ANY hands-on therapy, including massage, can be studied to practitioner level via distance learning (nor indeed one or two day workshops). That is not just my opinion, but the opinion of the leaders in these fields, who are part of the governing bodies of the therapies, and also the regulators.

With massage in particular, it has already been mentioned that there are National Occupational Standards, and we are a regulated profession, whether therapists like it or not. This has been brought about so that we can move the profession forward with higher standards, which will eventually bring about more benefits for therapists.

The reason there are training providers out there that offer these courses is simple....they are great money earners, and they choose to ignore the fact that there are National Occupational Standards in place, and their courses do not meet them. They also ignore the fact that neither the governing body nor the regulator recognise the courses, however, they still take your money, knowing these facts.

Just to answer your previous post, which I have quoted above.

Unfortunately, even if your business did fold quickly, and believe me, if you offer a shoddy service, it will, the clients who would have paid for this service would probably not bother using the services of other massage therapists, which does us all a dis-service, and we all lose out. On the other point, I have been practising for almost 20 years, and I have only been asked for my qualifications once, by a client. Most clients do not know one training school, or qualification, from another. They trust that we are well trained. We should not breach that trust.

In my opinion, you should do your studies, do a workshop, research, research, research, practice, practice, practice.....on people you know, and then if you like what you are doing, you should find someway of doing a recognised qualification. Believe me, you will benefit in the long run. There are so many recognised courses all over the country, run in all different formats, one day a week, one night a week, one day per month etc etc.

I would give that advice to anyone looking at training in hands on therapies.

Good luck in whichever route you take, I wish you all the best.

 

[k2kripto]

Hi All,

I've just read this entire feed with great interest. I have to fully agree with Sportstherapy. I have been a full time therapist for 13yrs and have witnessed some interesting things during my time. Hands on professions can not be learnt via distance learning. I would want my surgeon to have had some practise before he/she worked on me, should I need any surgery in the future. Why do we not hold our profession in the same regard?

To be a great massage therapist takes - skill, passion, perseverance, intuition, dedication and education - this is acquired over time - usually years. I would dearly love to see the strict regulation similar to the US implemented here.

All too often I see under trained beauty and massage therapists damaging themselves through incorrect and/or insufficient training. We don't hold supervision and mentor ship in high regard and newly trained therapists expect to be able to do what I've spent years learning.

I dearly love what I do and feel so sad about the dilution of training and therapist biodynamics that lead to crippling injury.

Such is life. I do what I can, when I can.

Best of luck all those embarking on their new path.

Cheers, Sue

 

[Nooz]

I think we do also have to remember that there is good and bad in every service. My mum had a hip replacement 3 years ago and the surgen broke her leg in theater and now has had to have several pins plus the replacement hip!! Same with dentists too etc. So sportstherapy i have tried looking at different courses as close to me as possible to do training one day a week etc but there isn't any. I am in stafford so if you can come up with any i will be willing to have a look at them and perhaps posting these courses will help others too. We need help not to be put down all the time when we are only trying to do our best in the situations we have at home.