Reflexology correspondence course??

[Edultunsumn]

I have recently been contacted by a lady who is currently taking a correspondence reflexology course that will apparently enable her to practice professionally when completed. For insurance purposes she only needs to complete one day of practical training which for unknown reasons she is unable to attend.
The school in question have told her that as long as she can find a practising reflexologist with a minimum of 3 years experience, with insurance, to complete an assessment then she doesn't need to attend the training day.
She contacted me as I fit this criteria. I have been practising for 8 years but have no teaching qualifications and have never taught or assessed anybody before and this is the first time I have come across anything like this.
I telephoned a tutor at the school today to find out more about their requirements. Apparently they learn all their practical through correspondence and a training video only practising on friends and family. They don't actually do any case studies which I found difficult to believe as I completed around 100 hours of case studies and practice before a practical exam.
I really don't feel comfortable doing this as I would then feel responsible for letting loose a person on the general public who although may have good theoretical knowledge will be drastically lacking in any practical hands on experience. I find it difficult to believe that any reflexology or complementary body would allow this type of training.
I'm not going to accept this request purely because, ethically I think it is wrong.
I just wondered if anybody else had received a request like this or had ever heard of anyone getting insurance after completing a course like this.
Your views on this matter will be greatly appreciated.

 

[beeyotch is so jealous]

all I can say to this is, typical cheap and nasty correspondence courses. Its absolutely ridiculous.

Although im not a reflexologist, I work alongside one, and am friends with a good number of well trained professionals. I do not accept some of the reasons people give for doing these types of courses..ie work fulltime, have a family, cant afford proper training etc. They do it because they are extremely cheap, are not assessed, so anyone can pass, and they think they can fool the public into believing they have a bona fida qualification, and sting them for their hard earned cash.

Im so glad you feel you cant assist in this request, and more fool the therapist who does.

 

[Lester]

can I just add, that FINALLY, the sector skills agencies are going to be determining how long a person should spend in training, reflexology is one of them, so we are going to have standardisation across the board, regardless of the awarding body. Distance learning providers will then be subject to lots of scrutiny, and I for one will be running straight to trading standards and the advertising watchdogs with complaints about some of them, because they are basically ripping people off!

 

[Ashley B]

Hi Princessmbs

I am so glad you are following your instincts and not agreeing to assess this student. As a course provider in Reflexology, I have to contend with companies that offer much the same sort of training as you are describing. One (which I shan't name) even advertised itself as "the cheapest, shortest, easiest course on the market - that will still qualify graduates for practitioner insurance".

I had one occasion when I was talking to a 'graduate' of one such course and she was amazed when I started talking about the spine reflex - she asked "is there a reflex for every part of the body then?" None of the organs or systems had been taught at all!!

Well done for sticking to what you know is right. What you are doing is helping to maintain the high level of professionalism that is needed in Reflexology.

 

[ed031639]

I totally agree. Reflexology is a hands on therapy, how anyone can be expected to practice without tuition of a practical nature is beyond me. I know that the theory is vitally important too but as an ITEc trained student I had to undertake 40 case studies over a period of a year and had practical experience weekly in class on other students where we learnt about how feet really feel, as we are all so very different, it can not be taught in a book alone.

I am gob smaked that a course like this can be insured against, roll on tighter regulations for this and other therapies.

 

[David Moreno]

Hi Princessmbs,

Just to say that I fully endorse what Totally Jane has said and well done for not accepting the request.
Like Jane I am an ITEC trained and qualified reflexologist.

Best wishes,

Mike

 

[Gracie07]

Dear Princessmbs,
I totally agree with your post. Unfortunately there are many courses being offered as correspondence courses. I have also met someone who genuinely believed that their correspondence course would provide them with good training across a range of therapies. Most holistic therapies require practical skills that require hours of practise and assessment to become competent.

Unfortunately unscrupulous training companies take advantage of those who believe they will achieve a credible qualification and customer will not experience the best treatment possible. This discredits the therapists who have gained qualification through ITEC and reputable bodies which continually assess to a high standard.
Standardised assessment criteria for all therapy training will provide customer confidence and awareness.

Jenny
springmoon 77

 

[D-Tes]

Sooner the better eveything is regulated, properly! But shouldn't people have the common sense to realise that this kind of course wouldn't be up to much?? without being rude . Its hard work doing case studies etc, and how anyone would expect to learn anything from this method is beyond me really. Most annoying is the people raking in the money, shame isn't it.

 

[DeetBoop]

I agree with all that has been said. But the reality of the majority of whose studying such useless distant learning courses is that they don't last long in the big wide world. At the end of the day people will vote with their feet! Lol. So don't worry your little cotton socks. Sometimes I think these courses are for vanity, like vanity publishing, enlarging egos.

RP

 

[optcynbassist]

Thankyou all for your above comments. I feel much better now about refusing this request and I totally agree that the sooner a standard training progaramme is put together the better. I just wish that the main reflexology schools and examining bodies would get together and agree once and for all on a universal foot map, length of training and case studies. Professionally it would make things a lot easier and more credible for us. Hopefully, it will then stop these correspondence course providers in their tracks! Practical, hands on training with experienced tutors is what it's all about.

 

[shaz.18xx]

Hi all for what it is worth I actually did a correspondence course in reflexology with one of the better known schools. I would totally endorse what others have said IMHO this just cannot be done via this method. I have undertaken many courses both hands on and correspondence and I can honestly say I just gave up on this one as I just could not see me ever actually thinking I could practice it. Would need to say I am a very dilligent student who works very hard at continuing development but it just would not come together for me. At the risk of upsetting some I would go as far as saying if anyone who done the same course as me thinks that with only this they can practice as a professional they would have the potential to do as much harm as good.
Sorry if my post offends but this really was my experience.
Linda x