Advanced Massage Course (Deep Tissue, Sports & Remedial Massage) – Practitioner Diploma

• Fully Certified Practitioner Course.
• Established Training School since 1984.
• Professional training by professional therapists.
• 16 months part-time.
• All graduates eligible to join the N.H.I.I., B.C.M.A., I.M.T.A. and A.R.C.H.T.I.

About the Centre

The Natural Healing Centre Clinic and Training School is one of Munster’s longest established complementary health centres,offering professional practitioner diploma courses and a range of alternative treatments since 1984. Our premises are centrally located in Cork City – Thompson House, MacCurtain Street. The Natural Healing Centre is a member training school of the British Complementary Medicine Association (BCMA), based in the UK. Our BCMA recognised qualification automatically entitles graduates to practice in Ireland and the UK ; we have also had many graduates go on to work in a number of locations including Australia, the USA, and a variety of European countries. As well as a training school, the centre is also a working clinic offering a range of complementary treatments to our thriving client base.

About the Course

Our courses have been formulated by The Natural Healing Centre’s therapists – complementary health practitioners with over 60 years culminative experience behind them. The Advanced Massage Course is designed to train massage therapists in deep tissue, sports & remedial massage. The Course is a part-time weekend course that takes place on alternating Sundays.

The Seminar days are run from 9.30am – 4:00pm

The Clinical Practice days are run from 9.30am – 1:30pm.

Students must attend both seminar and clinical practice days. The course is run over 16 months.

Revision Seminars

The course has 3 revision seminars spread throughout the course – 1 after every 3 to 4 seminars. In these revision seminars, we will review all techniques and body areas practiced to date, with questions and demonstrations. Students will have the opportunity to discuss and practice any problems that they have encountered, and format treatment plans for their own clients. There is also the opportunity to bring in their own clients to demonstrate on. This is also a chance to catch up on any outstanding course work.

Class Structure

The modules cover a specific body area with emphasis on – Detailed history and examination, First treatment and further treatments plan. The student will be required to provide case studies as each area is covered, and these will be based on a number of treatments between each module.

There will also be a short theory exam at the beginning of each seminar, which will be based on the subjects of the previous module. The course is structured on the assumption that the potential student is either in full-time employment or has other commitments, and the workload spread out to reflect this.

In summary, the student will carry out an average of two treatments weekly as case study assignments, as well as revising the theory work of the previous module. There are supervised clinical practice morning sessions between each seminar. The objective of the course is to train Massage Therapists to a level where they can provide competent, accurate and successful results. Classes are divided between theory work for the first half of the class, and practical work for the latter half. Students study the theory aspect of the course in our upstairs classroom area. A practical demonstration of the seminar’s techniques is shown in each seminar. For the practical aspect of the course, the class moves downstairs to our spacious hall area where treatment tables are set up. For this section of the course, students concentrate on the practical “hands-on” application of the various massage techniques, correct towel placement, and the importance of posture for the massage therapist.

A short refreshment break divides the class – tea/coffee/biscuits supplied.

Exams: Continual Assessment & Final Practicals

At the beginning of each seminar, there will be a short theory exam on the material covered in the previous class (see course content for more details).

There is one final theory exam.

There are two Final Practical Exams – these are practical demonstrations of treatment sequences covered in the course.

For a copy of our 2011 Advanced Sports & Remedial Massage Prospectus please click here.

For a copy of our 2011 Advanced Sports & Remedial Massage Application form please click here.  

Detailed Course Content

Mandatory Extra Curricular Course Work   (explained in detail in class, and spread throughout the course)

Over the duration of the course students must complete:

• 88 hours case studies for correction and assessment (over the total course).
• Minimum of 15 hours supervised clinical practice outside of scheduled class clinical supervision.
• A Basic First Aid Qualification – this is an essential for professional therapists and as such, students who do not posses a valid First Aid Certificate must attend a First Aid course in order to graduate. First aid courses are regularly held at the centre, and are included in the course cost.

How to apply

To secure your place on this course please post in the enclosed application form with a deposit of €400. Places are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Students are advised to book a place early, as we accept only 10 students per course. Students have until Seminar One to avail of the fee discount (Option 2).

Prerequisites

As this is a postgraduate course, applicants require a Natural Healing Centre Therapeutic Massage Diploma or equivalent.

Course fees

The total cost of the course is €2,600, and there are two options in which the fees can be paid.

• Option 1 involves a payment of €200 per seminar, until fees are paid in full.
• Option 2 entitles you to a discount of €250.

Option 1 Fees are paid over the first eight months of the course as follows:

Deposit: €400
Seminar 1 to 11 – €200 per seminar
Total fees: €2600

Option 2 Fees are paid before, or on the morning of, Seminar 1.

Deposit: €400
Balance: €1950
Total fees: €2350

The course fee is fully inclusive and covers all tuition fees and course manuals, all written and practical examination fees, first aid course and refreshments. It also includes all oils and couch paper used during class.   With regards to the practical side of the classes, students are not provided with towels, couch covers, or ankle rolls, and are expected to supply their own.

Methods of payment

We accept all forms of payment (cash, cheques, credit/debit cards) – we can also take credit card/laser card details over the phone, should you wish to avail of the option.

Fees Policy

A deposit of €400 is necessary to secure a place on the course, and, due to course place demand, is non-refundable. Once the course commences, all course fees are strictly non-refundable. Students opting for Fees Option 1 must strictly adhere to the payment plan.