OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Applied Reflexology for Integrated Medicine

Course Structure & Curriculum​

• You will be glad to read that there are no exams!

• As you progress through the course you will be continually assessed in the practical and theoretical aspects.

• You should however, allow approximately ten to twelve hours per week to work on home assignments which will include detailed case study work.

• You will be provided with a recommended reading list at the beginning of the course and you will have exclusive access to the secure student area on this website.

• Classes are held one weekend per month over a period of approx 11 months.  Each day runs from 9.30am to 5.30pm approx with a lunch break and a short tea/coffee break morning and afternoon.

   

  • The educational aims are to develop the in-depth knowledge and skill required to provide safe and effective treatments.
  • The following methods are used:
  • Lectures and visual aids in the classroom.
  • Detailed demonstrations and practice of techniques.
  • Detailed handouts and workbooks for each student.
  • Supervised practice and individual practical experience.
  • Open discussion periods with course tutor.
  • Monitored home assignments.
  • Continuous assessment by course tutor of the development of personal qualities required of a professional practitioner.

  Diploma Units

  ​Unit 1: Principles and Safe Practice for Clinical Practitioner Reflexology

  As the unit title suggests, you will learn all about your legal and professional responsibilities as a qualified Practitioner of Reflexology who can work in any environment, Clinical or otherwise. 

  You will also understand why choosing the Level 5 Diploma in Applied Reflexology for Integrated Medicine was the best decision as ti is the only qualification that embraces the need to look at, appreciate, and understand all the aspects that are involved in a persons health and wellbeing.  Discussion and seminars will explore why this qualification is "Next Generation" for Reflexologists of the future.

  ​Unit 2:  Anatomy, physiology and psychology in illness and health

  ​These subjects can sometimes be thought of as 'dry' or 'difficult to learn', but at CAREA/Centralia Centres our approach is different which means your learning and understanding is different too.   

  We don't deliver a generic unit, we make the subjects relevant to being a reflexologist.   We have taken many decades of Reflexology Practice and used those real life scenarios to educate so that the Anatomy, Physiology and Psychology also becomes 'real life' too as we make it relevant, we make it interesting, dare we even say it?  Yes!  We make it fun too.   

  It is fascinating to understand what all aspects of our lives are involved in why we are well or why we are unwell and with lots of discussion and seminars you will learn the multiple causes for Illness and Health.

  Unit 3: Clinical Reflexology And Reflected Anatomy

  ​In this unit we continue your anatomy knowledge and make it really relevant to reflexology.   As your foundation, your base treatment, you will learn Duopody Reflexology which was developed at Inspira Academy many years ago, and is now accepted by the medical profession - Doctors studying for a Masters Degree in Pain Management have Duopody included in a module - not so that they learn to use it, but to learn how and why it is relevant for them to sometimes refer a patient to a Duopodist (Duopody Reflexologist).   

  Duopody teaches you to understand the relevance of being able to reflect each anatomy system onto the feet and how to use that knowledge to make a clinical assessment of feet. 

  You will be highly supervised to ensure that you have fully understood as you will be moving on to other treatment protocols in order that you are able to provide bespoke treatments for everyone.

  Unit 4: Development Reflexology, Pathology and integrated medicine

  ​As the unit title suggests, you will build on your knowledge as the depth and complexity as your skills and learning deepen and develop.  You will be learning to integrate practical, theoretical and technological understanding to find ways forward in complex and broadly defined contexts. 

   It is important to be able to apply critical evaluation to treatment findings, but also to be able to apply the same to yourself so reflective practice also included at this stage.   You will learn and understand the symptoms of pathologies and conditions and how they inform your treatment plan to ensure that you are able to individualise, personalise the treatments you provide for every client.   

  In discussions and seminars we explore the relevance of Integrated Medicine, how to become part of a team of health professionals, and the importance of looking at all aspects of clients and recognising that integration with other health providers (not just medics) is important. 

  Integration also means acknowledging every aspect of a persons life and lifestyle and how they will impact on their health and wellbeing.   Reflexologists look holistically at feet and with this unit we extend this to look holistically at their life too.

  unit 5: stress management for body and mind

  ​Stress is recognised as a contributor to many allopathic conditions and so we developed a treatment protocol specific to the known systems that are most affected by stress responses. 

  Neuro-Endo-Psycho-Immuno-Pody (NEPIP) explores the psychology of stress and the way it often then results in illness because of a compromised immune system, particularly appropriate after the covid-19 pandemic. 

  NEPIP not only explores and treats the physical, it also addresses the impact of stress on the mind.   The treatment is now exclusive to the Level 5 Diploma in Applied Reflexology for Integrated Medicine and the treatment will include the body systems most relevant to our reactions to stress, and you will also learn how to treat the psychological/emotional/mental outcomes of stress and how they affect our behaviour.

  unit 6: life stages of human development

  ​There are many reasons why studying at CAREA/Centralia Centres is that it is your best choice, and here is another!   Imagine how interesting it becomes ... you already know how to provide a bespoke treatment based on symptoms of pathologies, conditions and lifestyle, but now you can also include being able to create a treatment protocol and plan relevant to the stage of human development. 

  No other reflexology training in the UK gives you the knowledge and the ability to be confident in treating a baby, an adolescent in the middle of a challenging puberty, a pregnant client, male health, menopause etc. 

  You will be able to confidently tell a client that you are equipped to provide a treatment, no matter their age or their condition as you will be using diagnostic skills (not to be confused with diagnosing) to clinically assess and evaluate so that they get the best possible treatment specific to them. 

  There are just a couple of reasons when it would be advisable not to treat, but these will be discussed and explained why not in class. 

  untit 7: evidence based practice for reflexology

  ​The other 7 units are all at level 5 (comparable to year 2 degree, HND), but this unit is elevated to level 6 and is the only Reflexology Diploma in the UK that has this.   As the name suggests, the focus is on evidence.  We will explore and discuss why reflexology works?   How does it work?   What research has been done?   In seminars we will debate theories and explore further, you may even want to bring your own theories to class too!   

  After training at ALL CAREA/Centralia Centres you will have all the practical and the theoretical knowledge and skills to be a really competent and confident Reflexology Practitioner, skilled in Clinical practice and theory.   

  You will also recognise that reflexology is still an emerging profession that constantly evolves and develops and your training will encourage you to be a part of this, so that you continue to research and learn from your self, from your peers and most importantly ... from your clients. 

  Unit 8: business fundamentals for reflexology practice

  ​After your financial investment and your time investment and your learning and your studies, you want to translate this into being a Reflexology Practitioner!   You will research what other knowledge, what other skills you will need to have a successful practice. 

   Many students have never been self-employed before and whilst it is an amazing opportunity and thrilling to be 'in charge' of your self and your working life, it is important to recognise how this is achieved.   Everyone on Team CAREA/Centralia has been through what you have as all your tutors have been students and started their own businesses too, which means we really teach from experience.   

  You will of course learn the legislative and professional aspects and also know where external help is available, so that when you qualify and graduate you are ready to join the other CAREA/Centralia trained Duopody Reflexology Practitioners who provide awesome and often life changing and life enhancing treatments.   

  You will be able to practice in any environment you choose from a general practice to a specialist practice and it will be a career that provides satisfaction and pleasure to both you and your clients from day 1 onwards!You will receive a detailed manual for each unit and you will learn the latest and most innovative techniques in the UK and beyond.

  Our students learn Duopody, a highly effective system-by-system approach to reflexology, working on both feet simultaneously, but we will also cover the Original Ingham method, which most reflexologists in the UK have traditionally been trained to use.
  
  There will be lots of ‘hands on’ practical teaching, with a minimum of 160 hours of face to face training.  As Reflexology is a practical therapy, there is no substitute for lots of face to face training. As you progress through the Level 5 Reflexology Diploma, your practical skills will be assessed by your tutors at every stage, so that you can build confidence in your treatments throughout your training.

  There is no final exam as the course is portfolio based and you will be assessed on both your practical and theoretical work throughout the course. Assignments will include  essays (stress, homeostasis and research proposal), case studies, pathology research and critiquing reflexology research and a business plan.

  All are specifically relevant to your growth as a reflexologist, with no generic modules. You will complete over 100 evidenced treatments during the course, including several assessed practical treatments in class.
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  As part of this course you will learn NEPIP (NeuroEndoPsychoImmunoPody), an amazingly effective treatment protocol when working with clients who are experiencing stress, PTSD, low mood and anxiety.
  Many reflexologists choose to specialise in certain areas after their initial training, and undertake further training to do so. By choosing the level 5 diploma, you will learn how to adapt your treatment for subfertility, maternity, menopause,  palliative care, Men's Health/Fertility, and Babies/toddlers during your training, therefore preparing to treat a wide range of clients from the start of your career – and having a clear idea of those areas you wish to pursue further following graduation.
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  Also included in your training…

  • Feet Speak

  • Chinese Meridians in reflexology

  • The Organ Clock

  • Applying energy theories in reflexology

  • Chameleon approach to pressure management

  • Linking techniques

  • Hand reflexology