B1.1.0 – Orientation

The course is divided into 6 blocks of learning.  Basics 1-3 and
Advanced 1-3.  Each block takes 4 months to complete.  Each
block builds on the last.  I don’t recommend you ‘cram’ any of
the blocks or jump ahead prematurely.  The time allotted for
each block is to allow the practice to sink in.  You head may
grasp the concepts but it takes longer for your palpatory skills
to grow.

On the other hand don’t spend longer than 4 months on any block.
Self doubt is something most cranio sacral students grapple with.
There can be a temptation to not move on because you feel like you
haven’t mastered a particular block.  If this happens talk it out with
your mentor.  If they say you are ready then you are.

The majority of your learning is self directed, meaning you direct
how much study and practice you engage in.  To become competent
I recommends you set aside 15 to 20 hours a week for your Cranio
Sacral learning.

I suggest you divide up the four months of each block as follows:

Month 1
Go over all the training materials in the given block in the first week.
Practice all the techniques for a day or so then go and have some
directional assessment with your mentor to ensure you are doing
everything correctly.
Contine to practice and study for the rest of the month.

Month 2
Begin the month with a directional assessment with your mentor
to ensure you are doing everything correctly.

Month 3
In the second week of the month have a directional assessment
with your mentor to ensure you are doing everything correctly.
At the end of the month complete the directional written
assessments for the block.

Month 4
End the month with a competence assessment with your mentor
and complete the competence written assessments.

Each learning block has a set of learning outcomes.   When
you are competent in all the learning outcomes for a block
you are competent in that block.  When you are competent
in all the blocks you are a competent cranio sacral therapist.

Assessment “Oh no, an exam!!”

Assessment doesn’t mean examination. A written assessment isn’t an ‘exam’.
There are 2 types of assessment.

Directional Assessment:     This is assessment designed to keep
you on the right track.  It is assessment built into the learning.
It is intended to help you avoid getting into bad habits by
practicing a technique incorrectly or labouring under an
incorrect understanding of a concept.

Competence assessment:     This is assessment used towards
the end of a block to assess your competence in the material
covered.

There are only two results that can come from a competence
assessment. Competent or Not Yet Competent.  There is no
passing or failing.  One person is not deemed more competent
than another.  If you are not yet competent in a technique it
does not mean you cannot continue in your training, it just
means you need to be assessed in this technique again when
you have followed the action plan that the assessor lays out for you.

Practical Assessment

For this assessment you will need to bring a patient.  The assessor
will ask you to preform different techniques.  As you preform the
techniques the assessor will tune in to your patient.  The assessor
may talk to you as you are working.  At the end of the assessment
the assessor will review what has been done and develop an action
plan to assist you in the areas you are not yet competent in.

Written Assessment

There are 2 written assessments on the material covered in each block.

Closed Book:    This is an assessment of knowledge and covers the
fundamentals of what has been covered.  The things you should
know without having to refer to a text book.  The things you use
during treatment.

Open Book:    During this assessment you can refer to any text book
or reference material you wish.  It is an assessment of your understanding.

My First Day
I remember well my first day of Cranio Sacral training in Ireland.
We did a ‘getting to know each other’ session during which we
shared what our health care experience was to date.

Reflexologists, acupuncturists, physiotherapists, shiatsu practitioners
and other health care professionals surrounded me. When it was
my turn the trainer asked me what my experience was and I hesitantly
replied that I had done much of the camera work for ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja
Turtles’ and I had just finished touring an exhibition of my photography
around Ireland. The trainer was a sensitive and subtle man but it was
plain from the look on his face he was thinking, ‘Who let this joker in?’

When I first heard the name cranio sacral therapy, six months earlier,
I knew I was going to do it. It was a gut thing. So it didn’t phase me
when the trainer was mentally scratching his head. I knew doing
cranio sacral therapy would satisfy something very deep within me
because it would allow me to help people in a practical way.

I began my training and low and behold I was pretty good at it.
I found the physiology and anatomy confusing and hard to remember,
but the people I was practicing on compelled my to go to the books.
How did their symptoms relate to the structures? I had to find out.

Right from the word go I began to see the remarkable results that were
possible with cranio sacral therapy. I found the effects on children
particularly impressive.

A child would come to see me. They would be heading down a particular
road in life, handicapped, labeled, difficult, ‘the problem’. At the end of
their treatment program they were on such a different road, normal,
healthy, happy.
Far out!

I was and am very grateful for the privilege of being able to assist them in
making that profound change in their lives. I am grateful for learning
cranio sacral therapy which provided me with such a good vehicle for
helping them.

The most beneficial aspect of becoming a cranio sacral therapist
for me has been the opportunity to give. To have a holiday from thinking
about myself and my problems and just give to another.
Mighty.

If you examine your motivation to become a cranio sacral therapist you
may find that you simply want to help ease the pain and suffering of
those who seek you out.

Let me encourage you to keep it in the forefront of your mind as you go
through your cranio sacral training and on into your practice. Everyone
who begins the training goes through at least one major personal barrier.
For some it is money, for others it is lack of time, some have trouble with
the studying, some find the depth of the work intimidating and nearly
everyone goes through intense self doubt.

In these difficult times I encourage you to remember the people you can help.
They are out there in their thousands, waiting, searching, hoping for
something and someone that will help them.