Course Description
The professional training in Craniosacral Biodynamics is taught over ten five-day modules. The modules are scheduled over the course of slightly more then two academic years. During the course, students are required to produce homework assignments and a clinical project, and to undertake practice sessions between module meetings. Supervision, feedback and course handouts are provided throughout the training. Students are assessed in an on-going fashion and are required to achieve a professional standard of practice before graduation. Formal tutor assessments occur halfway through the course and towards the end of the training.
Purpose of the Training
- To provide an integrated training in Craniosacral Biodynamics that includes the insights of many practitioners in the field, with influences from other relevant fields, and which clearly orients to the healing principles of the Breath of Life and its manifestation in the human system
- To provide an in depth understanding and appreciation of these principles and to be able to safely apply them within a clinical context
- To teach, within this context, clearly defined palpation and therapeutic skills with the ability to apply these skills in a clinical context
- To nurture and encourage the personal development of both tutor and student alike
- To graduate skilled, safe and therapeutically effective practitioners
Teaching Format
- Teaching and learning methods include lectures, the use of visual aids, demonstrations, guided sessions, visualisation work, small group exploration and feedback, table exchange sessions, supervision feedback—all with an emphasis on student observation and exploration.
- A minimum of a five-to-one student/tutor ratio is maintained in order to provide in depth feedback on palpation and clinical skills during practical sessions.
- Small and large group feedback generally occurs after practical sessions.
- Tutorial and supervision sessions are included in each training module. Each student is assigned a tutor who may be consulted for personal feedback.
- Practical clinical applications are emphasised with over fifty percent of class time given to practical work.
- Students are encouraged to meet as a peer group each module and to elect a student representative. This representative is nominated to give course feedback and suggestions from the peer group to the course co-ordinator. Students are also encouraged to individually give course feedback at any time. Written course feedback forms are part of some homework assignments.
Course Work and Student Evaluation
- Homework is assigned each training module. This includes both written work and reading. Students are asked to write up a minimum of two practice sessions as part of each assignment. Students are expected to complete all homework on time.
- Students are expected to undertake a minimum of two practice sessions a week outside of class time. These are with practice clients who enter into a non-paying, non-professional relationship with the student. Practice clients must understand that the purpose of sessions are solely to support the student’s learning process. If the practice client needs professional help they are referred to a qualified practitioner. Students will receive supervision feedback in small groups during module time.
- Students are evaluated in an on-going fashion throughout the course. Relational, palpation and clinical skills and the student’s personal readiness to practice, are tracked by tutors and appropriate feedback and help is offered.
- There are two formal practical assessment/feedback sessions scheduled during course time. These are individual sessions where students practice the work on tutors for approximately 30 minutes. Clinical palpation skills are the focus of the assessment sessions. Students are given tutorial feedback and their skills are assessed. These occur towards the end of each training year.
- There is a written clinical project in the second year of the training.
- There is a final exam given as a closing homework assignment at the end of the training.
- Students are encouraged to form local study groups that meet between module times. Study groups with tutors can also be arranged at extra cost.
- Students are required to experience at least ten sessions from a qualified practitioner within the two years of course time.