Question:
Following on from postings in the massage section, what is the general feeling on compulsory CPD attendance for therapists?
Personally I am strongly in favour of them.
The arguments for are: refresh things that you may forget; learn new skills;update new techniques/information; confidence for your clients
Arguments against: cost; time consuming....any more?
Hi Richard
Personally I am definitely in favour of CPD. I appreciate that there are some very skilled therapists whose initial training was good, and who don't really gain much benefit from attending CPD courses. But my experience of such courses is that there are also some relatively poorly trained therapists who can really benefit from attending a course or workshop with a good tutor. I have frequently been surprised by just how many qualified therapists apparently haven't been taught the importance of a correct working posture or the need to have the couch low enough to ensure that their massage is effective.
Also, as a sole practitioner, I find CPD courses a good way of meeting other therapists: I have been on CPD courses where I have learnt relatively little new from the tutor but have benefited from the experience of other students on the course.
And, as an extreme example, I think that someone who took an ITEC/VTCT five or six years ago and has subsequently taken time away from massage is quite likely to need a couple of CPD 'refresher' courses.
Regards
Alan
Personally I am strongly in favour of them.
The arguments for are: refresh things that you may forget; learn new skills;update new techniques/information; confidence for your clients
Arguments against: cost; time consuming....any more?
Answers:
Hi Richard
Personally I am definitely in favour of CPD. I appreciate that there are some very skilled therapists whose initial training was good, and who don't really gain much benefit from attending CPD courses. But my experience of such courses is that there are also some relatively poorly trained therapists who can really benefit from attending a course or workshop with a good tutor. I have frequently been surprised by just how many qualified therapists apparently haven't been taught the importance of a correct working posture or the need to have the couch low enough to ensure that their massage is effective.
Also, as a sole practitioner, I find CPD courses a good way of meeting other therapists: I have been on CPD courses where I have learnt relatively little new from the tutor but have benefited from the experience of other students on the course.
And, as an extreme example, I think that someone who took an ITEC/VTCT five or six years ago and has subsequently taken time away from massage is quite likely to need a couple of CPD 'refresher' courses.
Regards
Alan
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