BUSINESS
Broaden your skills
SIX WAYS TO BROADEN YOUR SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE IN 2020 AND BEYOND Heidi Hinton, the FHT’s Education Executive, shares some great ways to add to your skillset…
L
EARNING something new has many benefits. As well as boosting mental performance and helping you to adapt to new situations, it builds on your
existing skills and knowledge, ensuring that you continue to offer the best service possible to your clients. There are lots of different ways you can boost your therapy and business know-how, many of which can also gain you valuable CPD points and boost your bottom line.
REFLECTIVE PRACTICE Experience is a great teacher. Case studies are a useful way to look back and reflect on your work with an individual client. This allows you to break down your treatments and look at what you did well and what you can learn from, helping you to develop and improve your therapy service for that client, as well as future ones.
ONLINE OPPORTUNITIES At FHT, we require hands-on training for hands-on treatments, but there are lots of subject areas
the process, if a job vacancy becomes available. Find out more at www.fht.org.uk/article/teachertraining.
VOLUNTEERING CONFERENCES AND CONGRESSES
It’s a Marmite topic in our industry, but many
Attending a conference or training congress has
therapists like to give something back to people
lots of benefits. You can gain CPD points as you
in their local community. Volunteering in a
learn from industry experts and the short seminars
hospice allows you the opportunity to learn what
provide a great introduction to a new therapy or
it’s like to work in a new environment, with a
topic before undertaking more in-depth training.
new client group, and all alongside other health
Many of these events also include networking
professionals, as part of a multidisciplinary team.
opportunities and an exhibition, where you can
As well as gaining valuable experience, many
talk face-to-face with other therapists, training
hospices also provide training and supervision for
providers and product suppliers.
their volunteers. n
TEACHER TRAINING Have you ever thought of going into teaching, so that you can pass on your skills to others? If so, it’s possible to gain a Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET) while you actually teach students in an FE college or private school, under the
i
HEIDI HINTON heads up FHT’s education programme and CPD.
The FHT offers a range of membership benefits to holistic therapists and runs the
supervision of a fully trained tutor. This route into
largest independently Accredited Register for
teaching would typically mean volunteering your
complementary healthcare therapists. For
time in return for the college or school funding
more information
your teaching qualification, but an added benefit is that you may be hired during or at the end of
www.fht.org.uk or call
023 8062 4350.
that can be covered online, such as courses in anatomy and physiology, first aid, nutritional advice and business development. This is useful if you want training that you can fit round your business and life commitments. Webinars are also a great way to learn something new from industry experts.
QUALIFICATIONS AND POSTGRADUATE COURSES Businesses need to evolve to thrive. Adding a new treatment to your therapy toolkit or enhancing your existing skills is essential and could offer unique selling point over local competitors. Always check that the course is from a major awarding body or accredited by a professional association, so you can be confident it meets industry standards.
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holistic therapist 2020
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