Fewer study complementary therapies

THERE HAS been a significant reduction in the numbers of students taking courses in complementary therapies in the past year. Some therapy organisations have noted that student numbers dropped by up to 50 per cent between September 2007 to 2008.

The Irish Reflexology Institute is one of the organisations which has noticed the highest reduction in student numbers.

There were 380 students enrolled in courses in 2007 and this number fell to 170 students in September 2008. Part-time courses in reflexology cost about €2,000. These courses are usually run over a 12-18 month period.

“The numbers are down from last year. It’s a general reflection on what’s going on in society. People are watching their money,” said Carol Donnolly who runs courses in reflexology from the Walmer College in Raheny, Dublin.

According to Ms Donnolly, the majority of people who attend her reflexology courses have full-time jobs elsewhere.

“If people feel they are at risk of losing their jobs, they will be more careful about what they do with their money,” she added.

There is also anecdotal evidence to suggest that the number of students taking courses in reiki, massage and other complementary therapies has dropped too.

“A lot of courses are not filling up,” said Judith Ashton, president of the Irish Massage Therapy Association.

“A lot of people took courses because they were dissatisfied with their jobs. Now, that might seem more like a luxury because they may have to keep their day jobs secure,” she added.

American Ayurvedic practitioner Edie O’Reilly moved to Dublin last April. She recently ran a two-week course in Ayurvedic Spa Treatments with only two students. The course cost €1,500.

“It was worth running it for two students but I won’t run another course for a year and next time I will divide the course into three weekend workshops so people can choose to spread out the money they spend,” said Ms O’Reilly.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) has begun the process of validating complementary therapy courses in acupuncture, herbal medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.

“We have developed a framework for complementary therapies so that we can validate courses at level seven and above,” said Mary Sheridan, head of standards at HETAC.

These particular therapies have been chosen as the first therapies to validate training standards for because of the risk associated with them.

The Report of the National Working Group on the Regulation of Complementary Therapies (2006) identified acupuncture, herbal medicine and traditional Chinese medicine as complementary therapies that required a high level of specialist training to best ensure the protection of the public.