Stage One: Introductory CPD COURSE and / or Certification in Female Complex Pelvic Pain and Internal and Sensitive Area Work
NB – there is a planned stage two version – which is extended experience and training into pelvic prolapse evaluation and management in an osteopathic context. Only open to those who have completed stage one. The Certification requirements are being updated to include this in future, but for now, are as below.
PROGRAMME STARTS JANUARY 2024, WITH THE ONLINE MODULES RUNNING FROM THEN TO END JUNE, IN PREPARATION FOR THE JULY PRACTICAL IN BRISTOL. Last enrolment 1 February 2024.
INTRODUCTION TO FEMALE PELVIC HEALTH FOR OSTEOPATHS – You don’t need any prior experience for this course!
- 3D anatomy, lots of clinical insights into pelvic pain and pelvic function
- huge online resource, with lots of evidence and guidance for practice
- small group, great networking, sensitively organised practical components, immediately clinically applicable.
- you do not have to be GOsC registered as the clinical components are delivered with patients volunteering to the ‘somatophysiological womens health teaching clinic’ , but you do need a primary osteopathy qualification. International osteopathic practitioners are welcome – programme delivered in English only.
- come and find out loads about women’s health – and see if the full Diploma is for you!
- chance for individual mentoring with Caroline on a one to one basis!
Covers female pelvic pathologies, visceral and pelvic floor practicals and theory, , evidence and consenting, and introduction to internals (PR and PV) from an osteopathic perspective. More than the Mummy MOT versions of post birth pelvic floor – this is a comprehensive introduction to muscular, somatic, structural, visceral, myofascial, fluidic and neural dynamics in the pelvic for female patients. Not just applicable for post partum, this includes concepts for general pelvic pain, neuropathies, muscle damage, bladder, vagina, urethra, rectum, uterus and associated tissues. Extensive online learning lectures and resources available to work through before the course (required watching as preparation_). Covers consenting, risk, evidence, aims and general clinical considerations. Extremely accessible learning and very close hands on supervision during the practical and your clinical experience, where actual patients, with a variety of presenting conditions have volunteered to help you learn these approaches in a real patient scenario, in days 3 and 4.
Bristol venue 6-7-8-9 JULY 2024.
Days one and two require peer to peer technique amongst participants for pelvic floor and introduction to internals. Patient clinic additionally available on days 3 and 4, to aid learning. If there are particular reasons why you may not be able to participate personally in the practicals but still want to attend the course, please speak to us in advance. Accommodation is usually possible
If you want examination / assessment and a post course mentoring / credentialing add-on, this is available. This course will illustrate the complexities of practice, and if you do this course, and then want to do the full women’s health programme you can claim £250 off the advertised price for the full Diploma. Please enquire for details.
The online lecture programme and resources package:
Detailed and critically appraised consideration of osteopathic approaches and evidence in complex and chronic pelvic pain. 10 sessions to explore how manual approaches are relevant across a range of problems such as endometriosis, bladder dyssynergia, pelvic prolapse, adhesions, inflammatory problems, scars, post partum injuries, post surgical and more. Understand pain perception, trauma dynamics, social and emotional considerations and more.
| Pre recorded lecture and series in complex and chronic pelvic pain. | ||
| ALL LECTURES ARE BETWEEN ONE AND TWO HOURS EACH. | ||
| Some additional articles and online resources are listed alongside some lectures, for added interest.Each lecture contains links for many refences and you can follow each evidence link via the handouts and the slideshow that accompanies each video.The videos cover osteopathic concepts, approaches and patient management, but do not include technique videos in this overview (this is covered in the face to face 4-day block) | ||
| Modules | Indicative content | |
| 1) LECTURE ONE | Complexity in cavity dynamics, motor planning, abdominopelvic pressures, fluids and effects on physiology and inflammation | |
| 2) LECTURE TWO | Developmental dynamics, consequences of endocrine and autonomic dysregulation of overtime – relevance for pelvic pain | |
| 3) LECTURE THREE | Social engagement, the poly vagal systems, pelvic parasympathetics and plexi, disentangling emotions, sexual interactions and tissue states | |
| 4) LECTURE FOUR | Pain perceptions, pain and illness behaviours, trauma dynamics, reducing vigilance and improving agency | |
| 5) LECTURE FIVE | Considering organ movements in micturition and defaecation, integration of the pelvic floor and how problems arise. Bladder and bowel considerations | |
| 6) LECTURE SIX | Endometriosis, pathologies gynae system, surgeries, consequences | |
| 7) LECTURE SEVEN | Inter-organ dynamics, postsurgical, adhesions, management of the peritoneum, viscero-somatic reflexes | |
| 8) LECTURE EIGHT | Pelvic floor and coccydynia problems, high tone and dyssynergia problems, and complex childbirth related problems | |
| 9) LECTURE NINE | Organ support and prolapse management | |
| 10) LECTURE TEN | Consenting, communication, risk management, limitations to care, health and hygiene, practice management considerations |
THE WOMEN’S HEALTH PELVIC CARE COURSE FOR OSTEOPATHS!
*ARE YOU A COMPLETE / RELATIVE NOVICE?
*Are you already experienced in women’s health, but want to take your studies to an advanced and specialist level?
*Have you taken a different course such as the Molinari Diploma in Women’s Health but want more evidence and critical appraisal of practice?
*Have you done the Mummy MOT but need something specific to osteopathy?
IF SO: You can undertake a specialised training in internals and sensitive areas work, as a stand alone CPD programme, WITH NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE!, AND, also if you want, enter into a separate mentored ongoing professional support programme – ‘the Certification’ – you can add this later.
The Certification in Internals also enables you to apply for a ‘WHOMBS CERTIFICATION MARK’ – see www.whombs.org You can follow the CPD version of the certification – a 4 day block session, and an emodule plus zoom meetings, if you don’t want to add on the mentored section of assessed portfolio of patients, some clinical observations and supervised clinical practice. This enables you to have the ‘whombs friendly’ mark (please enquire for more details).
| Course elements – programme starts 1 Sept 2023. Runs annually on a similar format. | INTRODUCTORY CPD PROGRAMME (NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED) | CERTIFICATION |
| 12-13 OCTOBER, BRISTOL, 2023 (Thurs and Friday). This covers the pelvic floor externally, global pelvic techniques and visceral overview, and an introduction to internals on your peers. Note: if you are doing year two of the women’s health diploma, then these first 2 days and the emodule are included in that. | included | included |
| SECOND Part – internals in a clinical context- and includes clinical obs and practice on volunteer patients – 14-15 October (Sat and Sun) 2023, BRISTOL. | included | included |
| Emodule – including 10 2-hour sessions on complex and chronic pelvic pain and an introduction to PR and PV techniques, and risk management / consenting. This is required course watching / you should aim to review before you attend the practical session. | included | included |
| Zoom tutorials – One introductory zoom session to manage navigation of course site and course requirements, in September. In the 3 months following the course you can book 2 individual Q and A sessions with Caroline, to have a one to one, to clarify any content / understanding / answer questions etc. | included | included |
| FOR THE CREDENTIALLING ADD ON (NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE) 6 month mentored period – 3 personal / one on one sessions of one hour of mentoring available in this period. ** | —– | included |
| Portfolio assessments / case studies – 3 required where you carried out an internal assessment of patients in your own clinic. ** | —– | included |
| Clinical supervision / observation session of your practice – 2 half days required – can be arranged in Bristol – assessed by tutor appraisal ** It MAY be possible to add this as a day in July if you are coming from abroad, but this is not guaranteed – please speak to us to enquire. | —– | included |
| Observation of peers and case discussions (can be physio / osteo / other professional performing internal assessment) – 2 half days required (assessed by peer review) – you need to arrange this independently. ** | —– | included |
| Cost (installments are not usually accommodated, but if agreed, there is an additional admin fee of 15% on top so overall this is a more expensive option). | £750 (£500) before 31st August, 2023. | £1000 (£850 before 31August 2023) |
Discounted price for the CPD version is £500, £750 after 1 September, 2023. Please note: there is no refund if you cannot make the course, only if you can find someone to take your place, and they have paid in full. If I am unable to run either or both the practical dates, the dates are usually deferred, not refunded. If the dates are not arranged within a year, then a part refund may be available, in which case £300 (regardless of when you paid) is withheld as an admin fee, and to include your ongoing access to the emodule.
Part or full refunds for either pathway are otherwise not available if you choose not to participate in any elements after purchase, for whatever reason. Your emodule access extends for a minimum of 3 years after purchase.
** Please note, to maintain the WHOMBS CERTIFICATION you must repeat the starred items above every three years.
What to expect from the CPD programme:
You will gain in depth awareness of anatomy, physiology, pathology, neuroscience and assessment aims and objectives, and outcomes measures.
You will be given guidance in clinical relevance and clinical application of internal and sensitive areas work.
You will be instructed on risk management, hygiene, health and safety, and consenting dynamics, and have awareness of relevant trauma-informed-care approaches.
You will be able to conduct a post partum assessment on women.
You will be able to review women with prolapse and complex and chronic pelvic pain and dysfunction issues / conditions, including bladder and bowel dysfunction.
Please note, not all cases of tissue damage and post surgical / post infective involvement are able to be fully resolved (either by medical practice or osteopathy) and so approaches to support and rehabilitation will be included. Please note, this programme gives some instruction into exercises, but this is not the main focus of the taught elements, which focus on the osteopathic hands on skills and approaches.
The Certification in complex pelvic pain and sensitive areas and internals work
On its own, this is a specialist qualification programme for those wanting to do internals work, or to become more competent in this are of clinical practice. If you want to do the CPD version of the Certificate you can, and you can add on the other elements later if you wish, to achieve the full Certification. The CPD programme and the Certification both run annually.
If you are interested, but aren’t yet ready, then there is the option of upgrading your skill set in the 2-year Bristol Women’s Health Diploma (next bi-annual intake summer 2024) which covers a huge amount of material and gives you a brief introduction to internals, and will prepare you for this advanced certification in internal and sensitive area work.
As this aspect of osteopathic practice is highly specialised it is important to be appropriately trained. Here is a video discussing last years version of the certification. This year, the lectures are already pre recorded, and we have refined the assessment requirements. Mentoring and clinical supervision, plus portfolio submissions ensure your practice is strong, risk managed and follows effective consenting and trauma informed processes.
This programme is suitable for home students, and international ones, as most of the practical attendance can be done as 2 weekends, You have to additional identify 2 half days of observation of a practitioner doing complex pelvic pain patient consultations (doesn’t have to be an osteopath – it is anticipated that you will explore this option local to you, and is designed to aid familiarity, and to encourage interprofessional liaison). You also have to be supervised on 2 half days / one whole day, doing clinical assessments by our tutor team. This can possibly be done as an add on to the second practical weekend if you are an international student. Please enquire as this option is not guaranteed, and depends on numbers. You may have to return on a separate day to be assessed.
The advanced certification is a credentialing process which is time limited – in other words it is important to review your certificate periodically to ensure you are current with evidence and best practice in your field. Not all elements of the certificate need to be recompleted each time, but a cycle of having observations completed at some point to ensure ongoing recognition of your competence for recognition of your credentialing by the endorsing authority (the CNMO, working with the the International Society for Osteopathic Healthcare). Other regulatory authorities or credentialing organisations may choose to adopt the standards encompassed in this process, and some may choose to recognise this qualification. Please enquire with your relevant regulatory authority or professional association directly.
The second intake of this course is now ready for enrolment in UK.
The practical components are only open to those who are enrolled in the certification programme, have completed the emodule programme. Participants MUST have prior experience of visceral and associated myofascial bodywork approaches. PLEASE NOTE – IF YOU DO NOT ATTEND ALL 4 DAYS OF THE PRACTICALS AND COMPLETE ALL OTHER REQUIREMENTS, YOU WILL NOT BE AWARDED THE CERTIFICATION.
Discount price OF CERTIFICATION till 31 Aug 2023, is £850, thereafter the cost is £1000. Last enrolment 1 February 2024
Please note: there is no refund if you cannot make the course, only if you can find someone to take your place, and they have paid in full. If I am unable to run either or both the practical dates or the mentoring dates, the dates are deferred, not refunded. If the dates are not arranged within a year, then a part refund may be available, as £500 (regardless of when you paid) is withheld as an admin fee, and to include your ongoing access to the emodule.
BEING WHOMBS FRIENDLY OR WHOMBS CERTIFIED
The CNMO is offering this Certification process, which (as well as the general Certificate in Women’s Health, the Bristol Women’s Health Diploma) is endorsed by the International Society for Osteopathic Healthcare (isohc.org) to support practitioners working in this field. Please see whombs.org and osteopathicsociety.org for further details.
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If you have any questions email us on the email listed in the pdf, or use this contact form. You can register by paying and we will then contact you. Please note, you will need to make a log in to do the emodule / view the recorded sessions, and so after payment, select student log in at the top right of the page (on this website). On next page, select the purple link which says access to moodle resources. Then, on that page, look top right again, to find login button, click, and then follow instructions to create a login / account. After payment we will still require you to complete an application form and sign a student agreement (these are available elsewhere on this website anyway, but we will email you). This CPD programme is usually open only to osteopaths, and the Certification is open to osteopaths only – you do not have to be GOsC registered as the clinical components are delivered with patients volunteering to the ‘somatophysiological womens health teaching clinic’) , but you do need a primary osteopathy qualification. International osteopathic practitioners are welcome – programme delivered in English only.
TO PRE-BOOK / ENROL, USE THIS BUTTON BELOW – which is for the CPD version, or TO PAY VIA BANK TRANSFER SEE DETAILS TO DOWNLOAD, ABOVE. DISCOUNT OPEN TILL 31 AUGUST, 2023. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE EMODULES / ONLINE MATERIAL PRIOR TO THE JULY PRACTICALS.