Shiatsu in the UK

CNHC

The Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) is the UK's voluntary regulator for complementary healthcare. CNHC was established with Government support in 2008, with the sole purpose of protecting the public.

CNHC sets the standards that practitioners must meet to join and remain on the register.

CNHC holds an Accredited Register of qualified and insured complementary health practitioners from 18 professions across the UK: Alexander Technique teaching, Aromatherapy, Bowen Therapy, Colon Hydrotherapy, Craniosacral Therapy, Healing, Hypnotherapy, Kinesiology, Massage Therapy, Microsystems Acupuncture, Naturopathy, Nutritional Therapy, Reflexology, Reiki, Shiatsu, Sports Massage, Sports Therapy, Yoga Therapy.

CNHC makes the case to government and a wide range of organisations for the use of complementary healthcare and also seeks to influence policy wherever possible to increase access to the disciplines registered.

PSA

CNHC's register is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority for Health andSocial Care (PSA).

PSA is the UK’s independent regulatory oversight body accountable to the UK Parliament whose purpose is to help protect the public by improving the regulation and registrationof health and care practitioners. PSA reviews and monitors performance, producesguidance, shares knowledge and expertise.

Challenges

We face a similar challenge of getting Shiatsu fully integrated into the healthcare system.

As you know, we suspended our membership of ESF at a critical time of SSUK's existence.

Our main priority these past few years has been to strengthen SSUK: identifying what we need to achieve to make membership meaningful and worthwhile. Eg raising the profile of Shiatsu with the help of our social media team, developing our webpage, improving the practitioners' search function, organising CPD events, working with teachers and ratified schools to raise standards. Our ethics, research and education committees help in this respect.

A good team.Practising Shiatsu

Shiatsu Society UK partners with Laser Learning, an awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual, the regulator of qualifications, examinations and assessments in England. The Laser Level 4 Diploma in Shiatsu provides the required knowledge and skills to be competent to provide Shiatsu to clients at a very high standard. This qualification is suitable for those who wish to pursue a career offering Shiatsu as part of a complementary therapy business and for those looking to develop more deeply their personal interest in Shiatsu.

Graduates of the Level 4 Diploma in Shiatsu must complete a total training time of 1000 hours, of which 500 hours are guided learning hours and 500 hours are additional learning hours. The qualification generally takes 3 years to complete, but some schools offer part-time options.

The curriculum includes five mandatory units:

  • Unit 1: Provide Shiatsu to Clients
  • Unit 2: Shiatsu Core Theory
  • Unit 3: Shiatsu: Lifestyle Medicine
  • Unit 4: Shiatsu: Professional Development, Business Practice and Ethics
  • Unit 5: Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology for Shiatsu

There are different levels of assessment for each unit, and at the end of the course the qualified practitioner will be able to:

  • Explore and establish the client’s needs for complementary and natural healthcare.
  • Develop and agree plans for complementary and natural healthcare with clients.
  • Provide Shiatsu to clients according to their individual needs and level.
  • All Shiatsu Society ratified schools are in a position to deliver the Level 4 Diplomain Shiatsu.

For more information, please see: https://www.shiatsusociety.org/level-4-diploma-in-shiatsu