Did you know that in addition to reputable massage schools, the Touch Research Institute in Florida is another possible organization that licensed massage therapists and students could consider for their continuing education plans? It is part of the University of Miami School of Medicine and was created in 1992 by Dr. Tiffany Field (Director of the Institute) with start-up funds provided by Johnson & Johnson. It is the first center in the world that is devoted exclusively to touch and its application in health and medicine.
One interesting feature is that TRI offers workshops throughout the year (except August and December) and participants receive the equivalent of 12 CEUs (continuing education units) for attending the two-day workshops. These workshops have a research orientation, teaching participants how to use TRI methods to conduct research studies. Each spring, TRI also hosts a symposium where massage therapists and other research professionals get together to exchange ideas on touch therapy. This yearly symposium grants six CEUs to attendees.
The monthly workshops are for two days and cost $500.00. Applicants to the workshops are encouraged NOT to book their flights before their place is confirmed. There is a dress code that attendees must follow: office clothes or scrubs with comfortable shoes (e.g. slacks and a polo top). The reason is that workshop participants will spend a lot of time in hospital units and clinics. The TRI therefore specifies no jeans, mini skirts, thongs or flip-flops! Apart from hands-on training, participants will be provided information on pre- term infant massage, watch videos, lunch with the director, learn physiological measures, score and review assessments for pregnancy massage, data collection, yoga, tai-chi and a demonstration of the Brazelton method. The TRI believes that touch therapy plays a significant role in promoting weight gain to pre-term infants. As we mentioned earlier, the TRI appears to lean heavily on research methods; this approach would be perfect for massage therapists and would-be therapists who desire to advance the field of massage therapy “by conducting research in their own community.”
© 2012 Massage Schools Guide