So last weekend I went to London to start my training to become an assistant tutor for the SCCO. We were a small group of lovely people, who will be doing it together over the next 3 years or so. We learnt a lot about the theory of learning and how different people learn and take information on board. We also started looking at how to help delegates on courses learn both theory and practical skills. I look forward to refining and using these skills to help others become better at osteopathy in the cranial field. I now have to do some reflective writing about the weekend to be assessed and my next course will be in October. This will be attending the SCCO's Module 2 course, where I think I may have my first experience of teaching a study group!!

I have just been told that I have been accepted on to the assistant tutor scheme with the Sutherland Cranial College. A few years ago I posted that I want to become a tutor to help others the way I have been helped to become confident in cranial osteopathy. Well, after a lot of studying and late nights, I had an interview in London last week and I have been successful. I can't wait to start this journey! It is a 2-3 year course of study weekends and assisting on their courses. My first course is in January next year.

I have just returned from one of the best courses I have ever done. I have done a lot of work over the past few years with people suffering from anxiety and stress. This then lead on to treating people who have suffered from trauma - from accidents to abuse, which has been incredible and rewarding. I then heard about the "Finding Health in Trauma" course hosted by Michael Harris and Anne Greenacre. I managed to get a place on it and it was just incredible. We went over the physiology of the stress and trauma response and learnt lots of tools - from osteopathic techniques and treatment, to ways to help patients who are really suffering reduce their symptoms. I hope they do a "part 2" and if they do, I will be first on the waiting list! I look forward to using this new knowledge on my current and future patients who are suffering from the effects of trauma and PTSD.

Last weekend I went back to the ESO to do a course hosted by an american anatomist, Prof. Frank Willard. It was about the maternal foetal relationship and how it can affect the child's brain and gut. It went into massive anatomical and physiological detail, in true Prof. Willard style and was fascinating. I learnt a lot about how we can aid both the woman both during and after pregnancy and the baby post-birth.

Last weekend I went to London to attend a course to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Prof. Renzo Molinari's career as an osteopath. Prof. Molinari was the head of the ESO while I was a student and he is a leading authority on obstetrics and women's health in osteopathy. It was a 3 day course looking into all aspects of family health and took into account women, men and children, with excellent lectures and practical sessions from the guest speakers.

Today I was on the radio talking about cranial osteopathy with Phil Bird. If you want to have a listen, just click on the link below.
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https://www.mixcloud.com/radiowinchcombe/something-a-little-bit-different-cranial-osteopathy-with-stuart-wilson-sun-22-april-2018/

A couple of weeks ago I did module 6 of the SCCO's fellowship pathway. This was the last of the 10 needed, so I am now a Felllow of the SCCO. It has been an incredible journey over the past 5 years. I feel I have gone from being someone who only used cranial osteopathy for babies with little confidence, to someone who is proficient in using osteopathy in the cranial field. It is not just used for treating the head! I can now use the principles and treatment methods I have learnt in all situations and can fully treat patients holistically. It is such a more thorough way of approaching a patient's problems. I am now listed on their website as a fellow and can be found on their "find an osteopath" page. I still have more to learn and am looking forward to the next courses! Next step... Become a tutor - but I have a few years to get under my belt first. A link to the SCCO website is added below.

https://scco.ac/

Last weekend I went to London to do Module 6 of the SCCO's pathway. I have now done all 10 elements of the pathway. This course was "Living, breathing bone" and looked into studying and treating how physical injury affects the body, with a more specific concentration of the bone. We studied how the bone is full of fluid and different layers and types of connective tissues. The way the bone is connected to and interacts with different structures and tissues of the body. We examined the current research into the physiology of bone and how we as osteopaths can harness this very adaptive tissue to address problems our patients may be suffering from. We studied in-depth the bones of the cranium and how the way they form in the embryo affects their function in life post-birth and into adulthood. It was very interesting to look at bone as a living, functioning and adaptive tissue, as opposed to solid structures that can't be changed.

I have just completed module 9 of the SCCO's pathway. This one is all about Paediatrics and treating children, with a big emphasis on the 1st year of life . It was a very intense 4 day course looking at gently assessing and treating babies. We considered how the body of both mother and baby can be affected by the birth process from uncomplicated births to births needing intervention such as ventouse, forceps and C-section. The anatomy of the child is vastly different to that of the adult and that is especially evident in the cranium. The bones are not as fused as they are in the adult and a lot of the are in multiple parts that fuse together as the child grows. understanding this anatomy and function allows us to treat and care for children more effectively. This then gives a good start in the journey to adulthood.

We also looked at how strains throughout the whole body can affect and cause common problems seen in babies. When we understand these processes, we as osteopaths can then more effectively treat and help any problems that they may be suffering from.