About the Training Program

The Institute of Structural Medicine’s Structural Medicine Specialist Training Program is a four-year, 2,108-hour program, consisting of eight four-day weekends per year, held at the Institute of Structural Medicine in Twisp, Washington. After the second and third year, a retreat intensive is held at the Hawaii satellite location. Between segments and practicum, students engage in Independent Study and document their findings in short essays.

Advising

Students will be advised through the Independent Study process as needed. Independent Study allows students to develop their skills and understanding of the practice of Structural Medicine and to develop a future client base. Most students graduate with their professional practice already fully developed.

Comprehensive Training

Training in Structural Medicine includes courses in the sciences of anatomy, physiology, pathology, exercise and kinesiology, and embryology, as well as in the arts of movement education, the fundamentals of dialogue, and personal and interpersonal communication.

Years One and Two

Years one and two focus on teaching students a variety of treatment strategies and integration methods appropriate for the patient. Students also learn the basics of Structural Movement, including Body Awareness and Usage.

Years Three and Four

Years three and four teach students how to adjust structural integration methods to meet the specific needs of clients suffering from pain due to musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders. Students will learn how to use myofascial length testing and structural analysis to create customized treatment plans for individual patients. They will continue their study of Structural Movement, learning the fundamentals of communicating movement lessons.

Obtaining Acreditation

Upon completion of the four-year program with a better than 75 percent satisfactory grade, students may sit for the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) examination, obtain their Washington State Licensed Massage Therapist (LMP) license, and are qualified to join such professional organizations as the International Association of Structural Integrators (IASI), Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), or the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA).

Optional Fifth Year

The Institute of Structural Medicine will offer an advanced fifth year option, open to students who have already completed the four-year SMSTM Training Program. Consisting of two 2-week segments supplemented by independent study, the fifth year teaches advanced levels of skilled practice, particularly relating to joints and neuromuscular practice.

Business Education

The Institute of Structural Medicine also provides business education in such subjects as ethics, standards and practices, and business development. All of these areas of knowledge provide the basis for becoming a successful Structural Medicine Specialist. The Institute of Structural Medicine awards the school diploma upon completion of the 2,108-hour SMS Training Program courses and required field experience.