Qigong Sensory Training 2:  Trainer Qigong and QST Dual Program

Provided by the Teaching Research Institute at Western Oregon University

Description of course
Prerequisites
Responsibilities of participants
Graduation requirements
Registration form, dates, cost, location

Description of Course

In the QST Dual intervention, QST therapists train and support families to give their child a daily qigong massage, as well as give the child 20 trainer-qigong treatments over five months.  Research comparing the QST Home Program to the QST Dual Program indicates similar effectiveness in sensory and behavioral improvements, but greater effectiveness by the Dual intervention in improving speech and language.  In order to gain proficiency in the QST trainer qigong, trainers require hands-on supervision for the duration of the intervention.

The course is designed for occupational therapists, physical therapists, and autism specialists. It is five months in length and includes training and direct supervision in the QST Home Program as well as QST trainer qigong.   Each trainer will recruit and work with one child with autism and his/her family during this five-month course (see eligibility requirements for the child).  The course will begin with five days of theory and practice in the massage, and will be followed by four months during which the trainer will give the child the intervention.  During this time, trainers will be supervised on-site by a QST master trainer on six occasions while giving the treatment, and will submit weekly reports to the master trainer.  There will be two additional didactic sessions during the intervention and the exit interview, which you will conduct with the parents/caregivers of the child with which you have worked.  Click here to see an example of a training schedule.

You will leave the training with the materials in hand, as well as training in the QST trainer  qigong, the second component in the QST dual intervention.

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Prerequisites for taking QST 2: Trainer Qigong and QST Dual Program

Three prerequisites exist for applicants to our QST Training:

1. Applicants should have at least two years of experience working with children on the autism spectrum.  
2. Applicants should be energetic and healthy, and taking little or no chronic medication.  The reason for this requirement is that Qigong Sensory Training utilizes the energy, intention and sensibility of the QST trainer.  According to Chinese medicine, chronic illness and chronic medication decrease a person’s overall energy and sensitivity, and thus the resources they bring to working with QST. 
3. Applicants should be occupational therapists, physical therapists, autism specialists, and/or parents/caregivers of children with autism that have done Qigong Sensory Training with their children.
   

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Responsibilities of the Participants

Each participant of the training will be responsible for:

1. Recruiting a family with a child with autism that meets the eligibility criteria to participate in the training.  The family will be charged $325 to receive the treatment sessions during the training. 
2. Attending all sessions of the training, as scheduled.
3. Collecting pre- and post-test data from the child with which you are working.
4. Completing 20 treatment sessions with the child /family with which you are working. (This includes the scheduled supervision sessions.)

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Graduation Requirements

To graduate from the course, participants will:

• Successfully complete a practical exam of the qigong massage at the end of the initial 5 days of  training
• Pass a written exam at the end of the initial 5 days of training
• Complete 20 treatment appointments, including 6 supervised sessions, with a child with autism
• Demonstrate ability to successfully "de-block" and "fill" during qigong massage sessions

Graduates of the training will be posted on the QSTI website.

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