Children need our help!

Now, more than ever, children and teenagers are struggling with a unique set of physical and mental-emotional challenges, all of which we as acupuncturists are in the perfect position to treat.  Despite the fact that paediatrics has been a specialism of Chinese Medicine for over a thousand years, the majority of acupuncturists have an adult-only practice.

When we treat children in the first or second cycles of life, we impact the whole of life profoundly and positively.  As well as being a joyous and satisfying experience, widening your clinical scope to children is also an effective way of building a bigger practice.  Parents talk.  And when you help relieve the suffering of one child, you will soon have many more coming through your door!

Who is the mentorship for?

This eight month paediatric mentoring programme is for both acupuncturists who work with children already, as well as those who would like to take their first steps in paediatrics.  Through home learning, case histories, peer to peer and group discussions, you will develop the necessary knowledge, competence and confidence to work with children.

Each module will last one month.  At the end of the second module, you will be encouraged to start working with children and bring case histories to the group so we can work on them together.  In each module, you will:

  • Be asked to do some reading
  • Be given teaching and practice-based videos to watch
  • Meet in small peer groups to discuss what you have read and watched
  • Meet as a whole group for Rebecca to answer questions etc.

Please note, this mentorship will focus on acupuncture and other related non-needle techniques. We will not learn directly about the use of herbs with children. 

Time Commitment

  • You will be expected to spend between 3 to 5 hours per week on home study.
  • There will be one 3 hour meeting with Rebecca each month
  • You will be encouraged to arrange smaller, peer group meetings at least once a month

Class will meet on Tuesdays from 11am – 2pm EST on the following dates:

November 1 (12pm – 3pm EST daylight savings), November 29, January 10, February 7, March 7, March 28, May 2, May 23

24 credits NCCAOM (Provider #287)
1 year access to all recorded classes, videos and handouts

White Pine Circle Members

$2,15000Early Bird Price
  • $2,300.00 after September 1
Register Now

General Public

$2,35000Early Bird Price
  • $2,500.00 after September 1
Register Now

COURSE OUTLINE

Module 1 – Basic Paediatric Patterns of Imbalance

In Module 1, you will be given a thorough grounding in all the basic paediatric patterns of imbalance.  You will learn how to recognise them and we will begin to look at how to treat them.

Module 2 – Practicalities of working with children

In Module 2, we will look at how to needle children, a variety of non-needle techniques, how to work with families and the logistics of having children in your clinic. 

Module 3 – Paediatric Digestive Disorders

Module 3 will cover the diagnosis and treatment of all the most commonly seen digestive disorders in children, such as diarrhoea, constipation, colic, reflux and food allergies.

Module 4 – A Five Phase approach to paediatrics 

Module 4 will cover how we can use the Five phase approach to understanding children, working with them in clinic and treating their root imbalances.  We will also look at how to share this knowledge with parents so they can better understand their children.

Module 5 – Paediatric Respiratory Disorders

Module 5 will cover the diagnosis and treatment of all the most commonly seen respiratory diseases in children, especially chronic cough and asthma. 

Module 6 – Paediatric and Teen Mental-Emotional Health

Module 6 will cover the diagnosis and treatment of mental-emotional conditions in children and teenagers.  We will focus in particular on anxiety, depression, self-harm and eating disorders. 

Module 7 – Miscellaneous paediatric conditions

In Module 7, we will look at other conditions that are commonly seen in the paediatric clinic, such as bedwetting, insomnia and headaches.  

Module 8 – Cultivating confidence in your paediatric practice

In Module 8, we will examine some more complex case histories, as well as reflecting on any challenges or barriers that you may have in becoming a confident paediatric practitioner.

Refund Policy:

Refunds of 75% will be granted up to the first day of class. No refunds will be granted after that.

Rebecca Avern BA (Hons), Lic Ac, Dip Paed Ac, MBAcC

INITIAL TRAINING

Licentiate in Acupuncture from the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine: a three and half year course from which I graduated in 2001.

FURTHER TRAINING

Four years studying with and working alongside the late Giovanni Maciocia (one of the most eminent doctors of Chinese medicine in the West): I assisted him in the writing of a major text book for acupuncture students – Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine.

PAEDIATRIC TRAINING

Diploma in Paediatric Acupuncture (2012): I am one of only a small number of acupuncturists in the UK who have done post-graduate training in paediatric acupuncture with Julian Scott, author of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Children.  Julian is known worldwide as the leading expert in paediatric acupuncture, and I spent a year studying with him to Diploma level.

Training in paediatric tui na (2012): with Dr Hongchun Yin (specialist from the Shangdong University of TCM)

Training in Japanese paediatric acupuncture techniques (shonishin) (2013): with Stephen Birch (author of Shonishin: Japanese Paediatric Acupuncture).

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

I have run busy acupuncture practices since 2001.  My practice is now solely focussed on treating children.  I set up the Panda Clinic, an acupuncture clinic for the treatment of babies, children and teenagers, in Oxford in 2012.  I also founded and work at an affordable acupuncture clinic for children in Oxford.

WRITING

I am the author two books:

  • a textbook on paediatric acupuncture Acupuncture for Babies, Children and Teenagers (Singing Dragon 2018),
  • a book for parents and practitioners Chinese Medicine for Childhood Anixety and Depression (Singing Dragon 2021)
  • Several journal articles.  Please see My Books for further details.

PERSONAL

I have two secondary-school age children (Alathea and Leyla) and this hugely informs how I approach the treatment of children.   I care deeply about children’s health.  I believe that imbalances in a child’s qi corrected early on in life can mean a person avoids a lifetime of ill-health.  A healthy child is usually a happy child, and is more able to enjoy life and achieve their potential.

As a parent, I also understand the strain it puts on the entire family when a child is not well. Helping a child back to health not only benefits them, but everybody around them too.