What’s Included in Our Professional Education Courses?

Level 1 – Laying The Foundations

Be prepared for a paradigm shift! This three day, highly practical course will not only change your perspective of the role of cervicogenic dysfunction in primary headache, but also takes the guesswork out of treating the headache and migraine condition – no headache or migraine is complicated.

In this 3 day intensive training you’ll discover:

Why cervicogenic dysfunction can be more than just a trigger for primary headache conditions i.e., it can be the cause;

The traditional medical model of headache has become clinically irrelevant – why a diagnosis is meaningless; after all a diagnosis is just based on a set of signs and symptoms – it says nothing about the underlying pathology;

Gain the ability to take a sensitive and effective subjective examination – arguably the subjective examination for the headache-migraine condition is more important than other musculoskeletal condition not only because of ʻRed Flagsʼ ie, slow leaking aneurysms (misdiagnosed significantly), cranial vasculitis, tumours etc, and potential craniovertebral instability, but also because there are no reproducible objective signs – there is increased reliance on the subjective features for reassessment;

Gain the ability to conduct a non aggressive, non symptom provoking, effective stability assessment the cranio vertebral complex – using techniques you will understand – you wonʼt be daunted when faced this part of the assessment;

You’ll learn the ʻWatson Headache Approachʼ – a scientifically validated (Dean will share the result of his ground breaking PhD research – some are saying this is the most significant research in manual therapy and headache for decades) method of confirming cervicogenic dysfunction as the source of sensitisation of the brainstem the disorder that underpins many primary headache syndromes.

Deanʼs manual therapy approach challenges – asks questions of the sensitised brainstem. The segment/s are involved – the ʻWatson Headache Diagnosis Treatmentʼ approach enables localisation to specific segments – this diagnostic accuracy is unparalleled in manual therapy and learn alternative (to HVVTs) techniques to address upper cervical segmental hypomobility.

Level 2 – Consolidate Your Learning

To promote comprehensive discussion and interaction Level 2 Courses intentionally involve small groups of delegates – this takes full advantage of Dean’s unparalleled experience.

Whilst on Level 1 we learnt to ‘touch’ (excuse the pun!) type, Level 2 is about becoming an ‘author’ i.e., whilst anyone can learn a technique (Level 1 Foundation)… success depends on how you use them, aka …‘CLINICAL REASONING’.

Apart from the first 2-3 hours where we re-visit aspects of Level 1 and where questions from Level 1 and your experiences with patients since are addressed, my role is to facilitate and accelerate your progress… this is done through your participation in the examination of 4-6 patients.

After this course your already improved outcomes will be significantly improved because you’ll:

Realise the importance of ‘Battle 1’ versus ‘Battle 2’;

Be able to identify why progress is not as it should be Get increased confidence in your choice of treatment direction and technique – no more uncertainty Get increased clarity around un-resolving (as the technique is sustained) headache and how you can still achieve a positive result even though headache reproduction remains unchanged understand why, in the event of an adverse reaction, it occurred and … how to deal with it!

Level 3 – Final Certification

Completing the ‘Watson Headache Certified Practitioner’ Level 3 course… formal recognition of competency in the inimitable Watson Headache Approach which demonstrates to employers, professional colleagues, and those affected by headache and migraine conditions, that you have achieved the professional standard for practicing the Watson Headache Approach, and qualifies you to join an international register of colleagues who have demonstrated competency in the Watson Headache Approach.

Upon completion of the Course a practitioner should be able to care for routine and complex headache patients of all types and should be competent in the physical techniques, clinical reasoning and patient communication (education and counselling).

Ongoing recognition of Watson Headache Certified Practitioner qualification is conditional on maintaining the Watson Headache Approach standards, including pursuant to any re-certification  by the Institute as well as retaining such professional qualifications in good standing in his or her profession, and compliance with the Institute’s policies and procedures.