Story Massage Programme Online Course

The online course is open to everyone with an interest in sharing positive touch activities with children and adults of all ages and abilities. Students include parents, teachers, complementary therapists, care workers. SEN staff, baby massage instructors, Relax Kids coaches and health care professionals. It is helpful for those wishing to use the Story Massage Programme at home or work, or both! The Programme is being enjoyed in a whole variety of settings for children, young people and adults. You can view feedback here: Feedback for Online Course.

If you are an independent practitioner, please do check with your insurance company or contact us on info@storymassage.co.uk to check the course meets your requirements.

Our Story Massage book (Once Upon a Touch… Story Massage for Children) is required reading for the course. We know that some of you have the book already so we have two price options. We also have a special offer for bookings of over 10 people.

Option 1 – with the book – £210 (UK Customers only)
Option 2 – without the book – £175 (For those who already own the book, or live outside the UK)

Our prices do not include any VAT charges as we are not a VAT registered business.

Please go to the next section on this page to book.

We have a special offer for bookings of over 10 people. Book 10 places and we will give you an additional place for FREE. So that’s 11 courses for the price of 10. You can read how the online training worked very successfully for groups of staff here: In-House Training Options

Please email info@storymassage.co.uk to discuss a group booking.

You can start at any time to suit you. It takes around 12-18 hours of study but you can do this at your own pace. You have full access to the online course materials for 6 months. This starts from the date you log on to the course, not the date you book the course. 

There are five modules to complete. These modules are carefully designed to take you through the course with a step-by-step approach to help build your confidence.

Module 1 introduces the Story Massage Programme and explores the importance of positive touch activities for all ages and abilities. You will look at the many benefits of the programme and how it is being used in different contexts.

Module 2 has video demonstrations of the ten Story Massage strokes. You will learn their names and symbols and begin to understand how they can be used to illustrate words in a massage story. During the module you will also explore how strokes can be adapted for those with additional needs.

Module 3 introduces some of the basic guidelines for using the Story Massage Programme in a respectful way for different age groups. You will learn how to share a massage story and pick up some valuable tips and ideas.

Module 4 shows you how to adapt a familiar story or nursery rhyme as a massage story. You will explore the process of matching strokes to words. You will be encouraged to begin to write your own massage stories with plenty of prompts and support.

Module 5 helps you reflect on your course experience and invites you to think of ways that you will be using the Story Massage Programme to suit you and those you are sharing it with. You will also be introduced to easy-to-make resources for presenting and sharing massage stories.

• Social Media – there are opportunities to ask questions by email and within our supportive community facebook group. You’ll also find lots of ideas and support from our blog, videos and public social media too.
• Six months access to course (from the date you log on).
• Downloadable resources – practical and easy-to-use answer sheets to help you review and reflect on your learning during the course. These include a collection of 50 massage stories.
• No special software required! – The videos and audios (mp3s) will play on the software on your computer or electronic device – you will access it via the internet.
• Certificate of Completion – at the end of the online course you will receive an email containing your certificate of completion. This course is for Continuing Professional Development. If you would like qualify as a Story Massage Instructor, please see the information below.
• Members Group – after the course there is the option of a paid membership scheme (£10 per month or £100 per annum) with ongoing support, regular meetings, a monthly follow-along massage story plus many other membership perks. 

There are simple interactive self-assessments throughout the Story Massage Programme online training (see below). At the end of Module 5 you will also be asked to complete three questions about the course and submit with an example of a massage story that you have adapted or created.

We will issue you with a certificate of completion which can count towards your CPD (Continuous Professional Development). You may wish to confirm with your insurer/employer that they will accept this course to use within your work.

You do not need to have a Story Massage Instructor Certificate to run introductory sessions for parents and carers in school or to introduce the programme to colleagues who can share it in a limited way under your guidance.  It is important to clarify that participants are not trained to use the programme within their work. Anyone wishing to become fully trained should contact the Story Massage team.

A Story Massage Instructor Certificate is required by most insurance companies if you wish to run your own independent groups. The course does not cover information about organising or facilitating group sessions. We recommend that you have qualifications and/or experience in this field if you wish to become a Story Massage Instructor and run your own groups for babies, children, families and older people.  (Please note: an Instructor Certificate does not qualify you to train others to use the Story Massage Programme in their work/business. There are only two trainers – Mary Atkinson and Sandra Hooper co-founders of the programme).

If you would like to become a Story Massage Instructor there is a small fee of £25 for the administration. Once you have completed the course and assessment questions, we ask you to send us a video to show that you are demonstrating the strokes correctly. Here is an example of a video sent by a successful student. We will check your video and offer helpful feedback. We will then issue you with a Story Massage Instructor certificate and logo.

It is your responsibility to gain your insurance to cover running group sessions as an independent practitioner. Most insurance companies will include the Story Massage Programme as part of your cover, but you do need to inform them. If you are looking for a new insurance company then many practitioners are using Westminster who will also include other therapies in your policy.

If you have any specific questions about the online training course or gaining insurance then please contact info@storymassage.co.uk. We want to make the course as easy and accessible as possible for everyone. It is fun and practical, just like the Story Massage Programme! We really look forward to working with you.