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What our students say
Share the experience
There’s no better way to find out what it’s like to study here than to hear what our students have to say. Below you’ll share some of the experiences of students and hopefully find answers to some of the questions you might be facing now.
As well as reading about their experiences, you can also see a short video where our students share their thoughts on their time here.
Testimonials
Fiona Bullock
Choosing to study acupuncture at CTA was probably the best decision I have made in my life. Our 1st year tutors talked to us about how "Life Changing" the course would be and at the time we all took it with a pinch of salt.
However, I can say, without any doubt that, in addition to the skills and knowledge gained over the last 3 years, I have become more rounded, intuitive, self aware and sensitive to other people. This is all thanks to the excellent teaching and support given by the tutors and college staff.
At times, the changes have presented us with personal challenges, but throughout the course, tutors and staff have been completely supportive and caring. The third year, in particular, has been a process of slowly letting go, and encouraging us to take that first independent step, a step that, with the knowledge that the college will always be there for me is now not such a daunting prospect.
When I started looking for an acupuncture college, I knew nothing about 5 element acupuncture as against TCM, my choice to study at CTA was based on the very positive feeling I got from the college at the preview day. However I now consider myself extremely lucky to have happened upon 5 Element Acupuncture, which is not only an exceptional model for understanding human health and disease but also provides a unique way of understanding the world.
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Jenny Dean
I was working as a nurse when my own physical and emotional health deteriorated. Conventional medicine offered no solutions and in desperation I turned to acupuncture. After a few treatments and to my relief, I noticed that my emotional state was transformed and I began to feel physically stronger.
This dramatic change inspired me to enrol at CTA and train as an acupuncturist. Their course, the tutors and the college helped me change my life and have now set me on my own healing journey, enabling me to also assist others on theirs.
After qualifying from CTA, I decided to further my knowledge by broadening my area of training and I now am fully qualified to practice a variety of therapies, including Five Element acupuncture, Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture, Remedial Massage and Bodywork, Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Colonic hydrotherapy and Spirit and Sound Healing.
I strongly believe in treating the spiritual, emotional and physical aspects of the individual to effect healing.
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Barry Williams
I had worked all my life in purchasing within the automotive industry, this entailed long hours, extensive UK and overseas travel as well as the associated stress that comes from a corporate situation.
The lifestyle took its toll and I developed severe arthritis in my hands. I tried many ways to combat it but in the end was convinced to try acupuncture.
I did and as a result of the acupuncture treatment my arthritis was dramatically reduced and hopefully cured.
This sowed a seed in my mind and, in view of my advancing years I believed I was somewhat vulnerable in the corporate world, I investigated changing my career direction.
As I had first hand experience of the power of acupuncture, I decided to retrain and chose CTA as my college. A decision that I have never regretted.
Although I came to acupuncture later in life, I do not regret my decision as it has restored my feeling of self worth and enabled me to control my own destiny.
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Richard Graham
I knew from an early age that I was meant to work in health care., but the education system directed me into a structured commerce role for most of my life.
Then at the age of 43 I started to get itchy feet, made loads of enquires into alternative professions and then discovered The College of Traditional Acupuncture in Leamington Spa.
To my delight I saw that CTA offered the most interesting and professional course, structured in such a way that I could continue my employment whilst studying for my new profession.
Since joining the college, I have not looked back and have now completed the advanced study and Masters course and now am fully qualified and enjoying my new vocation.
I have worked both at home and aboard and I have found that my acupuncture training has given me the skills to deal with almost any health problem.
Recently I worked as a volunteer in Indonesia and have now set up a charity called Physiomed Overseas to help provide health care to under resourced parts of the world.
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Seb Brousse
Why choose acupuncture?
I don’t want to be a boss or have a boss. I don’t want to study something that I might get board of one day. I like people and I love life.
I have never chosen to do anything just for the money. I used to be a travelling showman but then decided to sell my show and invest in acupuncture.
I was at the turning point in my life and looking for something new to do. The idea of practicing acupuncture hit me and stuck. The subject was a big mysterious unexplored void that pulled me in.
I listened to my heart and took the leap of faith, and have been riding the waves ever since.
Studying acupuncture is a life-changing journey of self-discovery and universal awareness. The rewards are certainly worth the sacrifices.
Why choose the traditional style of acupuncture taught at CTA?
All styles draw on traditional concepts, I wanted to begin studying 5 Element acupuncture because its roots go back further and deeper than the more modern patterns and syndromes style of TCM acupuncture, with its more symptomatic and western style diagnostic approach to treatment.
I was fascinated by the ancient wisdom, imagery and knowledge that the five-element system offers.
CTA is the first and oldest school in the UK that teaches the Worsley style of traditional five-element acupuncture.
If you are scratching your head and thinking of studying acupuncture, CTA is to be recommended, but be prepared for the ultimate challenge, - body, mind and spirit!
A leap of faith has to follow the purpose of your heart.
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Jo Radley
Training at CTA enabled me to combine my love of nature and interest in people into a worthwhile career.
The course started a deep journey of self-discovery and increased my inter-personal skills.
The staff were inspirational and I developed a passion for acupuncture that sustains me in my practice.
To learn how to help people transform their lives must be one of the greatest gifts our teachers can give us.
Training at CTA is life changing, magical and well worth working for.
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Mike Gibson
I have been interested in Eastern Oriental culture and philosophies since I was a child, and found a way to indulge these interests through practice of various martial arts.
Seeing, at first hand, what could be achieved by directing and manipulating Ki (Japanese) or Qi (Chinese), both within an opponent and within oneself, was completely fascinating to me.
In addition, I was interested in entering a profession that cared for people, possibly even (Western) medicine, after leaving school. I started work at the Blood Transfusion Service, as a Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer, which went part of the way towards my goal.
Later, as my family grew, I found that I could not manage on a NHS wage, and so changed my career path and went into computing.
Although this improved my financial circumstances, I felt that there was something missing in my life, and that the world of Information Technology, while interesting, had no soul.
As I have got older, my two interests in the East Oriental concept of body energetics and in caring for others, have converged, and I realised a few years ago, that I had a strong calling to take up acupuncture and/or a similar pursuit, which would blend the two strands into one, at last.
I looked at the CTA in Leamington for the rather prosaic reason that it was relatively close to where I live. But I did do my research, and I did go along to introductory sessions to ensure that the College and its faculty could supply what I was searching for, before I took the plunge.
Perhaps my earlier understanding of being an acupuncture practitioner was of healing someone with just a few deft twirls of a needle.
Now I know that behind those few "deft twirls" come many years of dedicated learning and practice. In fact, I begin to see that inserting the needles is almost like the icing on the cake. It is the outward expression of the art that is easily recognised by the layperson, and that initiates the healing process.
But before all that can happen, there is the careful and sensitive art of the Traditional Diagnosis, and the knowledge that only underlying hard work and experience can convert into an understanding of imbalances which needling can then help to resolve.
As I have learned more and more of this wonderful art, I have also begun to learn a great deal more about myself. I am more aware of my strengths and weaknesses. I am more aware of the seasons and the rhythms of the world around me. I have grown and developed as a more compassionate and caring human being.
If any of these comments resonate with you, and you feel the urge to find out more, why not contact the College?
It just might be the best thing you will ever do with your life.
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Avril Chapman
After several years of becoming an increasingly disillusioned nurse, Five Element Acupuncture opened up an opportunity for me to care for patients in a way that I was unable to do within the NHS.
The 3 years of training at CTA were challenging but inspirational. I soon realised that I was not only learning how to become an acupuncturist but also finding out things about myself that I would never have discovered if it were not for the course.
In the 2 years since I qualified my practise has grown to 4 days a week, which is what I hoped for, and I now wake up every morning looking forward to the day ahead.
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