Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to assess the therapeutic needs of clients using a Shiatsu diagnostic framework. It requires the ability to gather client information, perform a physical assessment and bring information together to develop a Shiatsu treatment plan.
This unit applies to Shiatsu therapists.
The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements define the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Determine scope of client needs | 1.1 Explore and clarify client expectations 1.2 Provide clear information about scope and limits of services to be provided 1.3 Collect an accurate, relevant and organised health record and document in a form which can be interpreted readily by other professionals 1.4 Recognise needs that are beyond scope of own practice and make referrals to other health care professionals according to clients needs 1.5 Identify and respond to any barriers to information gathering and assessment 1.6 Seek client information respectfully and sensitively, using purposeful, systematic and diplomatic questions 1.7 Manage information in a confidential and secure way |
2. Make a physical assessment | 2.1 Provide information about the physical assessment process and obtain client consent to proceed 2.2 Follow clinical and practitioner hygiene procedures 2.3 Respect client dignity and anticipate sensitivities 2.4 Seek client feedback on comfort levels 2.5 Assess client through hara, back and meridian palpation 2.6 Integrate observation and sensory information gathering techniques 2.7 Use ongoing questioning with client to gain further information according to clients needs 2.8 Accurately document information from the physical assessment |
3. Develop treatment plan | 3.1 Correlate results of physical assessment with case history 3.2 Consider any available western medical information and incorporate into analysis within scope of own practice 3.3 Bring together eastern and western approaches to pathology 3.4 Analyse energetic patterns and differentiate by assessing signs and symptoms 3.5 Identify condition according to stage and related implications by applying the eight principles of diagnosis 3.6 Identify pre-requisites or contraindications to treatment 3.7 Determine optimum type, duration and frequency of treatments 3.8 Use professional judgement to draw substantiated conclusions about treatment needs 3.9 Establish expected treatment outcomes based on the Shiatsu framework and evidence 3.10 Accurately document proposed treatment plan |
4. Confirm assessment and treatment plan with client | 4.1 Discuss assessment, its implications and rationale for treatment with the client 4.2 Assign and agree treatment priorities and expectations in consultation with the client 4.3 Schedule times and session lengths suited to the required techniques and sequences 4.4 Respond to client enquiries using language the client understands 4.5 Discuss referral and collaborative options with the client according to needs |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:
performed the activities outlined in the performance criteria of this unit during a period of at least 200 hours of client consultation work
prepared for and managed at least 60 Shiatsu health assessments - clients must include males and females from different stages of life with varied presentations
used the Shiatsu framework to assess therapeutic needs of clients, including:
hara palpation
observation
sensory information gathering techniques
use differential diagnostic techniques
interacted effectively with clients:
clearly articulated information about services, treatment options and rationale
engaged clients in decision making
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:
legal and ethical considerations (national and state/territory) for client assessment and treatment planning:
codes of conduct
duty of care
informed consent
mandatory reporting
practitioner/client boundaries
privacy, confidentiality and disclosure
records management
work role boundaries:
working within scope of practice
presenting symptoms that require referral to a medical practitioner
work health and safety
referral options for practitioners:
professional health services including complementary health modalities
community resources and support services
types and availability of further medical testing
factors and barriers that may impact on assessment, including:
physical
psychological
cultural
factors that affect individual health status, including:
constitution
lifestyle
diet
personal and medical history
values and attitudes
balance of rest and activity
physical environment
social environment
factors for consideration for different genders and ages
client information required for assessment and the scope and depth of information needed around:
client objectives and expectations
client history and its components
client current state of health
signs and symptoms:
onset
duration
location
quality and severity
non-verbal
different ways that signs and symptoms of conditions present and how these are interpreted in a Shiatsu framework:
physical
psychological
social
qi
features of signs and symptoms
principles and philosophy of Shiatsu therapy framework:
relationships between body types and symptoms according five phases theory
primary functions of meridians and meridian extensions developed by masunaga
yin and yang
character and function of tsubo (acu-points)
the eight principles of differentiation (ba gang bian zheng)
Shiatsu diagnostic techniques and considerations:
the four methods of diagnosis (si zhen)
back yu points and front mu points and diagnostic zones of hara
diagnostic ability of face, complexion, posture and vitality
palpatory diagnostic techniques and palpatory sensitivity to conditions of kyo/jitsu (empty/full) meridians
listening
smelling
Masunaga meridian palpation
possible reactions, contra-indications to treatment and/or limitations for assessment
pathophysiology of common disease states according to Shiatsu framework:
qi imbalances
physical
emotional
mental
relational dynamics within and between human behaviour, anatomy and physiology, pathology and the natural world
treatment planning techniques and considerations
Assessment Conditions
Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated clinical environment that reflects workplace conditions. The following conditions must be met for this unit:
use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:
health assessment, client consultation forms
private consultation area
futon
linen
modelling of industry operating conditions, including provision of services to the general public
clinic supervision by a person who meets the assessor requirements outlined below for at least 120 of the 200 hours of client consultation work
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
In addition, assessors must:
have at least 3 years current clinical experience working as a Shiatsu therapist providing services to the general public
hold practising membership of an Australian professional body that represents Shiatsu therapists
fulfil the continuing professional development requirements of the professional body to which they belong
Foundation Skills
The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.