What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (C.A.M.)?

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (C.A.M) is an emerging new field of healthcare that seeks to work as an alternative to or in conjunction with conventional medicine to enhance the healing and well-being of our populace. C.A.M. techniques can supplement existing medical protocols using relaxation, visualization, yoga, or other beneficial processes (often called integrative medicine) or as an alternative to traditional medicine as in the case of hypnosis, acupuncture, bioenergetics, diet or other mind/body spirit approaches. The Federal Government has acknowledged this new field of study by establishing the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) as a component of the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Washington, D.C., which seeks to utilize C.A.M. to help optimize the healthcare system of our country, a goal supported by President Obama.

What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine Training at the Institute?

In Statute 456.41, the Florida Legislature declared in the following:

“It is the intent of the Legislature that citizens be able to make informed choices for any type of healthcare they deem to be an effective option for treating human disease, pain, injury, deformity or other physical or mental condition. It is the intent of the Legislature that citizens be able to choose from all healthcare options, including the prevailing or conventional treatment methods as well as other treatments designed be complement or substitute for prevailing or conventional treatment methods”.

FICAM has dedicated itself to the achievement of this intent approaching it from a holistic perspective which acknowledges firstly we are spiritual beings having a human experience. From this perspective we treat the different levels of consciousness (mind, emotions and body) as different aspects of the one substance we call spirit, life, pure existence or pure consciousness. We believe each level of our make up needs different transformational tools to access and transform. Like H2O which can be vapor, water or ice, spirit or life manifests in different levels of itself as mind, emotions and body. Each requires a different tool to work with the different levels. It is the intent of FICAM to integrate, consolidate and expand the field of Complementary and Alternative Medicine to help conventional healthcare providers and alternative healthcare practitioners to effectively use this knowledge in a coherent, organized and effective manner which expedites a patients healing and well-being.

Why train at the Florida Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine?

Brian Sheen has been a pioneer in alternative health modalities since his emersion into this field in 1970. He has done intensive training and research with many noted authorities and leading researchers, around the world. His nearly four decades of expertise working with thousands of individuals has provided him a unique perspective of knowledge and experience which he freely shares with all FICAM students. As part of the Florida’s Governors Board of Directors on Community Health Action Response Team, he is working to share his knowledge and training to be healthy, fit and balanced without unnecessary medications.

Q: What will I be able to do when I complete the CAM Practitioner Program?

A: You will be a practitioner of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. As such, you will be trained in Bioenergetics, Quantum and Formative Psychology, Psychoneuroimmunology, Transpersonal Hypnosis, NLP, yoga, meditation, shamanism, Reiki and other energy healing, Holotropic and Quantum Breathwork, Hellinger Constellations, Relationship Counseling, Using A Course in Miracles therapeutically and so much more to develop diverse protocols to enable your clients to heal and grow at all five levels of consciousness. We are applying for approval to qualify graduates in each of the respective categories of training with existing association groups. We are officially a Registered Yoga School with the Yoga Alliance, so CAM Practitioner Program graduates can be recognized as Registered Yoga Teachers at the 200 hour level. Most importantly you will learn to see the different aspects of a person’s imbalance and dysfunction and have a multifaceted approach to help them.

Q:  I don’t think I can afford this, but I am interested. What do you suggest?

A: Any sort of training or education program costs money! The idea is that, when you graduate, you can start charging $75.00/hour for private sessions, increasing your rates every year. With as little as three years’ experience, CAM Practitioners can charge $150.00/hour or more for your time! A bachelor’s degree from a four-year college, which is an average of $35,000/year for tuition only, does not offer anything even close to this in terms of a well-paying, full-time job upon graduation! Existing holistic practices such as acupuncturists, chiropractors, homeopaths, herbalists, and yoga studios will provide excellent opportunities for you to become part of to expand their practice while building yours.

We have also done an analysis that compared the time and cost of doing training programs for CAM techniques separately and found that the costs of doing so directly with proven professionals who actually earn a good living in this field would be up to 50% greater.

Also, you are not required to pay the tuition for the whole program or even the whole year up front. You can choose to pay it off gradually. You can see our payment options in detail on our registration form.

If you are financially challenged you may be eligible to receive a partial scholarship. Furthermore, if you have prior training or experience in this field, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 20% of tuition fees. Please ask the Registrar for details.

Q:  Which specific classes will be taught during the quarterly, in-house trainings?

A: In general, each weekend of intensive training will correspond to two courses, which usually will be taught in the order they appear in the School Catalog, covering a total of 4 courses per semester and 16 per year. Students will be informed in advance of which specific courses we will be covering during each of the training weekends. We also strive to ensure that the portion of the curriculum that needs to be done in an interactive classroom setting will be covered during the in-house training periods. Brian Sheen will directly supervise all activities during these weekends so you will get personal interactions to learn competency in the tools being learned and work yourself through the levels of personal healing and development that each section delivers.

Q:  How do I know which courses will be offered when?

A: The courses for the CAM Practitioner Program will be offered generally in the order they appear in the FICAM School Catalog. However, they will not always be offered in a linear format – we may stray away from the exact numerical order of the courses as they appear in the catalog, but all of the current year’s courses will be covered by the end of that year. Courses CAM 100-116 are year 1 courses, CAM 201-216 are year 2 courses, and CAM 301-317 are year 3 courses. We will usually cover 4 classes per quarter during in-house training weekends and our ongoing workshops/classes. Our website calendar will show in advance which courses will be covered when.

Q:  Does FICAM offer any scholarships, grants, or financial aid?

A: We have a limited number of partial scholarships available for aspiring CAM practitioners with a financial hardship. You may also receive a discount of up to 20% of the tuition fees if you have prior certifications and/or experience in the CAM field. Ask the Registrar for details.

As a FICAM student, you may qualify for a special financial incentive from the government, called the American Opportunity Tax Credit, for $2500 per year.  For more information, see the IRS Q & A and check with your CPA to see whether or not you qualify.

Also, leading students will be given an opportunity in their third year of training to intern at the Quantum Healing Center and will be able to earn money from these activities.

Q:  What are the days/times for the quarterly, in-house training periods?

A: The dates for in-house weekend trainings for 1st year (FICAM2) and 2nd year students (FICAM1) for 2001 are available here.

Q:  Do I have to live near Delray Beach to be a student at FICAM?

A: No! One of the great things about FICAM is that we are fully-equipped technologically for distance learning. You will only be required to be on campus in Delray Beach during the quarterly in-house training weekends spaced throughout the year. Otherwise, the classes will be offered as videos online, webinars, and/or specially-designed audio training programs.

Q: Will I have the option of attending the courses live instead of watching them online?

A: Yes. If you live in the area you may come to the Quantum Healing Center in Delray Beach, Florida to take courses in person rather than watching from home on your computer, if you prefer to do so.

Q:  Can I just take an individual course or do I have to do the whole program?

A: Yes, you can take individual courses as a non-diploma-seeking student for $35 per clock hour. For the amount of clock hours per course, see the FICAM School Catalog However, you will not receive a diploma from FICAM for participating in individual classes or workshops.

Q:  Do I get a special discount if I register today?

A: Yes! The first six students to register for the CAM Practitioner Program beginning in January 2011 (accepting students as of June 20, 2010) will receive Brian Sheen’s Clear Mind Open Heart Meditation, a 12-CD audio series, which sells in our bookstore for $108.00. Also, students of FICAM will receive all qualified ongoing classes at the Quantum Healing Center and ALL MONDAY NIGHT WORKSHOPS at NO CHARGE when they are facilitated by Brian Sheen or another FICAM instructor!! This is a $2000 value for ongoing classes and $6000 total for the three years of workshops!

Q:  I am already certified in one or more of the techniques covered in the CAM Practitioner Program. Would I have to re-take the classes at FICAM pertaining to these techniques?

A: No. FICAM will honor any current certifications in Hypnotherapy, Yoga, Reiki, NLP, or any of the CAM modalities covered in the program. You can receive a discount for up to 20% of the scheduled tuition costs if you are already certified in certain areas and can demonstrate competence in each area according to the competency requirements stated for those classes.

Q:  I am already certified in one or more of the techniques covered in the CAM Practitioner Program. Would I still benefit from getting a diploma from FICAM?

A: Absolutely! You may be a certified yoga teacher or reiki master or even hypnotherapist, but do you have a full-time career in your field? Are you able to integrate the different modalities in your practice in an effective way to be able to heal yourself and others no matter what the situation? Chances are, probably not. Doing different certification programs individually does not give you the opportunity to learn how to integrate these modalities with special supervision from someone who knows and sees the bigger picture. Brian Sheen is one of the field’s leading pioneers who has developed a full-time practice and thriving healing center working with a wide variety of clients using a diverse mixture of therapeutic modalities. Brian will also be bringing trainers of distinction into many classes to share their expertise and professionalism with FICAM students.

Along with learning how to integrate the different CAM modalities to be able to have a successful full-time career in this new emerging profession, becoming a CAM Practitioner at FICAM will provide you with ongoing case supervision so that you are not just out in the world on your own trying to gain more experience. Instead, you will have opportunities to have trained professionals behind you as you deal with the myriad of issues your clients present to you.

Also, as you go through the training program, you will simultaneously be doing 150-200 hours of deep inner personal therapy in a group setting with Brian Sheen and specialized protocols he’s recorded for FICAM student to integrate healing at each level of existence, which is valued at over $30,000!

Also, remember that if you are already currently certified in certain areas you will not have to re-take the FICAM classes pertaining to those areas once you have demonstrated competency.

Q: Do I have to take each class as it is being offered or can I take them at my own pace?

A:  Because our classes will be offered electronically, you will not have to stick to a certain time limit to finish each course. You may work at your own pace. Even if you are working at a slower pace, you will be required to be on location at our campus for the quarterly training periods. The specific dates for these weekends can be found on our website calendar. A general guideline to follow would be to catch up with all classes for the current year before the beginning of the following year of study. The maximum amount of time to finish the 3 year CAM program is 4.5 years.

Q: What kinds of careers do FICAM graduates have?

A: Our school opened it’s doors in February of 2010, and because this is a 3 year program, we have no graduates as of yet. However, our students will continue on after graduation to open their own practices, or work as consultants in different offices, such as chiropractors, acupuncturists, and other holistic practices. Complementary and alternative medicine is coming into the mainstream at a very rapid pace. We here at FICAM are ready to surf these new waves. Actually, we have some very exciting developments going on at FICAM right now, and most of our students will have the opportunity to take advantage of this opportunity. Production has begun to create two powerful infomercials to be run nationwide that will share the knowledge and techniques of our holistic healing model to demonstrate how to maintain greater levels of wellness and personal ability in life following our unique model. We are being funded by the person who is the owner of Promise Health Care, who owns 19 hospitals nationwide, to provide a 90 minute lecture followed by a 3-day workshop in 20 cities around the country. The name of this is Life Long and Flourish. After doing the 3-day workshop, attendees will have the option to continue with their personalized wellness program with the help of one of our “wellness coaches” and/or CAM practitioners from our school. Also, FICAM students will have opportunities to be involved in this endeavor by contributing to the 3-day workshop in the form of teaching different “breakout sessions” in different areas that our curriculum offers. This project will require a wide variety of staff who can be involved with administration, teaching, counseling, sales, marketing, student recruiting and admissions, and more. Those so involved will need to be committed to our mission of sharing this knowledge and to being trained themselves in these techniques. FICAM students will be the first choice to fill these jobs. Others will need to go though our training programs to ensure they are fully aligned with what and how we do things.