Mentorship Program Outline
Teara Ashby
DC, DO(MP), DScO
Have you ever attended an amazing course only to return to work feeling completely lost with no ability to apply the new information in your existing clinical practice? I have attended many core and continuing educational courses over my various careers and after every hands-on course I would return to my practice and think ‘now what’? Not only was it difficult to integrate the new information into a functioning clinical model, but I would even second guess all the information I knew before attending the course. In the end, I was frustrated at the disjointed way my work would unfold in the ‘real world’.
My personal experience, and conversations with peers, suggest the difficulty of integrating new information in a clinical setting is a very common experience. Because of this challenge, I believe programs in the healing arts should have a mentorship component that supports personalized integration in ‘real world’ hands-on settings. In addition to this support, what if you had someone to review clinical cases, challenge your anatomical or physiological knowledge, present options for alternative approaches, or to generally debrief your work week?
I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I do have a uniquely diverse clinical background that includes biomedical research, emergency medicine, human cadaver anatomy, optometry, assistant midwifery, chiropractic, manual osteopathy, and advanced biodynamic cranial osteopathy. Although these fields seem abstract and unrelated, they are the backbone of experience I pull into practice every day. This varied background also provides a broad spectrum from which to support all types of practitioners and practices. I love working with students throughout all stages of learning, and investigating challenging questions that facilitate ‘lightbulb’ moments in the exploration of the human body.
My vision of a Mentorship Program is malleable and uniquely tailored to the needs of each student. The program begins with a more structured two month commitment where we touch base either weekly or bi-weekly over Zoom (or other suitable platform) to answer questions you may already be grappling with or explore areas you would like more confidence in. Some examples may include examining a pediatric patient, evaluating a difficult case or pushing past a clinical rut. My ultimate goal is to join you in your clinical practice to provide feedback on palpation skills and treatment strategies. This is your time - you are welcome to bring to the table whatever it is that challenges your confidence in being the best clinician you can be.
Objectives
• Patient History and Evaluation Review
• Review of Challenging Cases
• Review of Evaluation Techniques
• Review of Anatomical and Physiological Interrelationships
• Challenging Clinical Ruts
• Accountability Between Sessions
• Confidentially Debrief your Work Week
Ultimate Objective
Personalized Clinical Days
o Feedback on Palpation
o Feedback on Evaluation and Treatment Strategies
Program Framework
Phase 1 - $700
• Eight Week Commitment
• Scheduled Zoom Consultation 30 min once a week -or- 60 min every two weeks
• Email Support during Office Hours
Phase 2 - To Be Negotiated
• Continued Zoom Consultations, personalized schedule
• Email Support during Office Hours
• Eventually ~ In Office Mentorship
Teara Ashby
DC, DO(MP), DScO
Testimonials
Teara is incredible at reaching into the heart of the problem. She wastes no time in seeing where I need help and compassionately and confidently guides me to a clear understanding of what I need to do, and how to repeat the success when she is no longer in the room. She effortlessly breaks down difficult problems and cases and her extensive knowledge rarely fails to provide creative and effective solutions. I am always amazed at the beauty and simplicity of her unique suggestions. She is a natural born teacher and the one-on-one time I’ve spent with her has been infinitely more effective than full courses of study.
Working with Teara helped answer a lot of questions and uncertainty I was experiencing in my practice after graduating last year. Teara gave me tips to help guide my assessment and she helped me to understand what I was palpating when I was unsure in some cases. She also encouraged me to ask myself more questions about what I am feeling and this has helped me to understand the anatomy and treat more efficiently. She guided me through cranial palpation which has already greatly impacted my practice. Teara also helped me to be more confident with babies. Overall my ability to trust what I feel is stronger after my sessions with Teara.
I have had the greatest pleasure to know Teara Ashby. We met while on a course in France and developed a great friendship. Teara came to visit me in Ontario and I had an infant as a client while she was visiting so I asked Teara if she’d treat the baby and she agreed. Consent was obtained from the mother prior to treatment so that I could sit in as an observer. It was an incredible experience. Afterwards, Teara and I discussed the treatment and treatment of babies in general. I have to say that I learned more in that 2 hour experience than I did in a 4 day pediatric course in school. Teara has a way of breaking things down and explaining them on a level that is comprehensible. We have had in-depth discussions on cranial treatments and again, Teara broke down a complex perspective into simple useable terms. At that point I asked her why she isn’t teaching. She has a great way to present information, break it down, make it practical, useable, and retainable. I highly recommend learning from Teara.
I had the pleasure of inviting Teara Ashby into my clinic for a clinical day. We treated five patients for varying lengths of time and with ranging life and physical challenges. During this day, my palpation, confidence in my palpation and confidence as a therapist soared. She not only taught me how to palpate the same level with both hands, but to find the primary lesion of the person on that day whether it was in tissue, fluid or electromagnetics and validated me throughout the process. I would love to have her back.
Teara has provided an opportunity to explore self in relation to life and osteopathy. I feel that Teara would be able to provide insight and support to any person that is open to increasing their knowledge base on all levels be it personal, professional and spiritual.
Morgan Perry, DOMP
Cody Unwin, DOMP
Robin Montgomery, DOMP
Kierra Hautala, DOMP
Michael Kono, Osteopathic Student
Teara gives me permission to use my own brain. Her open-hearted presence, impressive knowledge and incisive mind allow her to listen to the client's needs and the practitioner's needs such that she expands the potential and potency of the whole experience. After mentorship with Teara, I feel inspired and able to do the work that I need to do to heighten my abilities at every level so that I may better serve the people who come to me for help.
Sara Bonds, Osteopathic Student
Working with Teara throughout my osteopathic education has helped me gain confidence in my palpation skills. She offers validation of whether or not I am on the correct level in terms of structure, fascia and/or fluids and has helped me better localize specific viscera. Osteopathy was meant to be passed on from one clinician to another. Teara's mentorship program does just this. I highly recommend Teara if you are hoping to solidify what you have learned in your courses and take your practice further to better support your clients. She has studied with some of the original osteopaths and is able to pass on information, techniques, and protocols that would otherwise be lost. She shares this valuable information in combination with her own work and discoveries which is a valuable experience for any osteopathic practitioner regardless of their experience level.