The VIA University College, School of Relaxation and Psychomotor Therapy in Randers was founded in 2002 with the objective of providing a Bachelor’s Programme in Relaxation and Psychomotor Therapy.
The School of Relaxation and Psychomotor Therapy is beautifully situated at the Eastern coast of Jutland only a 30 minutes’ drive from Denmark’s second largest city Aarhus.
Monday to Thursday: 9.00 – 14.00 and Friday: 9.00 – 13.00
Head of School
Helle Brok
Professional Bachelor’s Curriculum
Relaxation and Psychomotor Therapy is a health pedagogical profession, which integrates natural and health sciences, psychology, and pedagogy with psychomotor theory and practice. The main fields of study are: psychomotricity, relaxation and psychomotor therapy, pedagogy and psychology, natural and health sciences, social science, and theory of science.
JCVU Afspændingspædagoguddannelsen i Randers (VIA- University College, School of Relaxation and Psychomotor Therapy in Randers) is a publicly financed higher education institution regulated according to the Ministry of Education Departmental Act 194 of April 2, 2002.
Bachelor in Relaxation and Psychomotor Therapy is a Professional Bachelor’s degree (first cycle degree). The Professional Bachelor’s degree corresponds to that of university Bachelor’s programmes. The programme provides students with knowledge of theory and the application of theory to professional practice. The programme includes periods of practical training (internship) and requires the submission of a bachelor’s project paper. The official length of the programme is 3.5 years (210 ECTS-points).
General access to higher education in Denmark requires 12 years of education, including the Secondary School Leaving Examinations or comparable qualifications.
The Bachelor’s programme in relaxation and psychomotor therapy is a full-time study programme divided into theoretical and applied courses, an internship programme, and a project paper. Students should combine and integrate the different contents of all courses in becoming a qualified Relaxation and Psychomotor Therapist. The theoretical and practical courses include both individual and group work. Student attendance at the theoretical and applied courses, as well as at the internship is compulsory.
The distinctive feature of the Relaxation and Psychomotor Bachelor’s Programme is a process-oriented learning environment. An understanding of the relationship between body, psyche, and social life is reached by the student through self-experience. The student learns to reflect on and respond to the interaction between bodily and psychological experiences in individuals as well as in groups. During the study period, the student develops personal competencies such as body consciousness, empathy and relational skills as well as the understanding of group processes.
Programme requirements
Requirements are laid down by the Danish Ministry of Education in Departmental Act 194 of April 2, 2002. The aims of the education are specified as follows:
1. Through the integration of knowledge from relaxation and psychomotor therapy, and the pedagogical and natural, health and social sciences the students should qualify to work from a health-pedagogical platform.
2. The students should qualify to plan, implement, and assess relaxation and psychomotor activities within the fields of health promotion, preventive work, (re-)education, pedagogy, treatment, and rehabilitation.
3. The students should qualify to observe, analyse, and describe a person’s entire situation and on this basis, develop, plan, and recommend appropriate relaxation and psychomotor actions to be taken
4. The students should qualify to participate in the assessment and development of theory and practice within the professional field
5. A Bachelor of Relaxation and Psychomotor Therapy should be qualified to engage in work environments, in which research and developmental work is conducted
6. A Bachelor of Relaxation and Psychomotor Therapy should be qualified to proceed to a higher level of education
The 3 ½ year Bachelor’s curriculum is equivalent to 210 ECTS. The curriculum comprises interrelated theoretical and applied courses, an internship programme, and a project paper. The applied courses, the theoretical courses and the internship programme are taught throughout the first 3 years of study. Students must pass these courses as well as the internship before passing the project paper.
Assessment of proficiency
The student’s knowledge and skills are subject to testing according to the Danish Ministry of Education, Departmental Act 356 of May 19, 2005. The tests are written, oral, theoretical or practical, individual or group-based (individually assessed). The student’s performance is graded according to the 7-point scale or by passed/not passed (some courses are passed on grounds of attendance). Internship is assessed by the internship supervisor or teacher. The examinations can be either external or internal. The internal examinations are assessed by at least one examiner from the institution. The external examinations are assessed by examiner and one or more external assessors, who are appointed and approved by the Danish Ministry of Education. Students must pass all the general and applied courses as well as the internship and the project paper.
Diploma Supplement
A diploma in Danish is issued to all students obtaining a degree at the VIA University College, School of Relaxation and Psychomotor Therapy. In addition, a Diploma Supplement in English is issued to all students obtaining a degree. The supplement is issued free of charge. A Diploma Supplement should promote international mobility and transparency among European educational institutions by giving all bachelors adequate documentation for their qualifications and competencies – including information on content, ECTS-points, level and professional aim of the education. A standard description in English of the Danish Educational system makes it possible to place a given education in this system. The Diploma Supplement can be used in job seeking or Higher Educational enrolment in other European countries (for further reference, see www.ciriusonline.dk/DS (in Danish))
General Curriculum (compulsory courses)
1. Psychomotricity, relaxation and psychomotor therapy courses (108 ECTS-points)
The aims are: 1. The student should acquire the specific professional knowledge of methodology and theory, as well as the practical experience necessary in order to function independently
as a psychomotor therapist; 2. The student’s personal development and bodily consciousness are of high priority and a naturally integrated part of the curriculum and the learning process; 3. The students must acquire the relaxation and psychomotor professional skills through self-experience.
• Individual relaxation and psychomotor therapy – clinical practice (24 ECTS-points), external examination (7-point scale)
• Practical body dynamics in teaching of groups (22 ECTS-points), external examination (7-point scale)
2. Pedagogy and psychology courses (36 ECTS-points)
The aims are: 1. To give the student an understanding of the central theoretical concepts of psychological structure and dynamics, the significance of life experience for the personality, the interconnection between body and psyche (including stress), and communication and group relations; 2. To give the student competencies in pedagogy and therapeutic interrelations, dialogue in an individual relaxation / psychomotor work situation, pedagogical skills in the teaching of a group in psychomotor pedagogy as well as communication of professional knowledge (including giving and receiving supervision and the ability to engage in interdisciplinary co-operative work environments); 3. To give the students an outline of adjoining health-psychological intervention strategies as a perspective of relaxation and psychomotricity in a broader field of health-pedagogical working methods; 4. To give the student insight into the main features of the student’s personal life story and aspects of personal psychodynamics (including bodily aspects); 5.To train intimacy, confrontation, and attention to personal development.
3. Natural and health sciences courses (27 ECTS-points)
These subjects are fundamental for the understanding of normal as well as abnormal bodily states. Therefore, the subjects are important tools in the relaxation and psychomotor activity.
The students must acquire the theoretical knowledge and, at the same time, develop and demonstrate the integration of this knowledge in the relaxation and psychomotor applied courses and internship.
The aim is to provide the student with the insight into societal functions and structures and understanding of the interconnection between a person’s life pattern and reactions, and of work- and living conditions.
• Social science (4 ECTS-points), internal examination (passed/not passed)
• Theory of science (5 ECTS-points) (attendance)
5. Internship (30 ECTS-points)
The internship programme includes periods of internship at approved and relevant workplaces.
The individual parts of the internship programme (consisting of a complete 6 months of the study period) are distributed throughout the Bachelor’s programme with a learning progression starting with observation studies and concluding with reflective and independently performed professional work. The internship periods are supervised by the educational staff
of the VIA University College School of Relaxation and Psychomotor Therapy. The staff is in a day-to-day dialogue with the students and the workplace.
