Participant Agreement
1. Purpose of this Agreement
This Participant Agreement sets out the terms and conditions applying to participation in Sorensen Method™ Level One. The course is designed as professional education for appropriately qualified practitioners and introduces the assessment, clinical reasoning and hands-on techniques that form part of the Sorensen Method™ and Viscero-Autonomic Emotional Integration™ (VAEI™) framework. By registering for the course, the participant acknowledges and agrees to the terms below.
2. Participant Eligibility
The participant confirms that they have appropriate professional education, training and experience to participate in the course. Participants are responsible for ensuring that participation in the course, and any subsequent application of the techniques, is consistent with:
- their professional qualifications;
- their registration requirements, where applicable;
- their professional scope of practice;
- applicable legislation and professional standards; and
- their own professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Completion of this course does not expand or change a participant's existing professional scope of practice.
3. Nature of the Course
Sorensen Method™ Level One is an educational and practical training program. The course may include demonstrations, discussion, assessment procedures, palpation and hands-on techniques involving areas including, but not limited to: musculoskeletal structures; fascia and connective tissue; neural structures; vascular structures; visceral structures; the diaphragm; cervical and cranial structures; and autonomic and sensory pathways. The course provides a framework for professional clinical reasoning and does not constitute medical diagnosis or medical advice. The participant remains responsible for applying independent professional judgement when using any information or technique introduced during the course.
4. Hands-On Participation
The course involves practical, hands-on participation. Participants may be asked to: receive a demonstration; practise techniques on another participant; allow another participant to practise techniques on them; participate in palpation and assessment; provide feedback regarding the technique or experience. Participation in hands-on work is voluntary. A participant may decline any technique or request that a technique be stopped at any time. Participants agree to communicate appropriately if they experience pain, discomfort, distress, dizziness, nausea or any other concerning response during practical work. The facilitator may modify or discontinue a technique where they consider this appropriate.
5. Participant Health and Safety
Participants are responsible for informing the facilitator of any relevant health condition, injury, limitation or circumstance that may reasonably affect their ability to participate safely. Participants should not participate in practical activities where they are unable to do so safely. The course does not replace appropriate medical assessment or treatment. Where a participant presents with signs or symptoms requiring medical assessment, appropriate medical or specialist referral should take precedence over application of a manual technique.
6. Clinical Application
Participants acknowledge that techniques demonstrated during the course must only be applied to clients where the participant considers them clinically appropriate and within their professional scope. Participants remain responsible for: obtaining appropriate informed consent; taking an appropriate clinical history; assessing contraindications and risks; selecting appropriate techniques; monitoring the client throughout treatment; modifying or stopping treatment where appropriate; recognising presentations requiring referral; and maintaining appropriate professional records. The provider does not guarantee that any particular technique will produce a particular clinical outcome.
7. Professional Boundaries
All practical work must be conducted respectfully and professionally. Participants agree to: obtain consent before physical contact; respect a participant's boundaries; respect a participant's decision not to participate in a particular technique; maintain appropriate professional behaviour; avoid inappropriate or unnecessary physical contact; and maintain confidentiality regarding personal information disclosed by other participants.
8. Emotional and Somatic Responses
The course includes exploration of relationships between physical sensation, autonomic regulation and emotional experience. Participants acknowledge that hands-on work or discussion may occasionally produce changes in physical sensation, emotional experience or subjective awareness. The course does not qualify a participant to provide psychological therapy unless that participant is already appropriately qualified and authorised to do so within their professional scope. Participants must maintain appropriate professional boundaries and refer presentations outside their competence to an appropriately qualified professional.
9. Course Materials and Intellectual Property
All course manuals, diagrams, presentations, written materials, teaching resources, assessment frameworks, terminology and associated intellectual property supplied as part of the course remain the property of Heal Hub / Matthew Sorensen, unless otherwise stated. Participants may use the knowledge and techniques taught during the course within their own professional practice, subject to their professional scope and applicable law. Participants must not, without prior written permission:
- copy or reproduce course manuals or materials;
- distribute course materials to third parties;
- sell or commercially distribute course materials;
- reproduce the course curriculum as a separate training program;
- record and distribute course teaching;
- represent themselves as an authorised instructor of the Sorensen Method™; or
- provide Sorensen Method™ training or certification to other practitioners.
Completion of Level One does not authorise a participant to teach or certify other practitioners in the Sorensen Method™.
10. Recording and Photography
Participants must not audio-record, video-record, photograph or otherwise reproduce teaching demonstrations or course material without the prior permission of the facilitator. The facilitator may take photographs or video during the course for educational, promotional or marketing purposes where appropriate consent has been obtained. A participant may request that they not be included in promotional photography or video.
11. Confidentiality
Participants may become aware of personal, health or professional information disclosed by other participants during the course. Participants agree to respect the confidentiality of information disclosed by other participants and not share identifying information outside the course without appropriate consent.
12. Certification and CPE Hours
Participants who complete the required course components will receive a certificate of completion. The course provides the contact hours specified by the course provider. Participants are responsible for determining whether the course meets the continuing professional development requirements of their relevant profession, registration board or professional association. Where CPE hours are self-reported, the participant is responsible for retaining appropriate evidence and meeting the requirements of their relevant professional body. Completion of the course does not imply endorsement or accreditation by a professional registration board or association unless expressly stated by the provider.
13. Cancellation and Refunds
Course fees, cancellation and transfer arrangements are those stated during the registration process: full refund if cancelled more than 30 days before the course date; 50% refund if cancelled within 30 days of the course date; transfer to a future cohort available at any time, subject to availability. Where a participant cancels their place, the applicable cancellation and refund terms presented at registration will apply. Where the provider cancels or substantially postpones a course, the provider will offer an appropriate transfer or refund option.
14. Participant Insurance
Participants are responsible for maintaining any professional indemnity, public liability or other insurance required for their professional practice. Participants should confirm with their own insurer that application of techniques taught during the course is covered within their professional scope.
15. Provider Insurance
The course provider maintains appropriate insurance arrangements for the activities covered by the relevant policy. The participant acknowledges that insurance does not replace the participant's own professional responsibilities or insurance requirements.
16. No Guarantee of Clinical Outcomes
The Sorensen Method™ is taught as a professional clinical framework incorporating clinical observation, assessment, manual techniques and a proposed neurophysiological model. Participation in the course does not guarantee any particular outcome for the participant or their clients. Participants are responsible for independently assessing the evidence, clinical suitability and appropriateness of applying any technique within their own practice.
17. Acknowledgement of Risk
The participant acknowledges that practical hands-on training involves physical contact and that, as with physical activity and manual therapy generally, there may be an inherent risk of temporary discomfort or other physical responses. The participant agrees to communicate any discomfort or concern immediately and to stop participation where necessary. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to exclude, restrict or modify any right, guarantee, remedy or liability that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted or modified under Australian law.
18. Acceptance of Terms
By completing the online registration, the participant confirms that they:
- Have read and understood this Participant Agreement.
- Agree to the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement.
- Understand that the course involves practical, hands-on participation.
- Understand that hands-on participation is voluntary and that they may decline or stop a technique at any time.
- Confirm that they will practise within their existing professional qualifications, registration and scope of practice.
- Understand that they remain responsible for their own clinical decisions when applying course material in professional practice.
- Agree to respect the confidentiality, professional boundaries and intellectual property associated with the course.
- Understand that completion of Level One does not authorise them to teach or certify other practitioners in the Sorensen Method™.
Electronic acceptance: by checking the agreement checkbox and/or completing payment during online registration, the participant acknowledges that they have read and accepted this Participant Agreement.