The Spurgeon Method® Training

We are scheduling the next in-person sessions of The Spurgeon Method® Basics and Advanced (16 NCBTMB-approved CE hours each).

To be the first to hear about new dates, email sally@therapielv.com or call 702-429-6016.

As breast surgeries, cancer diagnoses, and complex upper-torso conditions continue to rise, manual therapists are increasingly called upon to provide care that is not only compassionate, but informed, ethical, and clinically sound.

The Spurgeon Method® is a specialized manual therapy protocol for the breast and upper torso. Developed from lived experience and refined through clinical practice and research, this training fills a critical gap between surgery and rehabilitation, equipping therapists to work with confidence where many have been taught to avoid.

In the U.S., 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and countless others experience breast surgery, hormonal changes, or chronic discomfort affecting the chest and upper torso. Despite this, most manual therapy education excludes direct work with breast tissue.

16 NCBTMB-approved continuing education hours | 2 days, in person | $695

This foundational course introduces therapists to safe and ethical approaches to breast and upper-torso manual therapy. Instruction includes breast anatomy and boundaries, lymphatic drainage pathways, tissue changes across the lifespan, and professional considerations for working with breast tissue. It also addresses non-oncologic surgical presentations, including breast augmentation, and provides essential legal and consent-based frameworks for practice.

You will learn to: identify breast tissue anatomy, boundaries, and lymphatic drainage pathways; describe tissue changes related to menopause, lactation, and aging; recognize common breast-related concerns and musculoskeletal referral patterns; determine indications and contraindications for breast massage; and practice breast work within appropriate legal and professional scope.

16 NCBTMB-approved continuing education hours | 2 days, in person | $695

Prerequisite: Basics

This advanced course focuses on post-cancer surgery presentations, including mastectomy, lumpectomy, lymph node removal, radiation, and post-oncologic reconstruction. Instruction emphasizes tissue assessment, lymphatic compromise, scar and fascial restriction, functional limitations, and safe clinical decision-making within scope of practice.

You will learn to: identify common post-cancer surgical presentations affecting breast and upper-torso tissue; recognize the effects of surgery and radiation on lymphatic and fascial systems; apply informed, trauma-aware manual therapy approaches for post-oncologic clients; and demonstrate appropriate consent practices, clinical reasoning, and referral awareness.

The Spurgeon Method® has been scientifically validated through research conducted by A.T. Still University, Department of Health Sciences, with findings accepted for publication in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.

It has been presented at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre (Liverpool, UK), the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, and the American Society of Hand Therapists (Best New Researcher Award), and is taught and used in clinical and educational settings in the U.S., UK, and South Africa.

Our goal is simple: to make skilled, informed breast care accessible to everyone undergoing breast cancer surgery.

Licensed massage and manual therapists, therapists working with lymphatic, post-surgical, or oncology-adjacent clients, and practitioners seeking advanced, ethical education in breast health and recovery.

A thoughtful pathway, not a weekend technique: The Spurgeon Method® moves from foundational knowledge to advanced post-oncologic care, designed to protect clients, support therapists, and elevate standards within the profession.

Combined TSM® Basics and Advanced, 30 accredited CPD points. Home study followed by a 2-day in-person practicum.

Location and dates: TBD. Info can be found through ThinkTree Hub. Please contact us for availability.

If a class is cancelled by the instructor, participants will receive a 100% refund.

If a participant voluntarily withdraws 30 days or more prior to the scheduled class date, a 100% refund will be issued, minus any non-refundable PayPal or credit card processing fees.

If a participant withdraws 15–29 days prior to the scheduled class date, a 50% refund will be issued. Processing fees may apply.

No refunds will be issued for withdrawals occurring 14 days or less prior to the scheduled class date.

A $25 rescheduling fee may apply for approved date changes. Rescheduling requests are subject to availability.

Full payment is required no later than 30 days prior to the class start date.

Registration is non-transferable without prior written approval.

Failure to attend a registered class does not constitute cancellation and does not qualify for a refund.

Special exceptions may be considered at the sole discretion of the instructor and must be requested in writing.

For more information, call 702-429-6016 or email sally@therapielv.com.

Looking for a therapist trained in The Spurgeon Method®? See our directory of trained practitioners: FIND A PRACTITIONER