I am a student in my third semester at the School of Naprapathy, which is a 4-year university program consisting of both theoretical and practical courses.
The School of Naprapathy is located in Kräftriket in northern Djurgården, Stockholm. It is a relatively small school and the only one in Sweden that trains naprapaths. In the Nordic region, there is one school in Finland but none in Norway, which is why students from Norway come to Stockholm to study.
The students are of mixed ages, ranging from 20 to 50, though most are between 20 and 35. A fair number of students have a background in elite sports, but you don't need one to thrive here. I am one of the few who doesn't have a sports background, but I love training. What helps me thrive is my burning interest in helping other people. I have a background in caregiving, which has allowed me to meet people with various needs. I find that it is the mix of people with different backgrounds that allows us to learn from and complement one another. After the second semester, you can work as a personal trainer (PT) and a certified massage therapist if you pass all your courses.
During the second semester, students begin seeing patients at the school clinic located in Vasastan, Stockholm. The first clinic sessions were nerve-wracking because you know the patients have paid for their visit and are looking for help with their specific issues. However, with great support from the supervisors who check in during treatments—and the ability to go and get them when needed—the first sessions went reasonably well.
At the clinic, we have supervisors who are licensed naprapaths. They have been through the same journey as the students, so they know exactly what we are going through. We have different supervisors depending on when we are at the clinic, which means we get to meet various people who provide support and help with our learning. It is beneficial to hear different perspectives to gain a broad range of experience. Sometimes it can be a little frustrating when you are looking for a supervisor to assist with a patient and can't find them, but you just have to stay calm. You can ask a student from a higher year, another supervisor, or just keep looking—they are around somewhere.
To become licensed, you must complete a one-year internship after graduation, consisting of at least 9 months of supervised full-time work at a naprapathic clinic and at least 3 months of full-time work within the public healthcare system. My wish list for public healthcare placements right now includes a neurological ward, a psychiatric clinic, a primary care center, and a rheumatology clinic—all to gain a good breadth of experience. I find the psychiatric clinic particularly interesting because there are so many psychological factors that can contribute to musculoskeletal issues, which in turn can lead to a longer recovery time for a pain-free daily life.
Well, we have a student union that works to make our time here better by participating in various committee meetings and the student social committee, which includes representatives from every class. Perhaps one of the most important things the student union strives for is a sense of community and well-being through pubs, social events, a vending machine in the cafeteria, and general school spirit.
If you are curious about the program, you can always contact the school to arrange a study visit or attend one of the open house events held annually before the application period.
Best regards,
Naprapathy student, 2nd year
