Holistic Practitioners

Holistic practitioners and wellness coaches are becoming more popular as people embrace alternative therapies.

There are many types of holistic health practitioners. Although they may all approach healing from a holistic perspective, they differ widely in their training, licensing, and types of modalities used.

What is a Holistic Practitioner?

For example, the Master Herbalist degree I earned from the Australasian College of Health Sciences here in the United States gave me access to professional organizations, but not licensing. If I were in New Zealand, I would have had the option to sit for the Medical Herbalist Board Exams. Such exams and designations don't exist in the U.S.

People who practice holistic healing without a license have varying degrees of training. Some of the best, most knowledgeable and intuitive healers may have no formal holistic schooling at all. They learned at a grandparent’s knee, from mentors or are self-taught. They can provide you with a comprehensive holistic education in their field and and are gifted in using their modalities. Some herbalists, energy healers, and many others fall into this category.

A good wellness coach or holistic health practitioner can help you supplement your conventional medical treatment and keep you on track. If you are well, s/he can help you stay that way. Many holistic practitioners have spent hundreds or thousands of hours studying,taking courses and gaining experience. They may have one or several certifications in modalities that can really help you improve your health and well-being.

If you are interested in becoming a holistic practitioner click here to read about holistic education and schools.

Tips for Choosing and Working with a Holistic Practitioner

• Know who you are working with. Ask about their training and experience and if/how it will help you with your particular needs. Ask for references or read testimonials. Keep in mind that people can legally call themselves a holistic practitioner, a naturopath or a Doctor of Naturopathy, among other titles not protected as a legally designated title, regardless of whether they have a great deal of training, or none at all.

• Be clear on what will be your role in the healing process and what will be theirs. Have a conversation before starting a healing program so you know what to expect.
  
  
• If you are concerned about insurance coverage, this is a biggie. Be very clear regarding your coverage. Get your information directly from your company. I learned this lesson the hard way. If a practitioner is unlicensed you can be certain the service will not be covered.
  
  Just because a holistic doctor is a medical doctor and is under your plan, doesn’t mean that you will be covered for your entire protocol. Check with your insurance company on what specifically will and will not be covered. If an insurance company views your treatment as experimental, not approved or as preventive, they may not pay for that part of your expense, even if it could save a lot of money and disability in the long-term.
  
  
• Holistic healing is not usually a magic bullet one minute cure. You can’t eat a salad and exercise one day and think it’s going to have a long-term effect on your health. It requires a plan and commitment on your part. This is where a wellness coach or holistic practitioners can help. If you are not particularly sure about which methods or remedies could be beneficial for you, or if you are not motivated on your own, consider this option. Keep in mind that an unlicensed holistic practitioner cannot diagnose, treat or prescribe.
  
  
• If you have a serious or complicated issue a holistic doctor can offer the best of both worlds and I would highly recommend this as your best option when possible. If one is not available, work closely with your medical doctor and make sure that any holistic treatments you are using will not adversely interact with your medical treatment. You may want to work with a holistic practitioner or wellness coach in addition to conventional medical treatment.

  The American Holistic Health Association,
  The Academy of Environmental Medicine,
  and The American Holistic Medical Association
  have databases you can check for a holistic doctor near you.
  
  

• Whether working with a holistic practitioner or alone, choose one or two approaches and give them time to work. Some people approach holistic health like a smorgasbord and try too many modalities and healers at once. This can be expensive and not give you information on what is helping and what isn’t. It also tends to foster the big bang and fizzle as you lose enthusiasm and go back to old habits.

Want to "Go It Alone"?

Here are a few tips that will help you get started.

1-Take some time to educate yourself. Check out the tips and techniques in each section of this site and write down a few that would be very easy for you to incorporate into your lifestyle. As these become habit, make additional improvements. Every step you take in a healthier direction will pay off in better health.

2-If you prefer a course to going through the site on your own, I invite you to sign up for the free Natural Health ECourse.

3-Subscribe to (and read) the Holistic Happenings Ezine for additional tips, encouragement and some interaction with others on the journey to wellness.

4-If you appreciate a little structure, expert guidance and weekly advice, check out Dr. Carolyn Dean's Future Health Now! 48 week wellness program structured around her seven pillars of health. Dr. Dean is an MD, a naturopathic doctor, acupuncturist, herbalist, and author. You are invited to download module one for free. Just click on the banner below.