Becoming a Holistic Health Practitioner

The philosophy behind the practice of holistic health is to enhance the natural healing ability of the body by boosting the immune system. Unlike a conventional medicine doctor who emphasizes on safe methods of diagnosis and treatment of a patient, a holistic health practitioner takes care of the overall health of the person, which includes the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, bio-energetic, and socio-cultural aspects. Over here, treatment is targeted on the mind, body, and spirit connection.

Alternative medicine forms a base for practicing holistic health, which has been used for thousands of years. The major treatment approaches of holistic health include reiki, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), herbology, homeopathy, chiropractics, nutritional counseling, yoga, acupressure, massage therapy, reflexology, and breathing exercises. According to the American Holistic Health Association, living a holistic lifestyle improves the health and wellness of a person.

How to Become a Holistic Health Practitioner?

Before enrolling for a holistic health course, do research on the duties and responsibilities of a holistic health practitioner. There are several programs related to holistic medicine and holistic health. There are short duration programs that involve a few months training, while there are also degree courses that require three to four years of study. The former are useful, in case you are already an acupuncturist or a massage therapist.

If you want to become a holistic health practitioner, you need to undertake a degree course in holistic therapy. As expected, obtaining an undergraduate degree in the field of science (preferably in the subjects nutrition, anatomy, physiology, chemistry) is a prerequisite for getting admission in the degree course. So, prepare yourself accordingly to enroll in a good holistic therapy school.

While deciding to take up a holistic health program, make sure you do sufficient research regarding the courses offered by the holistic health institutes. Since, holistic therapy is a diverse field with many areas of specialization (massage therapy, yoga, acupressure, homeopathy, etc.), some institutes may offer a limited choice. It is advisable to enroll in the institute that offers the field that you want to major in, so that you enjoy the profession down the line.

Once you complete your training course in holistic health, you can opt for a certification program in your specialization. Certificates are an added advantage to prove your excellence in a specific field. Many students opt for certifications, as it increases business as well as job opportunities. In case, your institute does not provide certifications, you can enroll in other holistic health schools and universities. As soon as you obtain your certification, you can choose to practice, either on your own or in hospitals and clinics.

A better option is to work for one or two years and gain experience before starting your own business. Though, there are advantages of owning a business in holistic health, you need to have the confidence to practice on your own and keep flexible timings. It is estimated that a licensed holistic health practitioner with a doctoral degree can earn an average income of about USD 60,000 to USD 100,000 per year, based on the specialization. While a therapist engaged in energy healing gets a lower income, an acupuncturist's salary is more than satisfactory.

After completing the training course in holistic health, it is advisable to attempt the licensing exam. This way, you can become a licensed holistic health practitioner in your specialization. After being qualified as a holistic health practitioner, you can also opt for counseling and teaching holistic health techniques. For becoming a counselor, you need to have a master's degree in holistic health counseling and also, clear the relevant licensing exam.

Nowadays, more and more people prefer natural healing over the conventional treatment. This may be because of the advantage that there are no side effects of holistic healing, provided that one consults a licensed practitioner. Considering all these factors, the demand for qualified holistic health practitioners is very high, and job opportunities of the same field increase significantly.