How often have you visited a health practitioner and thought "what was the point of that?" Time and again, a visit to a practitioner can leave you feeling overwhelmed, overloaded and wishing you asked not only questions that were more appropriate to your ailments, but more in general.
Effective treatment is more likely if careful planning is adhered to. The trick to a visit to a practitioner is to sort all your ailments out in your head. Writing them down also helps, especially when nerves get in the way of memory!
What is a natural health practitioner?
Natural health practitioners use their training in how the body works and what affects its function to provide insight into what could be causing the client's ailment, as well as advising them on how best to resolve their health issues. They specialise in a wide range of complementary therapies, including:
- Massage Therapy
- Acupuncture
- Herbal Medicines
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Art Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Naturopathy
- Homoeopathy
- Hypnotherapy
- Meditation
- Reiki
- Sound Therapy
- Ayurveda
- Time Line Therapy
- Theta Healing
What should you ask a natural health practitioner?
Consulting with health professionals who specialise in natural therapies, such as a naturopathic doctor, remedial therapist, hypnotherapist or existential therapist, is a great way to achieve optimal health. They employ holistic practices to support the body's innate ability to heal naturally after determining what has disrupted its usual balance. Many people find this type of treatment appealing not only for the gentle nature of these therapies, but also because of the many benefits they offer to physical, spiritual, emotional and mental health conditions.
However, not everyone who claims to be a naturopathic doctor or a holistic doctor is actually one. There may be individuals who took a course in natural medicine but did not finish it, or others may have completed a training program in remedial massage therapy but failed to render the required clinic hours. In order to determine whether a holistic practitioner has obtained the necessary qualifications, gained adequate experience and successfully passed the necessary exams, there are a few questions you need to ask before scheduling a consultation.
The following questions may be of assistance when choosing the right practitioner - be it a nutritionist, naturopath, dietitian, massage therapist, hypnotherapist or Time Line therapy practitioner. Be sure to ask the right questions where it is most appropriate.
1. What training do you have and is that relevant to my ailments?
You want to make sure that the holistic health practitioner has undergone extensive training and education in the field in which they claim expertise. Additionally, you can find out if they are registered with any of the governing bodies of their profession.
2. What type of therapy should I expect from you?
This is an opportunity to ask questions about what their current offerings are, whether they primarily deliver care in person or remotely via phone or email, and if they specialize in certain areas of health care.
3. Will there be any side effects from any of the treatments?
This is a great way to learn more about their practice, any limitations or contraindications. If they specialise in herbal medicines, for instance, they should tell you if these will have any negative interactions with conventional medicine, such as maintenance medications your doctor prescribed.
4. If there are any side effects, are they common?
Some forms of natural therapies can cause minimal side effects, just as traditional medicine is likely to produce adverse events like nausea, dizziness, and headaches. Massage therapists, for example, may warn you that your muscles might feel sore for a couple of days after treatment as your body adjusts to the correction. Natural health practitioners should be able to explain the side effects that may be experienced after treatment as well as how long they may last.
5. If I am having other treatments, will this therapy affect that?
It is important to know if a natural therapy will negatively impact a medical treatment that you may be receiving on a regular basis, as it is with drugs. By getting information from the practitioner, you will be able to know if their work would be most helpful in regards to your specific medical issues - whether that's pain management, sleep disorders, etc.
6. How much is your consultation?
By asking this question, you will be able to see how much you will spend on treatments, and whether or not you can sustain it.
7. Do you do follow ups and do those costs vary from the initial consultation?
Depending on the nature of your visit, you may need to make a number of appointments before seeing tangible results. It is important to know at the beginning how often you will need to book an appointment within a month, as well as their estimated costs, so that you are ready.
8. How long should the treatment be expected to go for?
- Depending on the condition, the length of treatment may vary from person to person.
- It is important to ascertain what the practitioner has in mind.
- It is important to find out if the treatment will be seen as long term or short term.
This list of enquiries will assist you in determining whether the practitioner and their treatment services are appropriate for you. Taking the time to talk to the potential practitioner is the best way to ensure a successful treatment plan.
Originally published on Aug 14, 2012
