What is naturopathy?
Naturopathy is a holistic healing method used by naturopaths that are rooted in the philosophy that the body can heal itself when given the right support. The purpose of this form of treatment is to restore the equilibrium in a client's body and help the body better defend itself against diseases. During consultations, naturopaths are equipped with assisting people dealing with a wide range of problems such as:
- Digestive problems
- Fertility problems
- Diabetes
- Hormonal imbalance
- Hypertension
- Chronic pain
- Depression
- Migraines
- Heart disease
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Weight issues
- Skin conditions
- Allergies
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches
Some of the recognised peak bodies for naturopaths based in the Gold Coast can join include:
- Australian Register of Naturopaths and Herbalists (ARONAH)
- Australian Naturopathic Practitioners Association (ANPA)
- Complementary Medicine Association (CMA)
- National Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA)
- Australian Natural Therapists Association (ANTA)
- Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS)
Should you study naturopathy?
Are you looking to begin a rewarding career in the complementary health industry where you get to improve the health and wellbeing of clients? If this matches your professional aspirations, then pursuing a career in naturopathy is the perfect career path for you. For you to succeed as a naturopath, you will need to possess the following attributes:
- A passion and interest in natural therapies with a desire to learn about the vast range of natural medicines and traditional techniques.
- Professional and empathetic attitude when dealing with clients so they feel comfortable with addressing any concerns they may have.
- Strong listening skills especially when clients are explaining to you their problems and goals from the session.
- Strong problem-solving skills in order to devise a holistic treatment plan that best accommodates the client's needs.
- Strong communication skills especially when explaining the proposed tailored treatment plan to clients and its benefits.
If you see an alignment of your career goals and qualities with what was described above, continue reading to learn more about your naturopath course and career options in the Gold Coast.
What are the course and study options for naturopathy in the Gold Coast?
If you want to be a certified naturopath in the Gold Coast, you must graduate from an accredited naturopathy school with either an Advanced Diploma of Applied Science (Naturopathy) or a Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Naturopathy. It is recommended that you choose to pursue an undergraduate degree over a diploma qualification. Even though it is a longer time commitment, it will be beneficial in the long term for your employment opportunities and further education.
In the Gold Coast, there are many different course providers to choose from that provide naturopathy qualifications and are formally recognised qualifications by the Australian Register of Naturopaths and Herbalists (ARONAH). You also have the option to decide if you want to take the course either on-campus or online depending on your schedule.
Throughout your education, you will learn about a wide range of subjects such as health sciences, natural medicines, nutrition, psychology and how they all contribute to the field of naturopathy. Furthermore, these courses include a practical component where you get to have work experience working under the supervision of a professionally trained naturopath.
This page provides a comprehensive list of naturopathy courses in Gold Coast. Once you shortlist your preferred courses, you can get in touch with the course providers directly to learn more about their delivery methods, syllabus and tuition fees.
What happens after you complete your naturopathy course in the Gold Coast?
New naturopath graduates are encouraged to register with the Australian Register of Naturopaths and Herbalists (ARONAH) in order to start working as a naturopath in the Gold Coast region. You must fulfil the yearly training requirements of the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) program. Naturopaths have a wide range of work environments that they can choose from after they get their naturopathy qualification:
Once you start to feel more confident in your skills and knowledge as a naturopath, you should consider starting your own private practice. Many naturopaths decide to pursue this rewarding career path as it gives them the autonomy to control their work hours around their desired lifestyle as well as having the ability to control the management of their business. In the early stages of starting your own professional practice, Natural Therapy Pages can provide you with valuable assistance to help you grow your client base through driving traffic to your business through giving you the opportunity to list your in-person naturopathy services or online consultations through the relevant practitioner page.
Some naturopaths decide that they want to pursue further education after a couple of years working in the naturopathy industry as a means of expanding their knowledge in naturopathy. Some of the options available for naturopaths include Masters in Health Science or a Doctorate of Naturopathy. By enrolling in these courses, you will be able to enhance your job prospects and even pursue a research career in naturopathy.
