Holistic Health Careers: 3 Steps to Launch

Holistic health is a form of healing that focuses on the whole person – the body, mind, and spirit. It includes treatments that help people gain proper life balance, including acupuncture and massage therapy.

Because it is such an effective and increasingly popular field of healthcare, many people are pursuing holistic health careers. If you’re interested in this approach, which focuses on treating a person’s whole condition and not just alleviating the symptoms, following these three steps will get you started.

Evaluate your personality. Although holistic health appeals to a wide variety of people, people who pursue holistic health careers are typically those who have seen the power of natural medicine for themselves or for a loved one.

In addition, holistic medicine students also have many of these traits:

• They are very open minded. They are genuinely interested in exploring alternatives to traditional medicine.
• At the same time, they often are inclined to trust tried-and-true approaches to wellness. They may swear by “Grandma’s” old remedies, or non-pharmacological treatments they have pursued on their own.
• They like science and are interested in how our bodies work.
• They enjoy helping others and find fulfillment caring for others and making them feel better.

Enroll in a school and get ready to learn. If you feel becoming a holistic medicine practitioner is a “natural” fit for your personality, the next step is to explore schools and apply. Start by researching schools on the Internet and getting course catalogs for the schools you’re interested in. (For AMC, you can request a course catalog online.)

Consider the types of programs the school features and determine which one appeals to you. Also plan a visit to the school to get a feel for their environment and approach. Meet with an admissions counselor about dates, fees, and expectations. Then get ready to enroll and start learning!

Get licensed. After you complete the school requirements, take the proper state licensing examinations for the state you wish to practice in. Quality holistic medicine schools will have counselors ready to assist you in going through the necessary procedures. They will also help with career services and job placement so you can begin practicing as soon as possible.

From there, pursue your new career and stick with it. Experts in holistic healing are those who have the education, extensive hands-on experience, and a passion for always helping and healing others.

Careers in holistic health are rewarding and in demand. For more tips on getting started in this exciting field, contact AMC.