Holistic Health Practitioner Jobs – Careers Explained

Holistic Health Practitioner Jobs – Careers Explained

Although holistic health practitioner professions have existed for thousands of years, these alternative medicine professionals have experienced a career boom in recent years. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, approximately 38 percent of all American adults currently use some type of complementary or alternative medicine. Holistic health practitioners are now being recognized as viable forms of patient care as people continue to seek alternatives to traditional healthcare and pharmaceutical medicine.

The belief behind holistic health practitioner jobs is that there should be a safer and more natural way to diagnose and treat various illnesses and that the full emotional, mental, physical and spiritual aspects of a person's health must be addressed. This way of thinking has become increasingly popular in recent decades. There are jobs for holistic health practitioners in acupressure, herbalism, nutritional counseling, reflexology, traditional Chinese medicine, yoga, and many other fields. Some practitioners focus more on healing the body, while others act more as counselors or teachers, guiding individuals toward a healthy lifestyle from within.

To be a holistic health practitioner, one must have a passion for alternative or complementary medicine. These aren't just jobs; They are part of an entire lifestyle focused on greater health and well-being. There are schools that focus on holistic health that can prepare you for jobs as an acupuncturist, biofeedback therapist, energy healer, meditation leader, massage therapist, kinesiologist, yoga teacher, and many others. You can work in a spa, a professional office, a private office, from home, or go to clients' homes. There are many options in this promising area.

Now is a good time to get into one of these careers, as there has been a significant increase in positions for alternative medicine and holistic health practitioners since 2002. There are also many signs that growth will continue through 2016 and will likely continue thereafter as well. If you have a passion for holistic living and believe that holistic health encompasses the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual realms, this is an ideal career for you.

Institutions offering quality holistic health programs include the American Institute of Holistic Theology, Clayton College of Natural Health, New York College of Health Professionals, and Spa Tech Institute.