How to Choose a Therapist

The following checklist may be of use to you if you are deciding which therapist to use.

Is the therapist qualified? Some people have lots of letters after their name, others only a few or none. More is not necessarily better -it's possible to do a weekend course and get a string of letters after your name. You have to dig deep here. Ask them what the letters mean and if you feel unsure, contact the awarding body and ask them what the training involved. The internet is very useful here - you can google qualifications and awarding institutions and easily find out more about them.

Is the therapist trained in diagnosis? If so, what methods of diagnosis do they use? A medical herbalist is trained in diagnostic and clinical techniques. They have an understanding of anatomy, physiology, pathology, differential diagnosis and clinical diagnosis. Diagnosis is made, therefore, on the basis of taking a full medical history and after doing any appropriate physical examinations. Nutritional therapists are not trained in diagnosis but may use laboratory tests to determine nutritional status or to investigate areas of metabolism. If they do this, they should be appropriately trained in applying and interpreting laboratory tests. Usually they will be trained in recognising certain "red flags" that may necessitate a referral to a doctor.

Has the therapist had clinical training? This means dealing with actual real people during training, rather than, say, learning it all from paper-based case study. Clinical training ought to take place in a suitable learning environment and under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. This type of training is expensive for the training institution to run but is essential for the development of the student and the safety of the clients.

Does the therapist keep up to date? The professional body to which the therapist belongs will usually have a requirement for ongoing training (continuing professional development, CPD). If the therapist is not required to do CPD they could get out of date very quickly.

Does the therapist belong to a professional body? The professional body usually insists on certain qualifications as a condition of entry and will want to see that the member is keeping up to date with CPD.They will expect their members to be insured (see below). They will also expect their members to follow a code of ethics and there is usually a disciplinary procedure in place in case a complaint is made about a practitioner.

Is the therapist insured? The need for insurance will vary slightly according to the needs of the therapy, but a practitioner might typically be covered by professional liability, product liability and public liability insurance.

Belonging to a professional body and having insurance protect both you and the therapist, so you should ask serious questions about practitioners who work without professional body membership or insurance.

Do you feel comfortable with the therapist? You don't have to like the therapist - they are trying to make you well, not enter a popularity contest. And they are not supposed to be your mum or your security blanket. Nevertheless, actively disliking them may not make for a therapeutic relationship. And if the practitioner makes you feel uneasy, a feeling you can't pin down but you feel uncomfortable, listen to your instincts and find someone else. This is one area of life where you need to trust the person you dealing with, so if 'trust' isn't the word that comes to mind when you think of that practitioner, avoid them.

Are you happy with the price you are being charged? Be realistic here - Harley Street is more expensive than Carlisle because geography to an extent determines the price that the practitioner must charge to cover overheads.

If you go to the cheapest practitioner in your area is this a wise move? Do you really want to put your health in the hands of the lowest bidder? If you go to the most expensive, are you getting value for money?

Perhaps the skill, knowledge and experience that the therapist possesses is worth the price you pay. The expensive practitioner should keep up to date and know the latest information - skill and experience will enable the practitioner to evaluate this information in the light of your health history. Industry knowledge will enable the therapist to guide you to the best products which will be most effective for you. If you were to spend days on the internet you might be able to find some apparently similar products but do you have the knowledge to use them appropriately? If you are getting a personal wellness plan and a resolution of your problems from a person who is qualified, skilled and experienced and who offers you information that you could spend days acquiring, your money may be well spent. On the other hand, sometimes practitioners are expensive because you are paying for marketing fluff and a nice address. Only you can decide how much this is worth to you.

This information is general in nature - but whatever type of practitioner you want to see these guidelines should help you make a move in the right direction.

Liz Copeland is a Medical Herbalist and a Nutritional Therapist.
To find out more about Liz Copeland look here.

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