Considering a career in alternative medicine?
Careers in natural health and wellness are growing—creating opportunities in natural health, nutrition and wellness counseling.
What’s more – it doesn’t require a college degree.
Be sure to check out the video below and read more to find out how Stratford Career Institute can help prepare you for a career as a natural health consultant.
The Demand for Alternative Medicine is Growing
A 2008 study by the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) found that consumer demand for alternative health care therapies is increasing steadily.
The study’s findings came from a 2007 annual in-person survey of Americans regarding their health and illness-related experiences. It gathered information on 23,393 adults aged 18 years or older and 9,417 children aged 17 years and under. The data shows that an increasing number of people use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
Alternative medicine is increasingly popular in society today. Alternative medicine, which is generally thought of as ‘medicinal’ methods outside conventional medical training, has grown in popularity in recent years, in part due to skepticism of conventional medical methods and treatments, and about the modern medical industry in general.
Additionally, some research has shown benefits to using CAM as part of an integrative treatment with conventional medicine. A 2017 study in the Journal of Cancer Research and Oncology found that an integrative medicine program led to greater overall health and quality of life in cancer patients than a conventional treatment program alone.
CAM Therapies Used the Most
Nonvitamin, nonmineral natural products are probably the most commonly used CAM therapy among adults. Use has also increased across the board for alternative health and wellness therapies including deep breathing exercises, meditation, massage therapy, and yoga.
What Does a Natural Health Consultant Do?
Natural health consultants are professionals who, rather than having modern medical training, have extensive knowledge about natural remedies—such as vitamins, herbs, and minerals—and even how nutrition can impact health.
Health and wellness consultants are trained to assess and discuss health issues or symptoms with clients and recommend holistic treatments. They must have the ability to empathize with their clients and listen carefully to their health care concerns. Being an effective natural health consultant requires strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively help your clients.
1. Conducting Initial Health Assessments
Natural health consultants start their work by conducting thorough assessments of their clients’ health and wellness. This involves gathering information about their medical history, current health concerns, lifestyle habits, diet, and any ongoing treatments or medications. By learning about the client’s health habits, holistic health consultants can tailor their recommendations to the individual.
2. Providing Personalized Recommendations
After gathering clients’ health habits during the assessment, one of the major responsibilities of a natural health consultant is to develop personalized recommendations. These often include suggestions for dietary changes, supplementation with vitamins and minerals, herbal remedies, lifestyle modifications, and holistic therapies such as acupuncture or massage. This is where natural health consultants need most of their knowledge, especially when they’re working with a client’s existing treatments. It requires them to take into account factors such as the client’s preferences, budget, and accessibility to resources.
3. Educating Clients on Best Wellness Practices
A significant part of a natural health consultant’s role is to educate clients about the principles of holistic health. This includes explaining the potential benefits of various homeopathic remedies, how they work in the body, possible side effects or interactions, and strategies for incorporating them into daily life. Consultants may also provide information on topics such as stress management, exercise, sleep hygiene, and nutrition.
4. Monitoring Health Progress
After implementing recommended treatments and lifestyle changes, natural health consultants monitor their clients’ progress. They usually track symptoms, changes in overall health status, and any challenges or setbacks encountered along the way. Consultants may need to adjust treatment plans as needed based on feedback from clients and their overall health.
5. Offering Support and Motivation for Wellness Goals
Supporting clients through their journey to better health is another crucial aspect of a natural health consultant’s role. Consultants need to offer encouragement, motivation, and emotional support to help clients stay committed to their wellness goals. This may involve periodic check-ins and a willingness to offer strategies for overcoming setbacks. Building a trusting and supportive relationship with clients is essential to this job.
6. Staying Informed and Continuing Education
Consultants should engage in ongoing education and professional development to stay up-to-date with the latest studies regarding holistic health. This may involve attending conferences, workshops, and seminars or pursuing additional certifications or specialized training in specific areas of interest. By staying informed about emerging research and best practices, consultants can provide effective guidance to clients.
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7. Collaborating with Other Health Care Providers
Natural health consultants don’t always work in a vacuum. Sometimes, they may end up collaborating with other health professionals to develop a whole-body approach to a client’s health. Health and wellness consultants may also refer individuals to licensed practitioners or other health care providers to complement their treatment. This multidisciplinary approach, also known as integrative medicine, is an important part of being a natural health consultant.
8. Treating Common Ailments with Natural Therapy
Natural health consultants strive to suggest preventative and therapeutic remedies that help body systems work more efficiently, without invasive procedures or medications.
Your clients may be seeking natural ways to control pain, quit smoking, overcome drug addictions, sleep or manage weight. You would focus on promoting wellness through holistic health lifestyles and individualized treatment plans.
Working as a natural health consultant, you can offer a number of ways to improve the health of your client. You may help them modify their lifestyle, help them develop a holistic diet, and even teach them about how to use supplements and minerals to impact their health in a positive way.
9. Ensuring Adherence to Ethical Standards of Care
Ethical conduct is essential in any practice relating to health, but especially so in natural health consulting. Consultants need to adhere to professional standards by respecting client confidentiality, autonomy, and informed consent. They also need to provide accurate and evidence-based information, avoid making unsubstantiated claims or promises, and prioritize the well-being of their clients above all else. All these steps go a long way toward ensuring trust and credibility within the field of holistic health and help consultants maintain integrity and transparency in client interactions.
10. Advocating for a Holistic Approach to Health Care
Natural health consultants often find themselves promoting the integration of conventional and CAM methods of care. Many spend their free time educating the public and health care community about the benefits of natural approaches to health—emphasizing prevention, individualized care, and addressing the root causes of illness. As a natural health consultant, you may find yourself doing community outreach, writing articles, or participating in advocacy efforts to promote a more holistic approach to health care.
Career Paths for Natural Health Consultants
Natural health consultants can work in a variety of environments, including:
- Health Food Stores,
- Whole Food Markets,
- Vitamin Retailers,
- Health Clinics,
- Wellness Centers,
- Health Clubs,
- Weight Loss Centers, or
- Within their own business.
Keep in mind that due to the nature of consultancy work, many natural health consultants work as independent contractors or have their own businesses. That being said, there are opportunities to work with already established businesses if you know where to look. Ultimately, the businesses listed above are likely your best bet.
Excited to Explore a Career as a Natural Health Consultant?
Whether you want to pursue a career in alternative medicine or just want to explore natural approaches to healing, you can help yourself and others live a healthier lifestyle as a natural health consultant.
Stratford Career Institute’s natural health consultant course offers extensive instruction on alternative therapies, healing techniques, homeopathy, holistic health promotion, and health counseling.
Enroll in Stratford’s Natural Health Consultant Online Class
Upon completion of this well-rounded course, students should have a valid understanding of how to do the following and more:
- Identify appropriate alternative therapies and herbal remedies for health problems and conditions.
- Counsel clients on health and wellness issues.
- Incorporate natural medicine, herbal remedies, and health foods into a personal health and wellness plan.
Are you ready to take charge of your career and explore the exciting field of holistic health?
Don’t delay! You can enroll in Stratford’s natural health consultant course today!
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