Tips for Choosing an Alternative Health Practitioner

Chicago, IL – Working with integrative health doctors and holistic healers often involves relationships that are more personal in nature, thus your process for selecting may be different than when choosing a traditional medical doctor. Because of this you may find it more important to understand their philosophy, what to expect from a session, and who they are as a person. Getting a more comprehensive picture of a possible practitioner can help you feel confident about your choice. At ChicagoHealers.com we screen integrative medicine and healing practitioners. We recommend the following guidelines to help you in your selection process:

• Do feel listened to? We believe the client possesses the wisdom about his or her body and that the focus of the diagnosis come from the patient’s experience and not just from the practitioner who may be meeting them for the first time that day. You are the authority on your body.

• Do you get a sense of an open mind from the practitioner? We believe that flexibility in their thinking and a holistic perspective are important for accuracy and safety of diagnosis. This means that their healing methods are not the only way, that they are interested when appropriate in recommending other methods and practitioners, and that they work from a perspective that the body, mind, and spirit do truly work together as a whole system.

• When considering a practitioner listen to your body and heed your intuitions. If you have any negative sensations that result in hesitation or doubt about this practitioner or their methods then follow your intuition to either inquire thoroughly or find another practitioner or modality. Above all trust yourself.

• Ask for examples of real life tangible results from their treatment. What are some of the benefits people see? What might you expect from a session? What are their fees and the projected time involved with their process?

• We believe practitioners who love what they do, where their work is more of a calling than a job offer stronger and more satisfying results for their clients. In addition to probably feeling this distinction you can ask questions about why they do what they do or how being a healers plays into their own journey to wellness.