How to Receive an Education in Natural Healing

Being healthy incorporates multiple aspects, which includes the physical, mental and emotional states of a person. The work conducted by natural healing practitioners is focused on this value by providing non-invasive forms of medical care to patients. Training programs are essential to not only learn how to receive an education in natural healing, but also enter careers.

There are a number of avenues students can take to receive the proper education needed to establish successful careers. Natural healing training develops the skills to use various therapies to heal the body. The focus is to promote the body's own defense mechanisms and allow them to heal ailments and diseases. The industry is known for focusing on the whole person by integrating the physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional factors of illness to properly diagnose patients and use the correct form of natural medicine to heal them.

To begin receiving an education, students need to first know what educational options are available. Natural healing colleges offer programs from the certificate to doctorate's degree level. Students can enroll in colleges and learn an overall understanding as well as choose a specific area of study. Undergraduate training at the certificate and associate's degree level provide students with basic skills. Certificate programs are a great start for students that want to begin careers in the field. Student's work through coursework related to biomechanics, relaxation techniques, and biofeedback practices. Students can continue training by entering associate degree programs or take advanced courses that focus on a particular area of interest such as massage therapy.

Bachelor degree programs establish the needed skills to obtain entry-level careers as well as continue into graduate training. This is an important distinction to make if students are pursuing careers that require graduate training. Areas of the field that require graduate study include:

Acupuncture
Chiropractic Care
Hypnotherapy

Students are able to gain the knowledge needed to continue their education if necessary. Training focuses on many areas such as herbology, nutritional counseling, yoga, acupressure, breath work, and more. Standard courses for programs incorporate the theories and clinical practices of various therapies used professionally. Programs are focused at this level to incorporate the physiological, technical, and psychological factors that need to be addressed to treat the whole person. Concentration areas can include training in hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, and minor surgery.

In depth knowledge is gained when students enroll in masters and doctorates degree programs. The function of the body is broken down to provide the knowledge needed to diagnose what type of healing treatment should be used. Masters degree programs focus on the theories behind natural healing medicine then have students explore how to diagnose and treat illness, anxiety, addictions, and diseases. Doctorates degrees programs develop overall advanced knowledge that can be used to enter careers as holistic health practitioners. Courses include massage therapy, ayurvedic medicine, cancer prevention, and iridology.

Students have many choices to choose from when pursuing careers in natural healing. To start the educational process students should choose accredited colleges that offer training. The Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine ( acaom.org acaom.org/ ) awards natural healing schools and colleges with full accreditation if they meet the criteria for offering quality training.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised at PETAP.org.

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Renata McGee is a staff writer for PETAP.org. Locate petap.org/categories/NSD/natural-healing-schools-colleges.cfm Natural Healing Schools as well as a number of petap.org/categories/OSD/online-natural-healing-schools-colleges.cfm Online Natural Healing Schools at PETAP.org, your Partners in Education and Tuition Assistance Programs.