Careers in Complementary Medicine
The following information provides a background to the principles, scope and delivery of Complementary Medicine which is offered through many different disciplines and techniques.
The career opportunities within Complementary Medicine and the potential for employment for qualified practitioners have never been more positive. However, it is important to appreciate that a qualification to practise relies on registration and professional indemnity insurance and not solely on the completion of a course.
Standards of education and training are being developed in Great Britain. Traditional university and college courses are increasing in number together with the more recent introduction of National Occupational Standards
Getting Started
If you have just completed GCSE's or A levels at school, it might be wiser for you to consider a course in the social care or health service field as a first step. This will give you a wide understanding of the existing services and the practical experience of working with people having a variety of difficulties and needs.
Many successful practitioners have qualified after a career change or illness. Treatment from a Complementary Medicine practitioner often encourages the patient to extend their understanding of both health and well-being. The process of healing and the influence of the spiritual energy take on a new meaning after suffering and this can often stimulate a time of change for the patient.
What is "Complementary Medicine"?
Complementary Medicine (CM) includes many different techniques of treating a patient. These are based on systems practised thousands of years ago and can in fact be considered to be of the original forms of medicine. They all have one aspect in common which is that they treat the patient as a whole person rather than treating a specific symptom or symptoms. It does this by treating the life force of the patient at their physical, mental and emotional levels.
Some people used to refer to Complementary Medicine as "Fringe" or "Alternative" because they consider it to be alternative to the "Allopathic Medicine" that is practised by the General Medical Practitioners (G.P's). But Complementary Medicine complements the needs of the patient at physical, mental, emotional, vital force and spiritual energy levels of consciousness. Hence "Complementary Medicine" is the most appropriate title.
Some pointers to help you narrow down your choice:
- Decide first what type of Complementary Medicine you feel will be right for you. Decide whether you prefer a "hands on" physical approach such as massage, reflexology or osteopathy or you prefer to work with the mental levels of consciousness such as counselling, psychotherapy and hypnotherapy.
- Check the local Press and the telephone directory for advertisements and contacts with practitioners in your area. This will give you an idea of the services currently available.
- Consider taking short courses in first aid and massage. This will help you to understand how to touch other people and consider their reactions to you and vice versa.
- Read as widely as you can. Use the local Library or Health Food Store which should have a selection of books on many aspects of Complementary Medicine and there are several Encyclopaedias which cover the best known and most popular disciplines.
- When you have made some preliminary checks and are beginning to have an inclination towards a particular discipline, contact the ICM.
Courses in Complementary Medicine
The ICM Course Directory lists courses that are either affiliated to, or accredited by, us. Practitioners who have completed these courses are eligible to apply for British Register of Complementary Practitioners (BRCP) Membership.
The BRCP is a multi-disciplinary Register of practitioners who have proved their competence to practise by their examination qualification or through an assessment arranged by the ICM. Also they have agreed to abide by the BRCP Code of Ethics and Practice and have full practitioner insurance.
Prospective students are advised to check the entry qualifications required for each course.
Course Contents
These will vary according to the discipline or technique but in a generally well balanced course, you should expect to see the following areas included.
- PHILOSOPHY and UNDERSTANDING
- CLINICAL SKILLS
- ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS
These are subdivided into :-
- Full course of training in the philosophy of the discipline or technique.
- Delivery of treatment (at three levels)
- Diagnostic Assessment (at three levels)
- Recognition of contraindications (at three levels)
- Supervised practise
- Counselling skills
- Knowledge of research methodology
- Principles of supervision.
- First Aid
- Practice Management - Complementary Medicine and the Law
- Advice to patient. Referral where appropriate.
- Health Sciences
The extent of the knowledge and the standard required will vary with the discipline being studied.
Personal Qualities
The student will be expected to develop qualities which allow ease of communication, sense of compassion, humour and the ability to remain calm under pressure. The ability and humility to work either as part of a team or alone should be added to a general sense of wonder and a desire to continue the learning process throughout life.
Career Prospects
The interest in Complementary Medicine is growing year by year reflected by the media in articles about successful treatments. This has resulted in an increase in research projects and investigations into these claims.
Qualifications and publicity can be helpful in starting a practice, however the best possible advertisement is the satisfied client talking to others about their treatment. This usually follows when a practitioner has developed a warm sympathetic rapport with their client. In this way the deeper causes of the client's problems reach the surface during the treatment and can be dispersed through this healing approach.
Most practitioners are self-employed, although a number of multi-disciplined clinics have been established. These provide reception facilities allowing practitioners to work from a number of different locations. Try looking through your local papers or yellow pages for such clinics.
Complementary Medicine is an expanding market but you should be prepared to travel to find the best place to begin your work. Try to see your skill as complementing other practitioners rather than being in competition and be cautious if there is already more than one other in the area offering the same treatment as yourself.