Have you considered gathering a personal healthcare team? This is the perfect way to integrate the best of all that health care has to offer today. You probably already have the start of your team with your family doctor and your dentist. Your next step is to look at the current status of your health and others in your family. Consider if you need support to diagnose and treat health problems OR if everyone is fairly healthy, but you are ready to make changes toward achieving a higher level of wellness and prevent future illnesses from getting started. With this awareness in mind, review the following list showing you the general categories of healthcare professionals to research, then add to your healthcare team.
Only a physician-level trained and licensed healthcare professional can DIAGNOSE AND TREAT. It is recommended to have at least one from this category on your healthcare team.
Diagnose and treat patients with serious diseases and conditions
Medical Doctor
Doctor of Osteopathy
Doctor of Chiropractic<
Naturopathic Physician
Acupuncturist
Doctor of Oriental Medicine
Specialty physician groups, such as holistic, integrative, complementary and alternative medicine, pain management, etc.
Treat patients under direction or prescription of others
Colon Hydrotherapist
Midwife
Nurse
Psychologist
Physical Therapist
Physician Assistant
There are healthcare professionals who are NOT authorized to diagnose and treat their diseases, but CAN assess your current status through the lens of their scope of practice, then offer you therapies to enhance your level of wellness and improve prevention options. Some educate their clients how to enhance their body’s natural healing capabilities.
Bodywork/ touch therapies that include physical movement and manipulation
Alexander Technique Practitioner
Aston-Patterning Practitioner
Feldenkrais Practitioner
Fitness Trainer
Massage Therapist
Myofascial Trigger Point Practitioner
Polarity Practitioner
Structural Integration Practitioner
Rolfing
Hellerwork
Trager Practitioner
Yoga Instructor
Energy therapies that involve working with subtle energies of the client
Acupressure Practitioner
Applied Kinesiology Practitioner
Aromatherapy Practitioner
Auyrvedic Medicine Practitioner
Biofeedback Practitioner
Bio-Magnetics Practitioner
Flower Essences Practitioner<
Healing Touch Practitioner
Homeopathy Practitioner
Oriental Medicine Practitioner
Qigong Practitioner
Reflexology Practitioner
Reiki Practitioner
Therapeutic Touch Practitioner
Diet/ nutrition/ supplementation therapies that involve changing what the client consumes via food and supplementation
Certified Nutrition Specialist
Dietitian
Herbalist
Nutritionist
Mental/ emotional therapies that work with the mental and emotional aspects of the client
Guided Imagery Practitioner
Hypnotherapist
Educational/ coaching-type support (without any specific therapies involved) that guide clients to look at lifestyle choices impacting the quality of their health and well-being. May also educate about wellness-enhancing therapies to consider.
Health Consultant
Holistic Health Practitioner
Lifestyle Coach
Naturopath
The categories above are general groupings to give you a broad overview of the types of care available. It is important to be aware that there can be multiple levels of training and licensing or certification within an individual modality type mentioned in a category. Some may be at a very elementary level, while others have graduate degrees and have met the stringent requirements for a specific professional certification.
Many healthcare professionals become trained in multiple modalities and qualify to be included in more then one category above. An in-depth conversation with a physician or practitioner you are seeing (or considering adding to your healthcare team) will uncover what trainings, authorizations for including in a private practice, and the extent of experience that individual has for each modality.
Always keep in mind that it is your responsibility to verify that a physician’s or practitioner’s training, licensing/certification, experience and level of expertise are appropriate for your specific needs.
This is an evolving “article” to assist people in understanding the vast array of healing options open to them. If you have feedback for how to make this presentation more effective or accurate, please email your comments to mail@ahha.org. Thank you.