“Check those words. Do not cure ill with ill
and make your pain still heavier than it is."
Sophocles
Recently, a friend told me about an appointment she’d had with a complementary therapy practitioner. She said that as soon as she entered the office she felt uncomfortable, even unwelcome. Curious, I asked if she could say what it was that caused the discomfort. She thought for a moment, and then said it was the feeling that she was just one more body on an assembly line of work. She did not connect with the practitioner (and vice-versa) and, as a result, the session was not optimal for her.
After our conversation, I thought of a few things to consider when choosing a new practitioner:
1). Does the practitioner have the necessary skills to work with your particular issues?
2). Does the practitioner’s style of work fit yours?
3). Does s/he honor your beliefs?
4). Does the practitioner give you tools to work with or does s/he try to foster a sense of dependency on their practice or modality?
5). Is the practitioner professional, yet caring and empathetic?
6). Is s/he someone with whom you can share your burdens?
7). After working with the practitioner, is s/he someone you would recommend to others?
Often it is helpful to talk with a practitioner by phone before experiencing their work and most practitioners are happy to do this. It is worth taking the time to vet different people and their modalities to discover who and what works for you. Certainly, qualities such as skill, integrity, confidentiality and flexibility should be part of your decision. But also consider your “gut” reaction when you talk with or meet a practitioner. If you don’t feel a connection, move on. You and your journey are worth finding those practitioners who are the right fit for you.
and make your pain still heavier than it is."
Sophocles
Recently, a friend told me about an appointment she’d had with a complementary therapy practitioner. She said that as soon as she entered the office she felt uncomfortable, even unwelcome. Curious, I asked if she could say what it was that caused the discomfort. She thought for a moment, and then said it was the feeling that she was just one more body on an assembly line of work. She did not connect with the practitioner (and vice-versa) and, as a result, the session was not optimal for her.
After our conversation, I thought of a few things to consider when choosing a new practitioner:
1). Does the practitioner have the necessary skills to work with your particular issues?
2). Does the practitioner’s style of work fit yours?
3). Does s/he honor your beliefs?
4). Does the practitioner give you tools to work with or does s/he try to foster a sense of dependency on their practice or modality?
5). Is the practitioner professional, yet caring and empathetic?
6). Is s/he someone with whom you can share your burdens?
7). After working with the practitioner, is s/he someone you would recommend to others?
Often it is helpful to talk with a practitioner by phone before experiencing their work and most practitioners are happy to do this. It is worth taking the time to vet different people and their modalities to discover who and what works for you. Certainly, qualities such as skill, integrity, confidentiality and flexibility should be part of your decision. But also consider your “gut” reaction when you talk with or meet a practitioner. If you don’t feel a connection, move on. You and your journey are worth finding those practitioners who are the right fit for you.
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