More of us than ever are exploring using holistic and complementary therapies to support our health and wellness.  Getting the right treatment at the right time in the right place with the right therapist for you is key to getting a positive response – but where on earth do you start when there’s so much choice out there?

In this post I’m going to explore what you can do to make sure that you choose the right treatment and the right therapist for you, which in turn means you’ll be getting what you need at the right time in the right place.

1. Ask for Recommendations

Ask your friends and family!  You may be surprised to find that they’ve used complementary therapies to support similar health and well-being issues to you and may even be able to recommend a local therapist.

2. Do Your Research

There’s plenty of information available on the internet about complementary and holistic therapies.  Most therapists will also have their own websites and social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram.  These can provide a wealth of information to support you in your decision making from practical advice about what therapies they practice and where they are located, to getting a feel for whether they are right for you.

3. Ask Questions

If you can’t find the information you need then email or call the therapist you’re considering – they’ll be more than happy to answer your questions.  Questions I’d always advise asking include:

• Have you had any experience working with people who have asked for support with health and well-being issues like mine?
• Are there any reasons / situations where this wouldn’t be suitable for me?
• How many treatments do you think I will need, and how far apart should they be?
• What’s the cost?

4. Ask a Trusted Source

Speak to staff at your local complementary health centre or, if you have one, go to a trusted high street name in your local town like Neal’s Yard Remedies who often have therapy rooms they rent out to highly qualified and professional therapists.  Staff at both these locations will be extremely knowledgeable and will be able to answer your questions and recommend the right therapy and therapist for you if you are still unsure.

5. Check for Membership of a Professional Organisation

To be a member of a professional organisation a therapist needs to have the right qualifications at the right level and proof of professional insurance – which they can’t get without the qualifications.  Most therapists will have these listed somewhere on their website.

Alternatively, go direct to a professional organisation like the Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT), and the Association of Reflexologists (AoR) and find a registered therapist near you through their ‘Find a Practitioner’ search function.

6. Ask the Advice of Your GP

If you are currently under the care of, or receiving treatment or support from a primary healthcare provider like a GP, midwife, or hospital consultant, you must ask their advice first.  You might be surprised by how many will be open to the benefits of complementary therapies and they may even be able to refer you to therapists they’ve worked with.

Find out more about how the NHS views the positive support that complementary therapies can offer. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/complementary-and-alternative-medicine/

7. Trust Your Gut

Ultimately, choosing the right therapy is often a gut feeling: if it feels right, it probably is.

Remember, when you’re exploring using complementary and holistic therapies to support your health and wellness:

1. Ask for recommendations
2. Do your research
3. Ask questions
4. Check for membership of a professional organisation
5. Speak to your GP
6. Trust your gut!

If you’re interested in seeing how holistic and complementary therapies could help support your health and wellness, or if you want to see if I’m the right therapist for you, then head on over to my main website pages where you’ll find:

• More information about Reflexology, Reiki and Bowen therapy
• Details of my qualifications and membership of the Federation of Holistic Therapists or the Association of Reflexologists
• Information about my treatment rooms in Neal’s Yard Remedies in Bury St Edmunds, Puressence complementary and holistic health centre in Sudbury, and Picken House Elmswell.

You can also find me on Facebook and Instagram at @sarahwoodhousetherapy, and finally I’m always happy to talk health and wellness so feel free to email me at sarah@sarahwoodhousetherapy.co.uk, or call me or message me on 07715213392.