What Does a Holistic Practitioner Do?

Holistic practitioners use the body's natural healing abilities to treat patients. These professionals work in nursing, medicine, or related areas, such as massage therapy. Read on to learn more about the treatments and patient care used in this field.

Career Overview

A holistic practitioner focuses on the mind-body connection of patients, determining the root of physical symptoms rather than treating the symptoms alone, and by utilizing methodologies from around the world and throughout history in order to provide relief and healing to his or her patients. Typically, holistic practitioners use alternative methods of healing in lieu of pharmaceuticals and/or surgical techniques commonly associated with traditional Western medicine. Although holistic practitioners may hold a number of different titles, three of the more common types of health providers to use holistic techniques include nurses, doctors, and massage therapists.

Important Facts About Holistic Practitioners

Average Salary (May 2021)	$82,750 (for all registered nurses) $231,500 (for all physicians and surgeons) $49,260 (for all massage therapists)
Job Outlook (2021-2031)	6% growth (for all registered nurses) 3% growth (for all physicians and surgeons) 20% growth (for all massage therapists)
Key Skills	Attention to detail, physical endurance, good judgment and decision making, excellent communication, empathy
Work Environment	Nurses and physicians typically work full-time at all hours; massage therapists typically only work by appointment

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Nurse

As a holistic nurse, you'll use various types of homeopathic and holistic methods as you care for patients. This can include aromatherapy or acupuncture to treat patients. In this position you will primarily help treat the mind, body, and spirit.

To pursue a holistic nurse career, you need to become a registered nurse (RN), which allows you to legally work as a nurse in the U.S. In most states, you need to complete a nursing program and pass a national licensing exam to become an RN. To work as a holistic nurse practitioner, you generally need a master's degree.

Physician

If you want to provide holistic medical care, you can become a doctor, which requires a license to practice medicine. Licensing requires completion of formal training, which usually consists of three to four years of college at the undergraduate level, four years of medical school, and three to eight years of internships and residencies. After completing your formal training, you're required to pass the United States Medical Licensing Exam.

As a holistic doctor, you'll offer patients whole body care. Instead of focusing on treating a patient's symptoms, you may try to discover the main problem so you can provide treatment and eliminate it completely. In the course of whole body treatment, you may also treat the patient's mind and spirit. Homeopathic remedies and treatments are typically used in this field instead of modern medicine.

Massage Therapist

Outside of the medical field, you may work as a holistic practitioner offering massage therapy. As a massage therapist, you can use various forms of massage, such as deep-tissue, acupressure, and reflexology. You may treat clients suffering from pain or those who want to relax and get rid of stress. You may use other holistic practices, such as aromatherapy, in conjunction with massage to treat clients.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 45 states regulated massage therapy in 2016 (www.bls.gov). Typically, regulations mandate that you must complete a formal training program and pass an exam. Even in states with no state regulations, some localities may have regulations for massage therapists.