About Complementary Therapy

Complementary therapy is a branch of medicine that provides therapy alongside traditional allopathic medicine and treatment. It is also known as alternative therapy. It is also provided to people suffering from emotional distress, psychological issues and pain. The demand for complementary therapy is on a sharp rise as public and private organisations are on the lookout for complementary therapists to provide their employees with better health care. 

　　There are a number of different complementary therapies provided including aromatherapy, tai chi, music therapy, acupuncture and massage. A complementary therapist prescribes the appropriate therapy based on a client’s symptoms and progress over time. 

　　Complementary therapists find employment in hospitals, healthcare facilities, psychological institutions and private clinics. Their job includes building a strong relationship with the client, providing therapy and then evaluating a client’s progress. 

　　

Is Complementary Therapy right for me?

If you have a friendly and comforting nature as well as an organised personality, then complementary therapy is a good fit for you. Complementary therapy requires being able to reach out to clients in such a way that they feel heard and at ease.  

　　A good complementary therapist will be empathetic, hygienic, trustworthy, comforting and confident. The therapist should also have the emotional intelligence to assess the right amount of therapy needed for a particular client. If this sounds interesting to you and you think you possess the aforementioned qualities, then you should consider pursuing Complementary Therapy.  

　　

Complementary Therapy study options and costs

　　There are multiple options to study Complementary Therapy. As different therapies have different training the qualification will be in accordance with each therapy style. You could earn different diplomas in different types of therapies and their cost varies depending on the duration and type of training.

　　The basic educational requirement depends on the type of complementary therapist you intend to become. For example, if you plan to become a chiropractor you ought to have a professional or doctoral degree which will consist of four to five years of postsecondary education and clinical work under supervision. On the other hand, massage therapists can complete their training in less than a year time whereas acupuncturists may be required to earn a master's degree. Other alternative therapists must also study the principles, theory and practice of their specialisation therapy. Furthermore, therapists must take the state licensing test which may vary from state to state in terms of requirements to practice.  

　　Although you may find some universities offering a comprehensive Complementary Therapy bachelor’s programme. A bachelor’s programme will tend to be more academic and research-based in nature. It can cost on average $22,696 per year.

　　

Future outlook

Complementary therapy is an ever-growing field as it is found to have a calming and soothing effect on clients dealing with emotional and psychological distresses. As complementary therapy aids the process of treatment by conventional methods it is perennially in demand. Especially post-pandemic as depression rates soared there was a massive demand for complementary therapists. As people are gaining awareness about the wonders of complementary therapy its place in the job market will only grow. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, chiropractors, acupuncturists and massage therapists job market is expected to grow by 4%, 12% and 21% respectively.

　　

Career pathways for Complementary Therapy graduates

　　

Chiropractor

　　As a chiropractor, you will be responsible to implement physical manipulation, massage and rehabilitative exercise to treat patients suffering from various problems, mainly associated with the spinal cord. Some of the problems that you might treat are arthritic pain, back, shoulder and neck pain, joint stiffness and muscular aches. As a chiropractor, you will be required to take detailed medical histories of your patients and conduct physical examinations. You will use this information to devise a management plan in consultation with your client.

　　

Acupuncturist

 

　　Acupuncture is one of the most famous subfields of complementary therapy. Acupuncturists regard pain to be a symptom that the body is out of balance and in order to undo this, they insert fine needles into acupuncture points. This helps stimulate the body’s natural healing process. An acupuncturist deals with a variety of emotional and physical disorders including musculoskeletal, respiratory and gynaecological issues. 

　　

Osteopath

 

　　An osteopath uses manual therapy such as massage and physical manipulation as well as exercises to treat various conditions including back and joint pain, arthritis, headaches, migraines and digestive disorders. The duties of an osteopath include diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease.