What
Is A Holistic Practitioner? By
Jennifer Shapiro
Holistic
Practitioners
are holistic
healing
professionals
with a gift in
one or more
areas of
healing. From
bodyworkers to
homeopaths to
hypnotherapists,
the term
holistic
practitioner has
become one that
is often
challenging to
describe or
understand.
Hopefully this
article will
provide you with
some clarity on
what a holistic
practitioner is
and how to find
one that meets
your individual
needs.
Saying
holistic
practitioner is
similar to
saying doctor.
While there are
general
practitioners
that cross along
many paths, most
specialize in
one or more
holistic methods
or areas. The
main areas of
specialization
are
body-centered
therapists,
energy-centered
therapists,
mind-centered
therapists, soul
and
spirit-centered
therapists,
emotional
release
therapists, and
coaches/counselors.
All of these
therapists
strive to bring
a greater
quality of life
to their
clients. That
may occur
through inner
balance,
self-empowerment,
physical ease,
or even
emotional
confidence.
One thing to
realize is that
many holistic
practitioners
work in many
areas. In fact,
it is usually
challenging to
limit a
practitioner to
one area. For
example, a
hypnotherapist
may also be a
chakra
therapist, a
bodyworker could
also be a
spiritual
counselor, etc.
Also, since the
mind-body-soul
connection is
just that,
connected,
wherever you
begin, be it in
energy work,
bodywork, or
even the mind,
you will find
that all of you
is affected by
the work.
Use this
article as a
guide to explore
the realms of
possibilities,
rather than
limiting your
choices to an
area.
Body-centered
Therapists
Samples of
body-centered
therapists are
bodyworkers,
massage
therapists,
pilates and yoga
therapists,
rolfing
professionals
(often termed
rolfers),
acupressure
therapists,
myofascial
release and
sports massage
therapists,
reflexologists,
thai massage
therapists,
watsu
practitioners,
feldenkrais and
alexander method
professionals,
and movement
therapists (this
list is provided
to offer an
overview as
there are at
least 50 types
of body-centered
therapists).
While each
body-centered
therapist has
their own way of
working with
clients, many
use a
combination of
movement, the
breath, and
physical
pressure (from
massage to
trigger points)
to allow the
body to release
tension. This
release of
tension then
allows the mind
to also find a
relaxing state.
Sometimes the
relaxation state
is the goal of
the sessions,
other times, it
is the true
starting point.
Energy-centered
Therapists
Samples of
energy-centered
therapists are
integrative
energy workers,
reiki
practitioners,
healing touch
practitioners,
breathwork
therapists, jin
shin do and jin
shin jytsu
therapists,
matrix
therapists,
applied
kinesiologists,
orgone
therapists,
polarity
workers, cranial
sacral workers,
qigong and tai
chi masters.
Acupuncturists
and homeopathy
practitioners
could also be
deemed energy
workers.
Energy
workers often
work with
energetic ‘maps’
of the body.
They look at
where the energy
is stuck,
depleted or
overtaxed in the
body and work
with the
individual to
bring a level of
balance to the
body’s energetic
system. This
balance also
affects the mind
and the overall
body, enhancing
ones state of
being on many
levels.
Mind-centered
Therapists
Samples of
mind-centered
therapists are
hypnotherapists,
neuro-linguistic
programming
practitioners
(NLP),
integrative
release
therapists (IRT),
regression
therapists and
metaphysicians.
Mind-centered
therapists look
at the
structures of
one’s belief
systems and how
they may be
conflicting with
and/or not
supporting a
client’s quality
of life.
Mind-centered
therapists often
find the
original cause
of what the
stuck states are
and work with
the unconscious
mind to reframe
limiting
patterns and
beliefs which
provide greater
resources and
confidence for
the client to
live the life
they desire.
Soul and
Spirit-centered
Therapists
Samples of
soul and
spirit-centered
therapists are
shamans, angelic
masters, psychic
mediums,
intuitive guides
and spiritual
counselors (who
would also fall
into the
coaching/counseling
category).
Soul and
spirit-centered
therapists work
with clients in
a variety of
ways. A shaman
may work with a
client using
soul retrieval
to regain a part
of their soul
that has been
‘lost’ due to
trauma. A
psychic may
offer an
individual
information on
what will happen
on their current
path if they
don’t make
changes. An
intuitive may
assist a client
in talking with
a deceased loved
one. As with the
other
categories,
there are many
ways soul and
spirit-centered
therapists work
with their
clients.
Emotional
Release
Therapists
Samples of
emotional
release
therapists are
integrative
release
therapists,
somato-emotional
therapists,
psych-k
therapists and
amanae
therapists.
Emotional
release
therapists work
with patterns of
emotions that
are stuck in the
body/mind and
assist a client
in moving
through these
blocks into
greater joy and
emotional
freedom. Many
other therapies,
including neuro-linguistic
programming,
yoga, shamanic
work and energy
work employ
emotional
release
methodologies.
Holistic
Coaches and
Counselors
Samples of
coaches and
counselors are
life coaches,
empowerment
coaches,
spiritual and
intuitive
counselors,
holistic
psychologists,
and nutritional
counselors.
Coaches and
counselors
assist clients
in designing and
manifesting the
life, career,
business and
health
situations that
they truly
desire. A
holistic coach
or counselor
often works with
a client 1-4x
per month
setting goals,
opening belief
systems and
partnering with
the client to
provide the
support they
need to move
forward in their
lives.
As you can
see, the term
holistic
practitioner can
be used to mean
a holistic
profession
trained in any
number of areas.
Usually, a
holistic
practitioner
will list their
areas of
expertise in any
of their
advertising to
assist you in
determining if
they would be a
fit for your
unique
situation.
For
information on
locating a
holistic
practitioner,
please see my
article on
‘Choosing a
Holistic
Practitioner’ or
see Holistic
Hometown (www.HolisticHometown.com)
for holistic
resources in
your hometown,
and beyond.
Blessings on
your journey.
Jenifer
Shapiro, MBA,
CHT, CNLP, CYT,
CHC, IRT is a
Professional
Coach, Holistic
Entrepreneur
Coach, Web
Designer, and
Holistic
Practitioner
(professionally
trained in Yoga,
Shamanism/Soul
Retrieval,
Meditation,
Hypnotherapy,
NLP and
Coaching) with 2
successful
holistic
businesses. She
is the founder
of Holistic
Hometown,
Holistic
University and
The Empowerment
Centre, and the
consultant for
various holistic
entrepreneurs,
local colleges,
and wellness
centers. Her
work has been
televised and
she currently
teaches and
consults with
clients around
the U.S. Her
private practice
is in Paoli, PA.
She may be
reached at
http://www.TheEmpowermentCentre.com
or
(610)213-1010.
What
Is A Holistic Practitioner?