Choosing A Health Practitioner for Your Child
By Jane Sheppard
An important element in health and healing is finding the right
doctor or health practitioners. You may decide to work with a holistic
pediatrician (MD) or you may also choose one or more alternative
therapies. In any case, you will need to find the right practitioners
to meet your unique child’s needs.
Knowing a practitioner’s background and qualifications is advised.
In the alternative health care arena you will usually find practitioners
in one of three categories.
Licensed professionals -
Includes holistic medical doctor (MD), osteopath (DO), chiropractic
(DC), or acupuncturist (L.Ac.). Licensing tells you that the person
has undergone a significant amount of training, which may include
an internship, and has passed a state or national test. In the counseling
field, there are numerous masters level practitioners, many of whom
are interns working under licensed supervisors. Keep in mind that
credentials can vary widely. State by state you may find different
licensing practices or standards.
Certified practitioners –
This is a more ambiguous group, as a certification can mean anything
from 8 hours to 1,000 hours (or more) of training. With each therapy
you choose, it is essential to inquire about the level of training
and education required for certification. Homeopaths, massage therapists
(CMT’s), hypnotherapists (CHT’s), and numerous forms of bodyworkers
fall under this category.
Intuitive or spiritual healers
– These practitioners may have no license or certification,
but have studied with their own teachers and follow the guidance
of their intuition, personal gifts such as psychic ability, or other
forms of spiritual guidance they may be receiving. Keep in mind
that credentials (or lack of) after someone’s name are not necessarily
indications of quality.
There are many great healers whose type of therapy does not
offer a license or certification, yet have studied extensively and
are profoundly intuitive. There are also many charlatans and “quacks”
in this field so you need to fully investigate by asking about training,
experience, and conducting a complete interview.
Where to Begin
Your Search
How do you narrow the field and find a practitioner that is right
for your child? Begin by collecting referrals to qualified practitioners
in your area. Ask your friends and other people you trust if they
know of a good practitioner. You may get a referral from your medical
doctor, or other trusted health practitioner. Local magazines and
newspapers frequently have articles written by respected health
practitioners. Professional associations (be aware that some associations
do not check their members’ qualifications), support groups, and
advocacy organizations are good places to check. Reputable schools
of alternative therapies frequently hire experienced and qualified
practitioners as teachers. Training programs may offer referrals
to certified and licensed providers in your area. You can also find
a child health professional through the Holistic
Pediatric Association in the online Health Professional Directory.
The state governing organizations that regulate alternative therapies
such as chiropractic or acupuncture can confirm a practitioner’s
credentials, and even tell you if any complaints or charges have
been made.
What to Ask
Initially
Once you have your list of referrals, take the time call the office
of each one. Speak to the practitioner’s staff and ask the following
questions to get some preliminary information:
1. What
types of treatment does the practitioner provide? What is the theory/philosophy
behind these treatments? Can you refer me to some literature so
I can better understand the practitioner’s work?
2. What
is the practitioner’s background? Where was he or she trained? How
long was his or her training? Is the practitioner licensed or certified?
3. How
long has the practitioner been in practice?
4. How
long does he or she work with the average patient? Is it usually
long-term or short-term treatment?
5. What
is the practitioner’s availability (office visits or phone)? Will
there be a long wait to schedule an appointment? Does he or she
have a pager? How easy is to get an emergency appointment?
6. What
are the practitioner’s fees? Does he or she offer a payment plan?
Sliding scale? Will you work with my insurance and do the necessary
paperwork?
The Interview
Process
The answers to the above questions can help you narrow down your
search to a few practitioners that you and your child would like
to personally meet. Interviewing prospective practitioners is an
important aspect in choosing to whom you will entrust your child’s
health. It is during an in-person consultation that you can get
a sense of who this person is and how he or she will work with your
child. You may have to pay a fee for the practitioner’s time, but
it can be well worth it. If you meet with several different prospective
practitioners, you may want to take notes or tape the interview
so you can keep the details straight.
During the interview, describe your child’s health condition (if
applicable). Be very honest about your beliefs and talk about your
child’s unique experience of the condition. Let the practitioner
know what you expect and what he or she can expect of you. The following
is a list of suggested questions you may want to ask of the practitioner
to help you get to know more about how he or she works. Listen carefully
to the responses.
1. What
is your philosophical approach to healing?
2. How
do you integrate the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects
of health into your work?
3. Have
you worked with many children? How do you help them to feel more
comfortable?
4. Have
you worked with my child’s condition before (if applicable)? What
has been the outcome in those cases? How long would you estimate
my child’s treatment would take? What would be the likely changes?
5. Can
you approach my child’s care individually and with an open mind,
rather than with a predetermined treatment plan?
6. Do
you keep copies of your notes regarding the treatment and healing
process, and can these be sent to my other practitioners? Can I
get copies of my child’s records/notes/lab results?
7. Will
you explain to me what you are doing, notify me of test results
within a reasonable period of time, and keep me informed of my child’s
condition?
8. Is
it appropriate for you to suggest names of other patients or clients
that I can contact to ask about their experiences with your treatments?
9. Will
my child’s appointment time be honored or will we have to wait?
If the practitioner is a holistic M.D., find out how long he or
she has been integrating alternative therapies into the practice
and be certain you know about the doctor’s level of training in
each therapy offered.
If you are interviewing medical doctors that do not offer alternative
treatments, ask them how they feel about your interest in alternative
medicine, and if they would be able to refer your child to an alternative
practitioner as part of the overall treatment plan, if the need
arose. Let them know if your child is already seeing an alternative
practitioner. If applicable, ask them how they feel about your informed
decision to not vaccinate your child or to refuse certain vaccines.
Or, if you are not certain about whether or not you want to have
your child vaccinated, let them know. Be honest about your beliefs
and fears, and note whether or not you feel supported and respected
by the doctor.
Observe the practitioner’s personality or “bedside manner” and
the feelings you have about whether this person is right for your
child. Closely watch your child’s reactions to the practitioner.
Most children have a strong intuitive sense about people they meet,
and may respond with either fear or openness. After each interview,
ask your child how he or she felt about this person. If your child’s
response is negative, find out why. Pay attention to your own feelings
and gut instincts. Did you feel comfortable and respected when you
called or visited the office? Were your questions answered patiently
to your satisfaction? Will you be able to feel like a valued person
working as a partner with this practitioner?
Do you feel trust and confidence in this person? Does he/she
seem to care about your child and show an interest in your family,
lifestyle and diet? Does this practitioner honor your beliefs, opinions,
anxieties and fears? What is the state of this practitioner’s health?
Does he or she appear to have a healthy lifestyle or are
there signs of overweight, overwork, smoking or drinking? (You probably
want a practitioner who is just as committed to good health as you
are.)
The Treatment
Plan
Checking out background and credentials in addition to the interview
process should give you enough data to choose who you want to begin
to work with. Once you have made a decision you feel good about
and your child begins his or her treatment plan, be sure to be an
active participant in the process. Carefully follow the recommendations
agreed upon. Pay close attention to any diet changes and instructions
on how and when to administer medications, herbs, homeopathic remedies,
or supplements. Communicate your child’s needs and your concerns.
If you are combining several therapies, be certain to tell all of
your child’s practitioners, including your primary care doctor (if
applicable), about all the treatments your child is receiving. For
instance, if your child is taking pharmaceutical drugs, his or her
homeopath, herbalist or naturopath will need to know what these
medications are, and your pediatrician will need to know what herbs
and supplements your child is taking. Certain herbs can interfere
with drugs and many drugs can inhibit the healing process. Make
sure you understand what the practitioner is doing. If something
is not clear, ask questions until you are comfortable. Make choices
based on complete information. Continually monitor and evaluate
the treatments and track the results.
Also remember to give whatever therapy you choose a chance to work.
The holistic approach to healing can be subtle, and alternative
treatments usually work on a deeper level than conventional drugs.
It may take some time before your child experiences a lasting change
of health.
In some instances, the condition may even worsen before it gets
better, as the body brings the condition to the surface in its effort
to rid itself of it.
In summary, choosing a practitioner is based on both intuition
and intellect. There is balance to be achieved in following your
instincts while being grounded in informed decision-making. Moreover,
forming active partnerships with your child’s practitioners can
greatly maximize your child’s healing potential. Success comes from
an alliance between people who possess mutual respect, honest communication
and a shared commitment to healing. You have every right to select
the practitioners who provide you with a setting of comfort and
trust.
Credentials and Qualifications
Holistic Medical Doctors (MDs)
- These are licensed MDs who integrate various alternative
therapies with conventional medicine. To be truly holistic, they
should consider mind, emotions, and spirit as well as the body when
assessing and treating patients. Many doctors who consider their
approach holistic are joining the Holistic
Pediatric Association, which has a searchable online directory
of member doctors. You may be able to find one or several in your
area by searching this directory.
Homeopaths - A homeopath
who has taken the voluntary exam given by the Council for Homeopathic
Certification and holds the CCH (Certified in Classical Homeopathy)
certificate has demonstrated competence in classical homeopathy.
Otherwise you should ask about hours of training in homeopathy,
percent of their practice that is homeopathic, and years in practice.
You can view a list of CCH holders at the website http://www.homeopathy-council.org.
The Council for Homeopathic Certification can be reached at 408
971-5915. In 47 states, a license to practice medicine is all a
medical doctor needs in order to incorporate homeopathy into his
or her practice. It is important to check the doctor’s level of
training in homeopathy. Some MDs have merely taken a short course
in homeopathy and are prescribing remedies the same way they prescribe
pharmaceuticals – a one-remedy-fits-all protocol. A fully trained
homeopath will choose a remedy carefully to match the unique symptoms
of the individual child. Each case is treated differently from every
other, and the character of the whole person must be taken into
account (the totality of symptoms). Homeopaths who work with children
can be found in the Holistic
Pediatric Association online directory.
Naturopathic Physicians
- A licensed naturopathic physician (ND) attends a four-year graduate
level naturopathic medical school and is educated in all of the
same basic sciences as an MD, but also studies holistic and nontoxic
approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention
and optimizing wellness. In addition to a standard medical curriculum,
the naturopathic physician is required to complete four years of
training in clinical nutrition, acupuncture, homeopathic medicine,
botanical medicine, psychology, and counseling (to encourage people
to make lifestyle changes in support of their personal health).
A naturopathic physician takes rigorous professional board exams
so that he or she may be licensed by a state or jurisdiction as
a primary care general practice physician.
Naturopathic medicine is a licensed profession in over 13 states
in the U.S. When not licensed, inquire about the level of training
the naturopaths have acquired. They may have all the training mentioned
above, but do not have a license simply because their state does
not license naturopaths. Or they may have taken a correspondence
course in naturopathic medicine. For more information, and to find
a naturopathic physician in your area, contact the American Association
of Naturopathic Physicians: http://www.naturopathic.org
or search the Holistic
Pediatric Association online directory.
Herbalists - No specific
degree or license is required to advise about herbs. Currently the
American Herbalists Guild is the only association of medical herbalists
in the United States whose professional members are determined by
an admissions review process to assure that a relatively high level
of competency, education, and experience has been attained. American
Herbalists Guild members have specific continuing education requirements
and follow a code of ethics. Professional American Herbalists Guild
members can be identified by the term “Herbalist AHG” after their
name (some herbalists simply use “AHG” after their name). To find
an herbalist in your area, contact the American Herbalists Guild:
http://www.healthy.net/herbalists/Finding.htm
or search the Holistic
Pediatric Association online directory.
The National Institute of Medical Herbalists is a highly respected
professional herbalist organization in the United Kingdom. Professional
members have graduated from a specific medical herbalist training
program and like the American Herbalists Guild, there are specific
requirements for active membership. Members must follow a code of
ethics. These herbalists are some of the most well trained Western
herbalists in the world. Professional herbalist members of the Institute
are identified by the acronym “M.N.I.M.H.” after their name.
The Herb Research Foundation (HRF) is a nonprofit research and
education organization that provides accurate information on the
safe and appropriate use of herbs. Website: http://www.herbs.org
Herb Research Foundation
1007 Pearl Street, Suite 200
Boulder, CO 80302
303) 449-2265 (Office)
(800) 748-2617 (VoiceMail)
(303) 449-7849 (FAX)
Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Traditional Chinese medicine is a licensed profession in over
27 states. Licenses are issued under such titles as Doctor of Oriental
Medicine (DOM) or Oriental Medical Doctor (OMD). Licensed acupuncturists
are typically identified by the use of “L.Ac.” after their name.
Licensing usually requires graduation from a three-year course of
study and clinical experience. In some states without licensing,
anyone can call themselves acupuncturists so check out the individual’s
training and clinical experience. Currently there are more than
50 schools of acupuncture that exist in the United States, and several
medical schools now include Acupuncture courses. Pediatrics is a
specialty of Chinese medicine, so be sure your practitioner has
been trained appropriately in treating children. To find a practitioner
in your area, search the Holistic
Pediatric Association online directory or contact The American
Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM). http://www.aaom.org
Chiropractors - All states
and Canadian provinces license chiropractors. Some chiropractors
belong to the International Chiropractors Association’s (ICA) pediatric
council and take regular continuing post-graduate courses in pediatrics.
For more information, and to find a pediatric chiropractor in your
area, search the Holistic
Pediatric Association online directory or the directory of the
International Chiropractic Pediatric Association http://www.icpa4kids.com.
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Use the information provided on this site as an educational resource for determining your options and making your own informed choices. It is not intended as medical advice or to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any specific illness.