CAREER OUTLOOK
Holistic practitioners are becoming more popular and more widely accepted. The industry is growing rapidly as more people demand their services. Additionally, some practitioners of traditional medicine are beginning to take holistic practitioners into their offices. Demand has been increasing for several years as more people become dissatisfied with the quality of care available from traditional medical professionals. In fact, the industry is expected to expand 41% in the decade between 2008 and 2018.
Employment of massage therapists is projected to grow 23% from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. Continued growth in the demand for massage services will lead to new openings for massage therapists. The United States Department of Labor predicts an increase of 30,000 positions for massage therapists between 2012 and 2022.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine recently reported that approximately 38% of adults in the United States are using some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Examples of some of the types of CAM treatment modalities:
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Accupucture/Ayurveda
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Hypnosis/Guided Imagery
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Diet-based therapies/detox
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Energy Healing/Massage Therapy
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Mediation/Yota/Qi Gong/Taichi
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Natural Products/ Essential Oils/ Aromatherpy
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2013-14 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the holistic health, alternative medicine and wellness industry has increased substantially since 2002, and all signs point to continued growth in the popularity of CAM through 2020.
Since most forms of CAM are not covered by health insurance, it is clear that a large number of people are willing to pay for this kind of health care. This growing demand makes it an excellent time to begin a career as a holistic health practitioner. The range of options for holistic health education is almost limitless. Holistic health schools offer everything from inexpensive certificates in aromatherapy to advanced post-graduate training in naturopathy. Are you ready to awaken the healer within?
Job Openings and Opportunities
Job openings can vary from area to area. Some places, such as large metropolitan cities are more likely to have a population with a demand for alternative treatment, although there are some small communities which embrace holistic medicine. Some holistic practitioners join together to form a collective, sharing the costs of office staff and rent, while providing more options to their clients. Others work out of their homes or travel to fairs which cater to alternative medicine or spirituality. In many cases, the job openings are what you make of them and require tenacity and perseverance to build a practice of loyal customers.
Salary
Many practitioners set their own prices for their services and schedule their own hours of work. $20 an hour with thirty hours of work per week is the national average. While the pay you will be able to get for your services is largely dependent on what you are willing to charge; demand and market influences in your area will also affect your price range. Looking at the prices that competitors in your area charge is a good idea to gauge what your skills are worth.
The median annual wage for massage therapists was $35,970 in May 2012.
Industry Trends – Why a Career in Holistic Health?
Healthy Balance and Stress Reduction
Holistic practitioners are healers who focus on many different aspects of alternative healing. A holistic practitioner is anyone who focuses on the health of the entire person rather than treating symptoms or a single disease. The basis of holistic health looks at all of the parts of a client's life, and to make lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, and other modalities such as massage or herbal remedies in order to restore health.
In our stressful modern age, the wellness industry offers desperately needed support to those in search of balance and healing, making holistic health careers more popular than ever before.
People are visiting holistic health practitioners to help them cope with their busy lives, address chronic pain, and fight disease. Others seek assistance with improving their diet and exercise habits. All of them aspire to the profound state of health that comes with the balance of mind, body and spirit. These are reasons holistic health careers are becoming so popular.
Healthy Living and Holistic Health Careers
Many people today recognize the limitations of Western science and medicine. They are distrustful of large pharmaceutical companies and concerned about health care costs. In light of all this, the importance of preventative health care is finally entering mainstream awareness. Nutrition, yoga, tai chi and other wellness regimens are gaining popularity. People are also seeking greater control over their response to illness. As a result, holistic health careers are in demand and can be very rewarding for the right individual. There are a wide variety of necessary personal traits which a holistic practitioner may need, such as physical stamina, patience, and a competent and healing presence. The most important trait is the desire to help the client and to subscribe to the philosophy of holistic practice, which is to treat the client as an individual and not a disease.
Job Description
The job description of becoming a holistic practitioner varies based upon the type of career path that is chosen. Some practitioners choose to focus solely on things such as herbal remedies and preventative care; still others specialize in nutrition, exercise or acupuncture as options. These practitioners work alongside medical doctors or in their own private practices.
Massage Therapists
Massage therapists treat clients by using touch to manipulate the soft-tissue muscles of the body. With their touch, therapists relieve pain, help rehabilitate injuries, improve circulation, relieve stress, increase relaxation, and aid in the general wellness of clients. Massage therapists work in an array of settings, both private and public, such as private offices, spas, hospitals, and fitness centers. Some massage therapists also travel to clients’ homes or offices to give a massage.
