More imperative in the healing process, is learning to ask the appropriate questions and finding the clear, knowledgeable, resonant healer and technician with the solution. There is no real over seeing entity that moderates, scrutinizes or examines the alternative practitioner like the American Medical Association or Psychological Association with standards of practice. In the arena of allopathic (modern) medicine, the identification of charlatans- doctor feel goods, practicing without a license, incompetence, unethical practices – in institutions and offices, for the most part, can be found (although not as easily today as medical and health professionals police their own, are rarely, if ever, fired, arrested or publicly flogged or chastised). Although most alternative technological practitioners in the holistic health arena are naturopaths, chiropractors, psychologists, nutritionists or technicians with offices, the measure for competence among non-traditional health professionals is generally through word-of-mouth and ‘gut’ feeling because standards don’t exist. So patient, be aware!
Since the medical establishment has, through pressures from insurance company reimbursement schedules, become ‘unattending’ physicians spending less and less time during an office visit (15-20 minutes), patients often need to be ‘heard’ and ‘regarded with dignity and respect’ instead of ‘treated’ with medication, dismissed, prodded, poked and tested for illness. Patients desiring a more humane treatment seek out the alternative practitioner who spends more time listening to them than shuttling them. The person utilizing technologies is, for the most part, a technician not a therapist or healer untrained to deal with the intense emotional, deep issues that arise during the session but none-the-less empathetic. More often than not (unless they are licensed professionals), alternative therapists are untrained in patient confidentiality, patient-professional boundaries, proper paper work, while some meet in cozy home offices, share knowledge with gusto even for free or little charge and all-in-all present a less formal atmosphere or air of professionalism.
Passion for the domain in which they practice often overshadows the level of ‘distance’ that would be exemplified by the ‘elite’ trained physician or specialist. The demarcation line between patient and technician can become blurred in a holistic, relaxed context. The defense mechanisms required for discrimination and discernment in relationships are disarmed when emotions are released. It is not a given that a technician is necessarily a healthy human being whom one should unconditionally trust, emulate and follow. When ‘distance’ has not been established, boundaries are crossed.
That being said, because alternative practitioners are more humane, available and spend more time with clients, because they use non-invasive technologies and because, generally, people feel better after having been with them, they are less inclined to having law suits filed against them i.e. more patient satisfaction! These individuals are trained, skilled, sensitive and adept in their arts enabling the client to embrace new heights in mental clarity, physical health and spiritual well being. Seek out those individuals, professionals or technicians from all disciplines who offer the tools for mutual collaboration, self-discovery, self-regulation, self-healing, self-motivation and self-sustaining protocols in the healing process rather than control, manipulation and arrogance. The road to well-being is a joint venture between client and expert not a pyramid structure with