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It’s a good idea to ring the practitioner before you make an appointment with them to see if the treatment that they offer meets your specific need. This is not considered unusual in complementary therapy practice and in fact it is recommended that you discuss your potential visit.
Find out the practitioner’s qualifications and experience. It is important to ensure that they are professionally qualified and accredited to, or a member of, a professional body. This is important, although it does not always guarantee competence. Check if the practitioner has professional indemnity insurance.
You may want to know if the practitioner has a basic understanding of your illness. Find out more about the proposed treatment and how it might benefit your condition. Any claims of ’cure all’ therapy or ’wonder treatment’ need to be viewed cautiously
Ask the practitioner what are the side effects, if any, of the treatment. Explore with the practitioner their approach to the particular treatment. Each practitioner develops a very individual style, according to experience and training. Some work very intuitively and at a level that may bring about profound change. Be reassured about confidentiality. Most practitioners keep a case history and will evaluate your visits from time to time. Check how often you need to attend, how long a session lasts and how many sessions are recommended.
Be reassured that both of you have the right to terminate the treatment. You may discover you do not work well together or that the therapy is not what you need. Check how much notice you need to give to cancel an appointment. Is there a cancellation fee?
Occasionally a therapist may offer a treatment free. Where this is the case, be clear as to why as some practitioners may not have the experience to meet your needs. Free treatments are best received from an experienced practitioner.
Fees
Fees vary according to the experience and training of the practitioner and the type of therapy on offer. Consultation fees range from between €30 and €65. The average is €40 to €50. On initial contact, discuss how much the practitioner charges.
Ask if a concession rate is available. Most practitioners offer a sliding scale and are open to negotiation. If the therapy seems expensive, you are entitled to ask why. When you are going for a series of sessions, it is important in the initial meeting to agree upon a fee.
Other considerations
Keep your doctor informed of your progress. Should your condition change or improve due to the treatment, your doctor will need to know. It is wise to keep your alternative practitioner aware of any changes in your condition and medical treatment. It is important to have the support of your doctor.
No complementary practitioner should recommend that you come off any medication. If they do, please refer back to your doctor immediately.
A professional practitioner will not tell you what to do; instead they will facilitate you to explore the choices that are available to you. In most therapies there are contra-indications for certain conditions. This you can find out from your practitioner.
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