Different Practitioners and What They Do
by Ronnee Ruselle
There are many types of practitioners available today who do very good work. It can get confusing trying to figure out which practitioner is the one you need so I decided to research and find out exactly what types of practitioners are available for mental health, general health and pregnancy and what they do.
MENTAL HEALTH
Counsellors - A counsellor is a person who has been professionally trained to talk you through a variety of problems. Counsellors are not able to suggest possible causes, diagnose or prescribe medication, but they are excellent for those people who need to get something off their chest and talk over their problems with someone who is not connected to the issue.
Psychiatrists - Psychiatry deals primarily with mental health approaching issues from a medical angle. They are trained as medical doctors and then they go on to train as psychiatrists. They can help with issues such as depression, severe anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder using both discussion and medications if necessary and will generally tell you what is wrong with you and how to fix it. You will need a referral from your doctor to see a psychiatrist.
Psychologists - Psychology deals primarily with the human mind and behaviour, approaching it from a research angle using hypotheses to solve issues at an individual, group, organizational and community level. They generally use discussion and suggestions to treat mental and emotional problems. Psychologists are trained to assist you in solving issues rather than doing it for you, allowing you to alter your behaviour or circumstances in order to solve the problem. Psychologists cannot prescribe medication. A psychologist can help you with issues to do with such things as eating disorders, family and relationship problems, upsetting events, extreme fears, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, sleep difficulties or stress.
Social Workers - Social Workers help people deal with a variety of personal and social problems, on an individual or community level. Social workers provide individual and group counselling, develop and implement social policy and programmes, and assist various community groups. They are often helpful when people are adjusting to new environments or situations.
PREGNANCY
Doulas - Trained to assist with labour and delivery, doulas support women on an emotional and physical basis. They interact with all those involved with pregnancy and birth with an emphasis on sensitivity. They are not medically trained so they cannot provide for high risk pregnancies but many women choose them to help them through natural childbirth, water births and home births. Doulas offer continuity of support before and after birth with an emphasis on sensitivity and making the birth experience the best it can be. They can help with massage, breathing techniques, labour positions, and be support for the birth partner. They are also able to offer helpful advice on breast feeding and baby care after the birth.
Family Physicians - Apart from the duties mentioned under general health, a family physician is trained to monitor your progress during pregnancy and to deliver the baby. They can also give support and informed care for you and the baby after delivery.
Midwives - Midwives are professionally trained in pregnancy, labor, and the post-partum period with an emphasis on the woman having an active role in her pregnancy. The midwife will follow your pregnancy from the time of conception until birth and into the weeks following. They will provide emotional and physical care along the way. Many are registered nurses and they usually operate out of hospitals or birthing centres.
They can help you to decide what type of birth and delivery you would like to have and will help you find out how to achieve it. Midwives often provide a personalized service and may even conduct appointments in your own home. They are trained to deal only with regular, uncomplicated pregnancies so you may be referred to a more suited practitioner if your pregnancy has complications. They will monitor your progress and provide helpful information that can allow you to maintain as problem free a pregnancy as possible.
Obstetricians/Gynecologists - are professionally trained in the areas of female reproductive health, pregnancy, labour, and postpartum care. They have completed years of specialized study in obstetrics and gynecology. They can diagnose and treat gynecological disorders as well as provide you with expert health care throughout pregnancy. They have the experience to deal with both routine and complicated births and can help solve problems as they arise.
They tend to work by the book and so you may not get much say in the progress and delivery of your pregnancy, but they can be good for the woman who is reassured by having the doctor take control of the pregnancy.
GENERAL HEALTH
Acupuncturists - Acupuncture is a medical procedure that has been used in China and other parts of East Asia for thousands of years. It is said that energy (or qi) in the body flows along channels called meridians and that disease and other health problems can occur when this energy flow is blocked or restricted. Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine, sterile needles into points along the meridians to clear these blockages and encourage the normal flow of energy through the individual.
It is renowned for providing drug-free pain relief and works from a wholistic approach to the treatment of disease and illness, linking body, mind and emotions. It is recognized by the World Health Organisation to have successfully treated over 40 conditions. These include neurological, respiratory, digestive, urogenital, gynaecological, skin conditions, sporting injuries, musculoskeletal conditions and psychological conditions and addictions.
Aromatherapists - An aromatherapist will use essential oils to improve a person's mood or health in order to treat or prevent disease.
Bowen Therapists - Bowen therapy involves soft tissue manipulations of key points in order to stimulate energy flow using gentle, rolling motion, with very light touches. Originated by Australian Tom Bowen in the 1950's and said to be very effective for such problems as whiplash, dental or facial pain, headaches, repetitive strain injury and back aches in pregnant women. It is considered to be complementary to other medical treatments such as prescribed medication and surgery rather than a replacement of them.
Chiropractors - Chiropractors believe that spinal joint misalignments can interfere with the nervous system causing diminished health in many areas, so they manipulate the spine to realign it. It's popular for treating sports injuries and problems that cause pain.
Family Physicians - otherwise known as General Practitioners (GP's) or just doctors, are primary health care providers who treat people of all ages. They address general health concerns and can provide you with diagnoses, treatment and preventative care options. They are trained to deal with the psychological and physical aspects of health and are a good place to start when you have a physical or mental illness.
Herbalists, Chinese Herbalists and Ayurvedic Herbalists - Herbalism, Chinese herbalism and ayurvedic herbalism are very similar except that Chinese herbalism uses Chinese plants and ayurvedic uses plants from India. The oldest and one of the most respected forms of medicine, herbalism, uses many different parts of the plants to treat a variety of problems.
The herbalist takes a wholistic approach and will prescribe a herbal formula that matches and treats your individual health problem according to each person's body and symptoms specifically. The treatment is adjusted and modified to suit the condition as it changes, until the desired result is achieved by rebalancing the body and supporting the body's healing system, thereby allowing it the best chance of healing itself and stimulating a rapid recovery. It is very useful for maintaining good health.
It can treat many diseases and illnesses including insomnia, high blood pressure, digestive disorders, fatigue, loss of appetite, constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, cold and flu, headaches, skin disorders, anxiety, depression, stress, allergies, arthritis, premenstrual syndrome, infertility, impotence and prostate disorders, menopausal disorders, substance addiction, preventative family healthcare, weight loss, cosmetic issues and more.
Homeopaths - Homeopathy is based upon the principle of 'like cures like'. The homeopath will administer minute doses of a drug or toxin based upon plant, mineral, or animal substances which will create a similar response to the illness in a healthy person. This will stimulate a person's natural healing response.
Hydrotherapists - Hydrotherapy, as the name suggests, involves using water to help soothe pain and treat disease. Hydrotherapy can help to treat arthritis, burns, spasticity, musculoskeletal disorders, spinal cord injuries, and stroke patients with paralysis. It is also used to treat orthopedic and neurological conditions in dogs and horses, and to improve fitness.
Hypnotherapists - Hypnotherapists use hypnosis to relieve pain or conditions related to a person's state of mind. The therapist will help the patient enter into a state of trance where the patient is more receptive to suggestion, thereby allowing the person to deal with issues in a more immediate way. It can be helpful in treating addictions, obesity, pain, self-esteem issues, stress, anxiety, amnesia, phobias, performance and more. They have been known to help women prepare for having a less stressful birth.
Massage Therapists - There are a huge range of massage techniques used, but massage itself is a form of therapy that applies pressure, tension, motion, or vibration to the soft tissues of the body, including muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments, joints and lymphatic vessels, to achieve a beneficial response. Massage can be applied to parts of the body or successively to the whole body, to heal injury, relieve psychological stress, manage pain and improve circulation. It is very popular as a way of releasing tension within the body and achieving a state of relaxation.
Naturopaths - Naturopaths approach healing in a holistic manner preferring to use natural remedies to assist the body's ability to heal rather than invasive methods. Naturopathic practice may include a broad range of different modalities, including manual therapy, hydrotherapy, herbalism, acupuncture, counselling, environmental medicine, aromatherapy, wholefoods, and so on.
Physical Therapists (or Physiotherapists) - are concerned with restoring, developing or maintaining the maximum movement and function of the body, especially in cases where age, disability or injury are limiting a person's movements. They believe that full, functional use of one's body is a major factor in being healthy. They can work with back and neck pain, the spine, joints, muscular control, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, heart and lung condition, sport related injuries, neurological conditions such as stroke or multiple sclerosis and more.
Osteopaths - Osteopathy is basically modern medicine where the practitioner will use a combination of drugs, surgery along with manual therapy to treat illness, disease or injury. Some osteopaths work on the belief that bones that are out of place can disrupt the flow of blood or the flow of nervous impulses so manipulating the bones can restore the flow.
Reflexologists - Reflexologists believe that certain parts of the foot or hand connect to other parts of the body and that by stimulating certain points on the foot or hand by applying pressure, the corresponding part of the body will begin to heal itself.
Reiki Practitioners - Reiki is a form of healing using energy. The practitioner acts as a channel for Reiki energy, allowing "Reiki energy" to be channelled through himself/herself to wherever the patient is thought to require it. This is done by laying the hands upon the person and opening up to the flow of energy. The energy itself heals where the body needs it rather than the practitioner directing it.
If you have had experiences with these therapies, feel free to share your views on the forum.