There are many different types of wellness professionals, and each one offers a unique perspective and set of services to help you maintain or improve your health. Here is an overview of some of the most common types of wellness professionals, what they do, and how they can help you achieve your health goals.
Wellness Professionals Helping You With Mental Health
A life coach helps you set and accomplish goals, handle everyday stress, and define a vision for your life that will inspire you to take action. They may also help you explore the fears and other emotions that are holding you back from reaching your true potential. If you want to become someone who helps people like this, you can see more info at We Train Life Coaches. A life coach can work with individuals or groups and is not licensed to prescribe medications or perform therapy. Another option is seeking a psychiatric nurse practitioner (a.k.a. PNP) who provides a wide range of mental and emotional health services to their clients, including diagnosing and treating mental illness, counseling people with a variety of conditions, prescribing medications, monitoring their patients’ progress, and collaborating with other medical care providers. They also refer patients to other health professionals when appropriate.
A Holistic Health Practitioner
A holistic health practitioner considers how all aspects of a person interact as an integrated system, rather than focusing on individual symptoms from a specific perspective (e.g., Western medicine). Their goal is to provide their clients with safe and effective ways to restore balance within this system by addressing physical, mental, emotional, social, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can affect health. If necessary they will refer their patient to a conventional practitioner if a professional opinion is necessary to diagnose or treat a disease.
Chiropractors, Massage Therapists, and Physical Therapists
Chiropractors are trained in the relationship between musculoskeletal structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system). They use gentle, specific adjustments to address the alignment problems that can cause pain and illness. Massage therapists manipulate soft tissues of the body through gentle pressure, stretching, and kneading to enhance a person’s well-being. They may use pre-packaged oils, lotions, or creams during sessions or prescribe specific skincare products afterward. Physical therapists help people with injuries or chronic conditions regain independence by providing treatments and exercises that improve strength and range of motion, reduce pain, and prevent further injury. They work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, athletic venues such as fitness centers or sports stadiums, schools, research laboratories, and corporations. Their goal is to enable you to participate fully in life activities by helping you achieve your highest possible level of function.
An Osteopathic Doctor and a Naturopathic Doctor
Osteopathic doctors (a.k.a. D.O. ‘s) recognize that good health is achieved when your body’s cells are working in a state of equilibrium, which means that they’re not only free from symptoms of disease but also capable of self-regulation and healing. A D.O. will work with you to help prevent or reduce pain and illness by helping you maintain this balance within your body using therapeutic techniques such as hands-on diagnosis and treatment, lifestyle advice, and supplements or medication if necessary instead of surgery. A naturopathic doctor (ND) is trained in natural treatments that support the body’s innate ability to heal itself. They’re knowledgeable about nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, and other therapies that are part of naturopathy. The ND will oversee your care, provide treatment options, and educate you about your diagnosis to help you make the best possible choices.
An Athletic Trainer
Athletic trainers treat injuries related to sports or exercise. In addition to providing treatment for sprains, strains, fractures, dislocations, and other problems, athletic trainers teach athletes training techniques that will help them avoid future injuries. They also educate coaches about keeping athletes safe from unnecessary harm while still allowing them to participate in the sport they love. A personal trainer helps you create a customized fitness plan that’s right for your goals, schedule, and lifestyle. They’ll also hold you accountable for your plan by checking in with you regularly and helping you stay motivated on the path to reaching your health and wellness goals.
An Occupational Therapist
Occupational therapists treat injured or ill people to help them increase their ability to participate in daily activities. They focus on empowering patients, whether they are children with learning disorders, wounded soldiers trying to adjust back to home life after the military, struggling college students, or senior citizens who can no longer live independently due to arthritis or dementia. Their goal is usually to teach these individuals new skills that will allow them to be more independent and functional in various settings of everyday life.
Knowing different types of wellness professionals can help you choose who to see if you have a specific problem. Or, it can give you an idea as to how your entire well-being might be improved.
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