If you have never consulted a natural/alternative therapist, it is quite normal for you to feel a little apprehensive and to be unsure about what to expect. We have therefore prepared these FAQs to provide answers to the questions most frequently asked by people with an interest in natural therapies.

Do I need therapy?

Undergoing treatment from a natural therapist is not obligatory but anyone may choose to follow a course of therapy whenever they think it might benefit them. Most people begin seeing a therapist when they encounter an issue in their life or where they are already suffering from a health problem and have been unable to find a satisfactory solution using traditional medicine.
Therapy may also, however, be used by those who do not have health problems, simply to maintain or improve their general health condition, to help them better discover or understand themselves or to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.

These days, more and more people are trying a wide variety of therapies. According to a number of studies conducted in Europe, and more specifically in France and England, a growing number of people are consulting one or more natural therapists.

How should I know if my problems are serious enough to consult a therapist?

Many people believe that the problems in their life are not sufficiently serious to warrant the services of a therapist. If, however, you begin to experience problems with your physical or mental health, it is highly likely that natural therapy can help you to regain your health, irrespective of whether the problem is specific or recurrent.

Therefore, instead of wondering whether or not therapy would suit you or if your problem is sufficiently serious to consult a therapist, you should perhaps give some thought to the consequences of your current problems. Are your problems having a negative impact on your life in one way or another? Would you like your life to change, to be more fulfilling, with fewer problems and less pain? If that’s the case, then trying therapy or simply consulting a therapist may be right for you! And if consulting a therapist might help you to feel better, happier and in better health, it is perhaps time for you to try it out.

How should I know if a therapist can help me overcome my problems?

When you decide to consult a natural therapist, it may seem difficult to know where to begin and how to go about choosing a therapist who will be able to help you. SanaNeo.com was created to help you find an appropriate therapist. All you need to do is fill in a health questionnaire with some information about your situation, and your answers will generate a list of therapists that match your requirements.
It will then be up to you to choose which of the therapists on the list to first consult. Ideally, this process will make your life easier and will help you feel more comfortable with your choice. It allows you to view the different therapists’ profiles and photos and choose the ones who seem best suited to your situation.

How can I check whether a therapist has the necessary qualifications?

Therapists’ qualifications and experience can differ significantly. If, therefore, you are looking for a therapist online or elsewhere, it can be very difficult to work out whether a therapist has the necessary skills to treat you properly.

SanaNeo.com can, however, help you in your research through its innovative directory (and assessment*) system for therapists.

A significant number of therapists also belong to one or more organisations accredited by insurance companies that require their members to meet certain ethical standards, to be educated to a certain standard and to participate in various supplementary training courses each year to maintain a satisfactory level of expertise.

How long does a consultation last and how many consultations will I need?

Consultations with therapists generally last between 45 minutes and 1 hour and take place once a week. Some therapists may also offer more than one consultation every week but this will depend on the circumstances of the person being treated and the type of therapy involved. If you are in a crisis situation or you are suffering from serious health problems, your therapist is very likely to suggest a number of meetings every week over a short, limited period to provide you with urgent treatment that reflects your needs.

Each therapist is, however, free to suggest any number of consultations and it will be up to you to choose their frequency. If you are not sure whether the suggested number of consultations is justified, you should discuss the matter with your therapist and decide how best to proceed.

How much does a consultation cost?

Just like the length of a consultation, the cost can vary significantly between therapists. Each therapist is free to set his own price for consultations. The price is based on a number of factors such as the place of work, the length and number of consultations in a course of therapy, the therapist’s reputation or the value that the therapist ascribes to his own consultations. Some therapists display their prices very clearly while others are willing to discuss prices and will take into account your comments.

In general terms, the fees of a therapist who works in a large town or city will almost certainly be higher than those of a therapist in a small village, although it should be noted that this is not invariably the case.

Lastly, a therapist’s fees may vary depending on whether or not he is affiliated to an industry body accredited by insurance companies. An accredited therapist is likely to charge higher fees than an unaccredited therapist.

This might cause you to think that the financial aspect is an important factor. But where your wellbeing and, in particular, your health is concerned, you need to ask yourself the right question: what, in your view, is most important? Does your physical and mental health no longer have any value?
The positive effects that a course of therapy can have on your health, your quality of life and your levels of energy and happiness can be so significant that it is worth giving them some thought when you weight them up against the fees that your therapist will charge.

Where do consultations with therapists generally take place?

In general, a consultation with a therapist always takes place in the same place and in the same room. Certain therapists deliver their consultations in a room in their home while others work from a private office or from an office rented on a regular or occasional basis from third parties, or, sometimes, from an office shared with other therapists.

The types of places in which therapists work, as well as their arrangement, vary greatly. Some will make you feel at home while others will give you more of a sense of being at an appointment with your doctor.

However, all consulting rooms, in general, contain a chair, an armchair, or perhaps a nursing bed to put you at ease and to help the consultation run smoothly. Each therapist will therefore try to make your experience as pleasant as possible so that your consultation is conducted in the best possible conditions.

How can I know whether to trust a therapist?

Undertaking a course of therapy is a very personal decision. In fact, it is the therapist’s duty to create an environment of mutual trust between you and him, so that you can receive and benefit from the treatment you are given in the best possible circumstances and also, and perhaps, above all, so that you can discuss difficult issues that are affecting you, issues that you may never before have shared with someone else.

These are things that you can only do in an environment of absolute trust. What is more, every professional therapist has a duty to comply with certain ethical standards and these require him to refrain from disclosing information about patients to third parties.

Although therapists are not medical professionals, they must not reveal information about you to third parties save for in very exceptional circumstances where, for ethical or legal reasons, the confidentiality obligation to which they are bound may be waived.

If you have any concerns in this area, do not hesitate to talk to your therapist. The therapist will be able to explain in simple terms the obligations to which he is subject and how he treats the information he receives during consultations. If need be or if you consider it necessary, do not hesitate to ask your therapist to enter into a confidentiality agreement, as this might help you to relax during consultations.

What happens if I do not feel comfortable with a therapist?

Once you have begun therapy with a particular therapist, it is essential that you trust and feel comfortable with the care that you receive. It may, however, happen that you begin to feel less at ease than you did at the beginning of your therapy, and this may have nothing to do with the therapist’s expertise or experience.

If, after a number of consultations or even after the first consultation with a therapist, you no longer feel sufficiently at ease, you should note that you are in no way obliged to continue your therapy with the same therapist. If this happens to you, you are free to choose a different therapist and to decide whether or not to pass on your feelings to your therapist.

Leaving a therapist for a different therapist does not obligate you in any way. Make sure that you do not sign an up-front agreement committing you to a fixed number of consultations, as you may then be liable to pay for them all. Do not agree to anything if you are unsure about your decision. After your first consultation, you can then always say that you wish to take some time to reflect on your situation or simply that you feel that your therapist is not necessarily the best suited to your needs.

In general, how long does therapy last?

This is a difficult question since it depends on a number of factors and on your needs, as well as the time and the energy that you are willing to devote to finding a solution to your problems and the amount of money that you feel you can invest.

It is important that you ask your therapist to provide an idea of how long your treatment might last. Some types of therapy may be completed very quickly but, for more substantial problems, the course of therapy may last several months or even longer if it is interspersed with rest periods.

It may also be the case that you decide to suspend your therapy for a while and resume the treatment at a later date.

As you can see, there are no set rules in this area and, to find the solution that best suits you, you should discuss the timeframe with your therapist.

I am worried about someone else’s state of health and would like to know what to do.

There are many of us who have a family member, a friend or a partner with health problems, who does not know where to find the information they need concerning treatment. We hope that the articles, the information and the advice on SanaNeo.com, covering a wide variety of subjects related to health and wellbeing, can act as a valuable source of information and help you find a solution.

Take your time browsing the website – we hope it will be of assistance both to you and those close to you.

Here’s to better health.
SanaNeo.com