Homeopath

You need an analytical approach combined with creativity and intuition along with a good business head to be a successful homeopath

Homeopathy is a complementary or alternative medicine and is based on the principle that 'like treats like'. In practice, this means that substances that can cause certain symptoms can be used in small doses to relieve those symptoms. A process of dilution and shaking, called succussion, is often used as homeopaths believe that the more a substance is diluted in this way, the better it can treat symptoms.

As a homeopath, you'll see patients with a range of physical and psychological health issues such as:

• allergies e.g. food allergy or hay fever
• arthritis
• asthma
• depression or anxiety
• eczema and acne.

Remedies are usually given in tablet, powder or liquid form.

You will take a holistic approach to your patients, looking at the underlying causes of the illness and not just the symptoms, and will address a range of physical, emotional and psychological conditions to determine a treatment plan.

Responsibilities

As a homeopath, you'll need to:

• carry out initial consultations with patients to get a detailed case history
• ask questions about the patient's medical history, lifestyle and mood
• decide on the best use of homeopathic remedies to address a range of conditions
• monitor and evaluate patient progress
• instruct patients about the use and effects of particular remedies and respond to any queries they may have
• advise on lifestyle issues, such as diet, exercise and mental health
• refer patients to other health practitioners, as appropriate
• keep detailed notes and records for each patient
• research medical conditions and homeopathic remedies, keeping up to date with new advances
• run seminars and presentations for groups in the community, or for other health practitioners, to promote homeopathy.

As most homeopaths are self-employed, you'll also need to carry out activities related to running a business such as administrative tasks, book-keeping and marketing.

Salary

• You're likely to charge between £60 and £135 for an initial consultation, which typically lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. Follow-up sessions are typically less (£40 to £80) as they're usually shorter (30 to 45 minutes). The cost of any treatments you provide are usually on top of this amount.
• The amount you're able to charge will depend on your experience and reputation. Location will also be a factor, with fees being higher in London and other major UK cities where the cost of living is higher.
• Your income on starting out may be low due to the initial costs of setting up a business and your limited client base. Some homeopaths have a second job alongside their clinical work to supplement their income until their practice is fully established.

Income data from The School of Homeopathy. Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

You'll typically be self-employed and will set your own hours. According to The School of Homeopathy, most homeopaths work between one and three days a week.

Many homeopaths offer appointments between the hours of 9am to 5pm, although you'll need to be flexible to suit your clients' needs. For example, you may choose to work some evenings or weekends.

What to expect

• Work is usually done on a one-to-one basis and can take place in your own home, from an alternative therapy clinic or sometimes in a GP practice. You may provide face-to-face or online appointments.
• You may need to have an additional job in the early stages of setting up a practice, until your client base becomes large enough to sustain a regular income. The time taken to build up a practice varies as you'll need to assess the local market and raise awareness of your services.
• Jobs are available in most areas of the UK and it's possible to set up a practice virtually anywhere.
• You're not likely to spend much time travelling or staying away overnight, although you may travel locally, for example if you're working from several locations.
• There may be opportunities to work abroad. If you want to work abroad, check local regulations as in some countries only medically-qualified homeopaths can practise legally.

Qualifications

There's currently no legal regulation of homeopaths in the UK and therefore no specific training requirements. However, it's recommended that you take a course accredited by a recognised professional body such as the Institute of Homeopathy Accreditation so that when you graduate you will be eligible to join either the Society of Homeopaths or the Alliance Register of Homeopaths. This shows you have met certain standards within your training.

Professional training courses are at an academic level that is equivalent to an undergraduate degree. Most courses are part time and typically last for four years. Courses can be face-to-face, online or a mixture of both. There are also distance learning options.

Learning will often take the form of lectures and tutorials, blended and online learning, as well as online clinics and supervised clinical practice. If you opt to study via attendance, you'll usually attend college for one weekend a month. Do your research to make sure the course style suits your particular career interests and needs, as each course will offer a different approach and focus.

Taster courses providing an introduction to homeopathy are also available through many of the course providers. These short courses (usually lasting a day or weekend) give you a flavour of the career to help you decide if it's something you would like to do.

If you're not sure you want to commit to training to become a practitioner, one-year foundation courses are also offered with the option of transferring on to the second year of the professional training course.

If you've already qualified as a statutorily regulated healthcare professional, such as a doctor, nurse, dentist or vet, and would like to integrate homeopathy into your conventional healthcare practice, you can take a homeopathy qualification accredited by the Faculty of Homeopathy. Courses are part time and usually delivered as blended learning.

Once qualified, it's recommended that you register with one of the main registering bodies:

• Alliance of Registered Homeopaths (ARH)
• Faculty of Homeopathy - for statutorily regulated healthcare professionals providing homeopathy
• Society of Homeopaths

Skills

You'll need to have:

• well-developed interpersonal, communication and listening skills for case-taking and patient management
• an open, non-judgemental approach and the ability to gain patients' trust
• sensitivity, maturity and resilience to cope with the emotional demands of patient consultations
• an analytical approach combined with creativity and intuition for choosing the appropriate treatment
• in-depth knowledge of remedies, and an understanding of disease processes
• attention to detail
• time management skills and the ability to remain calm under pressure
• the ability and confidence to promote and run your own practice
• business skills such as admin, marketing and book keeping if running your own practice.

Work experience

It's a good idea to attend open days and talk to current students or practitioners to help inform your decision about starting a career in homeopathy. You could also ask to work shadow a homeopath and to sit in during patient consultations to gain an insight into the role. (The patient would have to agree to this.) Contact the main homeopathic bodies or individual homeopaths to arrange a visit.

Experience of working with people - possibly in a related field such as a homeopathic pharmacy or healthcare role - and recent biological study are also helpful.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

The vast majority of homeopaths in the UK are self-employed, working in private practices based in the community often alongside other complementary or alternative therapists. You might also work:

• independently from home
• in a clinic dedicated to homeopathy
• in group practices, possibly from several bases.

Although not common, it may be possible for experienced practitioners to work as sessional therapists within the NHS. However, homeopathy isn't available on the NHS throughout the UK and these opportunities are few and far between.

As most homeopaths are self-employed, jobs aren't generally advertised. It's down to you to publicise your services and to attract new clients through talks and presentations, your website, social media and by word of mouth. You can also advertise your services via the registers of the main registering bodies.

Professional development

Keeping up to date with developments in homeopathic remedies and research is essential and continuing professional development (CPD) is vital. You can find out about relevant events, conferences and CPD activities via the professional associations.

Networking plays an important part in developing your practice and membership of one or more of the professional bodies can be useful for making contacts and exchanging ideas.

There may also be opportunities to get involved in homeopathic research. Post-qualification training is available from some of the colleges offering undergraduate professional training and some courses lead to a postgraduate diploma or award.

If you're a statutorily regulated healthcare professional, you can become a member of the Faculty of Homeopathy by passing their membership examination. Members can use the letters MFHom or VetMFHom after their name. Doctors who have achieved MFHom can apply for higher specialist training and gain specialist registration.

You could also consider training in other complementary and alternative medicines to expand the treatments that you offer within your practice.

You may want to take business-related courses in areas such as marketing and finance. For more information on setting up a business, see self-employment.

Career prospects

Learning to manage a practice takes time and you must be committed to developing a role in which, for the short and medium term, salary levels and numbers of clients may be low. Success depends on your ability to establish and build your reputation, which in turn depends largely on the amount of effort you put into building and marketing your business.

Once established, you may decide to train in other alternative therapies to complement your homeopathic practice. These may include aromatherapy, kinesiology, acupuncture, naturopathy, herbalism, reflexology and reiki.

With experience, you may find teaching opportunities at one of the colleges offering homeopathic courses or complementary therapy courses offering modules in homeopathy.

There are also some opportunities to get involved in research or journalism in the homeopathic field, or to help in the manufacture of homeopathic products.