Choosing a complementary therapist

For each therapy mentioned in this section, we give details of an organisation that can help you find a qualified and registered therapist.

• Always use a qualified therapist who belongs to a professional body. Complementary therapy organisations can recommend therapies and practitioners.
• Ask the organisation about the level of qualification their practitioners have.
• Check if the organisation has a code of practice and ethics, and also a disciplinary and complaints procedure (the better organisations will have this).
• Ask the practitioner how many years of training they’ve had and how long they’ve been practising.
• Ask if they have indemnity insurance (in case of negligence).
• Don’t be misled by promises of a cure. No reputable therapist would claim to be able to cure cancer.

Useful organisation

The Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)

83 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0HW
Tel: 020 3178 2199

www.cnhc.org.uk|

CNHC |is the UK regulator for complementary healthcare practitioners which was set up with Government funding and support in 2008. Its key function is to enhance public protection by giving the general public and commissioners of services access to a list of practitioners that have been assessed as meeting national standards of competence and practice. You can use the online register on their website to check if your complementary healthcare practitioner is registered.