Debunking Myths About Holistic Therapy: Reframing Fears for Therapists

Breaking Free from Holistic Therapy Myths

So many aspiring holistic clinicians remind me of myself in my early days. Their hearts and minds are earnest and full of inspiration. They desire to make a difference, yet they feel held back by fears and self-doubt because they have no clear model to follow.

In fact, part of my inspiration for starting HFPI was because I was regularly receiving unsolicited messages from therapy graduate students and seasoned clinicians alike, all asking me how I did it and how they could do it too.

You’re not alone in seeking guidance. Believe me. In fact, figuring all of this out was practically a second job for me for years. It took years of training across disciplines, credentialing in other fields, consultations with multiple lawyers, searching my own heart, and summoning all of my courage to get to where I am today.

I'm a holistic therapist trainer, and I want to share with you the top fears and doubts I’ve heard time and time again - whether echoed in my own head or from the mouths of clinicians just like you. I also want to clear them up, helping you understand once and for all that the roadblocks you once thought were permanent are merely signs that you are blazing a new trail along the road less traveled - and that’s a good thing.

8 Myths That Hold Therapists Back (And The Truth Behind Them)

Myth 1: If I practice holistically, I’ll be abandoning science and evidence-based practice. I’ll lose all respect.

Reframe: The HFPI holistic therapist training approach is rooted in evidence. This includes cutting-edge evidence that hasn’t yet gone mainstream. With the right training, you’ll learn to confidently present that evidence to clients and colleagues alike. You can actually enhance respect for your work by speaking to the evidence behind what you do.

Myth 2: Holistic methods and functional medicine are out of my scope. Only doctors and nutritionists should practice this.

Reframe: Intelligent and ethical therapists always keep scope in mind. That’s exactly why this kind of holistic therapist training program exists. Since functional medicine has long been thought of as a discipline for doctors, nurse practitioners, and nutritionists, it makes sense that you might be wary. However, there is an important place for functionally trained therapists within the functional medicine network of practitioners.

You can use all the skills you’ve been trained in, plus complementary skills you’ll learn in a holistic and functional training program, to do the job you already excel at and are qualified to do: develop therapeutic relationships with clients to support lasting mental, behavioral, spiritual, and emotional change. You’ll just be doing it with in an enhanced and even more effective way.

Myth 3: There’s no demand for holistic therapy where I live.

Reframe: It might surprise you, but more clients than ever are seeking holistic, values-aligned therapists, especially when conventional therapy approaches and medication haven’t gone far enough. If you speak to what clients truly want, they’ll not only find you… They’ll flock to your practice.

Myth 4: My licensing board won’t allow it.

Reframe: Licensing boards care that you are trained, credentialed, working within scope, and practicing evidence-based methods. You may be surprised to know that wellness and prevention (including complementary & alternative medicine, nutrition, and sleep) are approved continuing education content areas for Professional Counselors! This content is not only allowed, but explicitly mentioned and encouraged as an area for therapist skill development.

Myth 5: I’ll have to go back to school to get another degree or credential. I can’t bring myself to start all over again.

Reframe: I promise that you don’t have to start from scratch. There is no need to go back to school to become a doctor, nutritionist, or coach. The reality is that many tools used by holistic and functional medicine providers are similar across disciplines due to the big-picture perspective inherent in these approaches, many of which are in scope. A specialized training for therapists allows you to integrate functional and holistic tools into your existing scope with an accelerated, exciting, and tailored curriculum.

Myth 6: I can’t practice holistically because I can’t write my case notes or treatment plans without looking stupid.

Reframe: Many holistic approaches fall into widely accepted categories of practice, such as behavioral interventions, mindfulness interventions, stress reduction, sleep hygiene, and guided imagery. By choosing a program that teaches you how to tailor your explanation of what you do to multiple audiences (colleagues, insurance companies, and clients), you can write your case notes with confidence.

Myth 7: I like the way I practice. I don’t want to change everything.

Reframe: You don’t have to change everything. HFPI’s model can gently layer into the work you already love, whether you use EMDR, IFS, brief therapy, or another modality. If you’re ready for a full practice transformation, it can also become your primary way of practicing. It’s flexible. Our graduates may sit anywhere along the spectrum in between, doing what makes the most sense for their practices.

Myth 8: There’s no place for me in the integrative and functional medicine world.

Reframe: When I completed my Institute of Functional Medicine training, I was surprised by how welcomed I felt. Medical professionals actually asked me for insight on mental health, rapport building, and lasting behavior change. They genuinely valued my perspective and saw me as an expert in these areas.

Also, the trainers emphasized over and over again the necessity of behavior change as a core pillar of patient recovery, and even went so far as to say that the best functional medicine plans fail if behavior doesn’t change! Guess how many times the trainers mentioned “trauma” in my most recent training: 21 times! Integrative, holistic, naturopathic, and functional medicine doctors know what you can do and need you to do it in order to be effective.

Ready for Holistic Therapy Training?

If you’re ready to step into the future of therapy, I’d be honored to guide you. Ready to take the leap? ​Enroll in the certificate program here​.