Could I become a Colon Hydrotherapist?
Yes. Some people are already qualified in other CAM therapies and Colon Hydrotherapy would be an adjunctive therapy to what is already practiced. Some people have no background in a Medical or CAM therapy so training will take a little more commitment with a certain amount of pre-qualification needing to be evidenced before the specific Colon Hydrotherapy course can be started.
Practical skills
On the practical side, you need to be comfortable with the clinical aspects of this career. Working with rectums and faeces every day, and talking about bowel movements in descriptive detail with complete strangers, is not for everyone. However, if you are qualified as a therapist in another field, then the chances are that you have many of the skills and the approach to succeed.
People skills
You also need to enjoy working with people, and have the kind of personality that puts them at their ease. It’s only natural for clients to feel a little unsure prior to their first treatment, so it is important that you can clearly explain each aspect of the treatment procedure and reassure them and make them feel comfortable. You need to be a good listener and be able to empathise with how digestive problems can impact across a person’s life, and similarly understand how the stresses of a person’s life can impact on their digestion.
Running your own business
Most Colon Hydrotherapists are self-employed, and this involves developing business skills such as organisation and record keeping, advertising and marketing. You will be responsible for all aspects of your business, from cleaning the clinic to filing your tax return. If you have been employed so far in your career the transition to self-employment will need to be researched first, but there is lots of help available from local business support organisations as well as from ARCH itself.
