Complementary therapist: What does your day-to-day work look like?

Complementary therapists work with individuals and/or groups. Some methods have standardized treatment sequences that extend over 6 to 10 sessions, while other methods view each session as a self-contained unit.

At the beginning, they clarify the current issue, wishes and needs with the client. The therapist may have the client perform certain movements or palpate something in order to get an additional picture of the complaints and possible causes. The actual treatment is then discussed. Depending on the method, this can take place in a standing, sitting or lying position. In most cases, the whole body is treated, which usually remains clothed. The therapy can be accompanied verbally or take place in silence. In some methods, the therapist instructs the client to perform certain movements, to be aware of the body and to pay attention to changes. In other methods, the therapist uses gentle pressure and massage techniques to balance the energy flows of the meridians, release blockages and tension points or realign the skeleton with micro-movements and loosen stuck fascia strands. The aim of each method is to stimulate self-healing processes on a physical, mental and spiritual level and to help harmonize the body's energies.

Complementary therapists often have their own practice. Other options include joining a group practice or working in medical facilities such as health centers, rehabilitation centers, hospitals and clinics.

Good to know:

The training market offers courses in various complementary therapy methods. For example, in foot reflexology, classical massage, lymphatic drainage, nutritional counseling, etc. They conclude with a "school's own certificate (cert.)" from the respective school.

A federal qualification in complementary therapy has been available in Switzerland since 2015. The title "Complementary therapist with a federal diploma" can be obtained by passing this examination (Higher Professional Examination, HFP). The following methods can be used to complete the training (as of March 2024)

• Acupressure therapy
• Acupuncture massage therapy (APM therapy)
• Alexander Technique
• Respiratory therapy
• Aquatic bodywork
• Ayurveda therapy
• Movement and body therapy
• Biodynamics
• Craniosacral therapy
• Eutony
• Fascia therapy
• Feldenkrais Therapy
• Eurythmy therapy
• Kinesiology
• Polarity
• Rebalancing
• Reflex zone therapy
• Rhythmic massage therapy
• Shiatsu
• Structural integration
• Trager Therapy
• Yoga therapy

Target group and skills: Who is the complementary therapist training course suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?

The target group for complementary therapist training (certification) depends, among other things, on the method.

Complementary therapy training is generally aimed at the following people:

• People who are interested in the relevant method and would like to acquire knowledge about it
• People who work in a therapeutic or counseling profession and would like further training in a specific method
• Professionals from the healthcare, naturopathic or curative education professions who wish to broaden their knowledge horizons and offer their clients and patients alternative treatment methods

The following qualities are required to work successfully as a complementary therapist:

• Be open to new things and enjoy discovering your own talents and abilities
• Physical and mental resilience
• Time reserves for self-study and learning groups
• Show willingness to integrate into groups and take steps together.
• Ability to run your own business

Prerequisites for admission to complementary therapist training:

The admission requirements depend, among other things, on the chosen method in which complementary therapist training is completed.

As a rule, complementary therapy training is open to all interested persons. No specific previous training or professional experience is required.

Some schools require the following points for admission:

• Age of majority
• Apprenticeship qualification with federal certificate of proficiency (EFZ) or several years of professional experience
• Sufficient knowledge of German

Good to know:

As there are no protected professional designations or titles (regardless of the complementary therapy method chosen), it is important to provide evidence of your own seriousness and professional competence. This is usually done by registering with the ASCA (Swiss Foundation for Complementary Medicine) and/or the EMR (Empirical Medicine Register) and/or by becoming a member of an association.

For inclusion in the ASCA and/or EMR register, a minimum number of hours of basic knowledge (conventional medical knowledge / "Medical basics") and specialist training must be demonstrated. This minimum number of hours depends on the chosen complementary therapy method and is set out in the respective ASCA and EMR list of methods.

Input: Why is registration in the ASCA and/or EMR registry important?

Both the ASCA and the EMR are quality labels for activities in complementary medicine. Many health insurance companies are based on the ASCA and EMR. This means that therapists who are registered with the ASCA and/or EMR can often work in a way that is recognized by health insurance companies. But beware! This is not always the case. More and more health insurance companies are demanding an industry certificate or a federal diploma from the professional organizations (OdA AM, OdA KT, OdA MM, ODA ARTECURA, Swiss Association of Osteopaths FSO-SVO) in order to be able to work with health insurance companies. This will continue to increase in the future.

Subject matter and content of the training

The subject matter of a complementary therapist training course is based on the respective complementary therapy method.

Furthermore, the learning content is determined independently by the school and can therefore vary.

In general, the following contents are covered:

• Basics of the chosen method or discipline (origin, development, topicality, etc.)
• Anatomy, physiology and diseases
• Principles, concepts, techniques and effects of treatment
• Structure and course of treatment
• Indicators, contraindicators and limits of treatment

The subject matter of some courses also includes the "Medical Basics" (as a prerequisite for admission to the ASCA and/or EMR register).

Costs and financing of further training

The costs for a complementary therapist training course leading to a "school certificate" depend, among other things, on the chosen complementary therapy method, the level (introductory, basic or advanced courses) and the duration (from a few days to several months).

In addition, the schools set their own costs, so these can vary from provider to provider.

The cost range (between CHF 800 and CHF 20,000) is therefore too broad to be meaningfully presented here.

Some providers also charge extra for

• Teaching aids
• Training documents etc.

Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out the actual costs.

Course structure, duration of study, training options, teaching format and learning effort

• Structure:Complementary therapist training is generally designed to be part-time and has a modular structure. This means that each module is taken and completed individually.
• Duration:The duration of courses in the field of complementary therapy varies greatly and depends on the provider and level, among other things. There are introductory and in-depth courses that only last a few days, but there are also basic courses that last several months. Finally, there are also intensive courses, which also have a shorter duration.
• Variants:The schools decide independently when the lessons take place. Some courses offer lessons two days a week and on selected Saturdays. Others only offer lessons one day a week. Still others also offer intensive variants.
• Teaching format:Complementary therapist training takes place in face-to-face classes at many schools. Depending on the situation, theory lessons can be offered in online lessons or hybrid lessons.
• Learning effort:You should allow sufficient time to prepare for and follow up on the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your previous knowledge, working style and learning speed. We recommend that you allow at least 4-6 hours per week as a precaution.

Degree, diploma and title

Those who have successfully passed all modules of the complementary therapist training course are admitted to the final examination.

As a rule, the final examination consists of two parts: a theoretical and a practical part. In the practical part, a treatment in the corresponding complementary therapy method must be carried out on a client in front of the experts.

Diploma and title

Successful graduates receive a certificate / diploma from the respective school: "[complementary therapy method] therapist [name of school]" or "diploma [complementary therapy method] therapist [name of school]".