What type of Naturopathy training and education do you offer?

We encounter a lot of confusion between traditional naturopathy- which we focus on preserving- and naturopathic "medical "  education.  Here is a link wherein this important concept is explained fully, and with clarity: http://drlindapage.typepad.com/healthyhealing/2009/07/what-is-a-traditional-naturopath-.html

Another very helpful source of information and support is the American Naturoapth's Association, with much wisdom shared at : http://www.americannaturopathsassociation.org/


Please give an overview of the Massage Therapy program at NSHA

Naturopaths - the healers of humanity throughout most of historical time-  were the first types of practitioners who employed massage in a therapeutic manner -  massage is one of the "pillars of naturopathy".  Due to the extensive background of massage therapy training and experience of our core faculty members, and the fact that some basic massage is taught within the ND program, a classical yet progressive option for a Massage Therapy program, leading to entitlement for licensure and National Certification, evolved out of the growth of NSHA.  This program focuses on teaching students to employ massage techniques in a therapeutic manner, while integrating evidence based natural therapeutics supportive to treatment outcomes.


How does your school differ from other schools of this kind?

There are actually very few schools of our kind- only a handful in the country- by that we mean a hands-on, on premises, experiential school.  Naturopathic School of the Healing Arts is committed to traditional Naturopathy education and practice.  

We are not a medical school, as in "naturopathic medical" school.  Such schools have different curriculums which follow the allopathic medical model as their paradigm, and require  medical pre-requisites for admission.    See our page on this site entitled "Naturopaths Are" for further insight.
 
We believe a genuine and authoritative education in this field, one that will serve you for the future, as this field grows, and public awareness and discernment evolves, is derived from a minimum 3 or 4 year program in living classrooms, providing on- premise clock hours, with living experienced teachers mentoring and guiding in living educational processes.  

You can best understand health and healing responses through living, hands-on education, mentored throughout the program duration by teachers with long term clinical experience.  We show, demonstrate, practice and directly experience, with living people, a variety of assessment and treatment methods utilized in the art and science of natural healing.

We encourage the individual prospective student to attend different classes and open houses as you journey towards your decision. We offer the opportunity to drop in , Open House style, for classes, and to register for an entire individual weekend class.  

We bring in new teachers from outside of our system, to bring fresh flow and perspective to the learning experience, and to assist the school and the students  in the development of professional  discernment and intellectual inquiry.  We strive to create a peaceful, supported, and inspiring experience for you to explore and follow your passion, while requiring high academic achievement under the personal guidance of our highly experienced teachers.

Are there prerequisites or co-requisites to program participation?

Prospective students must either have had recent previous college level or massage school level Anatomy and Physiology training, along with the transcripts to validate successful completion of such - OR- successfully complete a co-requisite of Anatomy and Physiology of basic community college level Anatomy and Physiology.  This does NOT need to include a cadaver dissection class. It can be an approved online course.  In other words-students may apply and enroll with the idea to complete this co-requisite while in the program.

Should a co-requisite be indicated, the student must enroll in the required course by or before the January following enrollment, and successfully complete the course prior to the beginning of their second year in our program.  

Another additional co-requisite for ALL STUDENTS is completion of a First Aid-CPR training.  These training certifications are offered through the Red Cross, and also American Heart Association.  Naturopathic School does not arrange this for students- it is a co-requisite outside of our program, required for achievement of the ND diploma.  

How much bodywork training is in the Naturopathy program?

We receive this general question frequently from massage therapists who are interested in expanding their training into Traditional Naturopathy.  Within an approved 2,160 hour diploma program curriculum, we spend about 50 hours teaching and practicing forms of massage classically associated with the work of a natural physician.  

We find that the forms, and the APPROACH, as well as  the focus and intention of our naturopathic bodywork training is not the same as that offered in conventional massage therapy schools.  We offer this portion of the training very early in the program- the first part of the first year- and it is as much for personal, transformational development of communications and presence as for "technique".  NSHA does not accept credit for any previous training in the healing arts field- with the exception of waiving the A & P co-requisite for recent (within 3 years, transcript-0 backed) A & P training elsewhere.

How much studying is required?

Prepare to be able to spend a minimum of 10-12 hours a week.  This translates to around 1.5 hours a day.   Be aware that this is a professional development program designed to educate and train for professional level work.

    Prospective students who wish proceed hrough the program for self enrichment only, may wish to consider the "audit" option, which does not require completion of assignments and does not convey a diploma.  This option works well for those who wish to join with like-minded others in the inspiring study of natural medicine, without the added responsibility of full program participation.

Assignments include reading for discussion and test comprehension, projects, and field work.  Many of our high achieving students also elect to engage in study groups and outside tutorials.  Study, assignment completion, and reading beyond the class gatherings are vital to program achievement..

Any student wishing to switch to a diploma track, after first selecting the "audit" track, will apply and pay a Transfer Costs of $1,000.00 for status in the diploma program, as well as exam and class make-up fees.  

Is there accreditation?

We address this with an essay at the bottom of this page.  Further developments towards accreditation choices are in the works.  

The process by which our school obtained a license to operate is similar to many "accreditation" processes, requiring the exact same applications, inspections, surety bonds, examination of all documents, scrutiny of legal contracts and wording, curriculum justfication, and lastly, fees.

On the one hand- our school offers high quality education and training which cannot be found in universities and colleges.  It is up to individual universities and colleges to accept your credit for your successful completion in our programs.

 What kinds of jobs are available to graduates?

First of all, we encourage readers to move away from "black and white" thinking on matters of jobs and job descriptions.  The holistic health care field has for many years offered a sense of creative self-definition to those who integrate their background of experience and training.  You are not stuck in a pigeonhole or a narrow scope of practice.  

An education in traditional naturopathy may move you closer to the profession of your choice- ranging from master herbalist, traditional naturopath, CAM provider, consultant in natural healing, iridologist, healing diets specialist, bodyworker, and more.

For the most part, our current students plan to offer services through private practice or within group practices with like-minded people.  Our students tend to seek out this path because they want to make a difference in the world, have some fundamental understanding of natural healing, and wish to take their passion into the world and allow it to unfold and help others. 

The school has created an on-premises clinic (New Life Energies Clinic) so that naturopath interns may begin to practice into their second year.  Our students are earning an income doing so now.   We particularly encourage group practices, as there is strength and support in numbers, and to that end we duplicate this atmosphere within the actual training by Year Two.  

Other students plan to make changes or additions within their current service offerings, as well as promote themselves within current positions as a result of their advanced level of education.  The more education and experience one offers the community, the more marketable they are.  

We know, and our students know, that naturopathy and natural healing continues to be an evolving field and discipline.  Hands-on training and supervised clinical experience have gained ascendancy over online training and correspondence courses.  More than anything- our students are enrolled and committed because of their passion and belief in the principles and practices of natural healing - and their awareness that a private school with decades of clinical experience behind the curriculum can provide the education they seek.

I have graduated from a massage school.  Can I test out of portions of your program? 

While we unable accept, for credit or tuition deduction,  any portion of training from any other program, we do honor the fact that any previous training and experience you may have has the potential to help you develop and deepen your overall healing skills in the process of learning naturopathy practice and becoming a natural physician -  including those of focus, creativity, and nuance.

Our current students include MD's, RN's, massage therapists and other healing arts practitioners who may have had exposure to healing arts training of different kinds in the past- along with students from all other walks of life.

Our program is one of personal and professional development specifically to this field of practice.  We support lifelong learning and continuing education in the healing arts.


What about credit from previous home study courses?

We encourage anyone who has either taken online courses. or considered them to now consider the great difference it makes to study and develop your career within a supportive, hands-on, experiential learning community.    

Clayton College, (a fully online education business)  which recently abruptly closed for good, may have been a harbinger in our changing times wherein natural health care takes its place along side of other health care choices.  As public awareness increases and public demand with it, our communities will naturally prefer those who have received supervised, hands-on education with clinical internships.

Your past participation in an online course will prepare you to be a better student-- however, our program does not offer advanced placement of any kind, as all students benefit from our entire program, which is a process oriented, living program of personal and professional development.

How does your school compare to medical school?

We train in health care for the traditional naturopathy model of practice- medical school does not offer this at all.  

Conventional medical school is allopathic education, training for disease management using pharmaceutical drugs and surgery.  This is not, nor do we aspire it to be, our scope of practice and education.  

Naturopathy has stood the test of time for hundreds of years, and one which we are dedicated to preserving.  We are not training people to work within the medical industry, although they could serve a helpful (and needed, in our opinion) role in upgrading the health care within that industry.  We are training our students to practice and preserve traditional, classical naturopathy - and to that end, each year of foundational training is necessary, as is the continuing education we promote, offer, and recommend. 

Medical professionals are welcome to consider our program of traditional naturopathy, to enrich, and integrate with their current modes of practice.

Tell me about the format of the school and what may be required of students going through the program

We gather for experiential teachings in classical applied naturopathic theory and  practice.  The entire program has an intensive nature, designed to immerse oneself in learning experiences when classes meet, and then reflectively complete assignments in between class sessions.  For some, taking a few preparatory classes, or committing to the first year, are excellent foundational steps.

Students should be prepared to allocate 6-8 hours per week of personal study time outside of class in order to do well in this program, due to the reading,  assignments, and projects that are required.  There is required homework to complete in between our monthly meeting times. We require a minimum 80% or higher grade to pass the program.  We maintain records and evaluations of individual students at the school.  .

Students should be prepared to pursue tutorials of subjects they find challenging-  this approach is also common in college, medical school, and within other intensive healing arts programs.  

The program is one of professional development- we encourage participants to evolve into the therapeutic presence as the program unfolds.  Be prepared to purchase any needed equipment, such as a massage table, basic iris analysis tools (flashlight and loop), books and notebooks, learning supports, hydrotherapy supports, and other tools of the trade and tools of personal practice, as you transform into a skilled practitioner.  

May we audiotape or videotape classes?

Our classes involve confidential dynamics and student processes, and we do not allow recording devices of any kind to record live classes.  This caveat also applies to students who are missing class for any reason.

Students are being trained to listen, respond to, and engage in the real world - in client care one would not record.  Learning to listen, focus, and pay attention is part of our training.

Students have ample opportunities to take notes, listen to talks and lectures, support their studies through reading, study groups, assignments, quizes, and hands-on experiences which are then discussed in class.  Students with learning challenges beyond what is offered in the program are encouraged to seek outside tutorials.... although we find this is rarely necessary.

What are admissions qualifications?

Although there are exceptions considered on an individual basis, a potential student must be 21 years of age or older, and possess some experience in the world beyond high school.  That could encompass general work experience, professional experience, OR one or more years of college, and/or completion of a 200 hour + healing arts certification.  We recognize that adult life and work experiences does prepare prospective students to consider the step and progression of a life changing program achievement such as those offered at Naturopathic School.  


Do you teach different therapies?

Yes, we teach our students to understand, demonstrate, apply, and choose among the many different therapeutic applications within the Naturopath's "medicine kit" and traditional scope of practice as it has been for generations.

Students who are educated in the application of applied natural therapeutics will not have the need to rely on gadgets and expensive machines in order to bring about healing outcomes.  In most all cases, very simple processes which can be duplicated within the client's own home are utilized. 

 These therapeutic applications include but are not limited to a variety of compresses, fomentations, poultices, soaks, herbal therapies, botanical/essential oil therapies, Hydrotherapy,  bodywork therapies (Naturopathic physical medicine and massage), some movement therapies, energy work, dietary approaches (including cultured, traditional, pastured and raw foods, as well as herbal nourishment), Iris Assessment, soft tissue evaluation,  and more.

 Additionally, students are guided in learning and practicing all aspect of herbology, medicinal herbal study, Herbal Pharmacy and Dispensary, apothecary skills- you will be able to produce therapeutic herbal formulations from seed to bottle or capsule yourself, if you wish, knowing the full scope and ramifications of the herbal quality and action.

What financial aid is available ? 

Check out the page on this site titled "Financial Planning".  The School offers a payment plan- request this information with your catalog. We recommend that students who need loans seek out private loans through credit unions or through their bank, or through other channels.  

Additionally, prospective students may be eligible for financial aid through the Michigan Works program.  www.MichiganWorks.org 

What do naturopaths do? 

Many of our students have, or will pursue, multiple trainings.  The foundation of what we do includes

~   offering consultations for family health and healing 
~    teaching within the community about natural healing
~   consulting with companies about natural health products
~   maintaining a private practice for the purpose of helping clients
~   working within an integrated clinic as the voice of natural healing
       protocols and methods, as consultant, practitioner, teacher.
~   taking emerging professional pathways, such as naturopathic pet care


Our blogs, newsletter, and other media give good insight into the workday of a naturopath.  Also check out the information at www.gaiaherbalstudies.net, which gives insight into medicinal herbal practice and study.

Is a license necessary to practice?

No.  There are approximately 15,000 naturopaths in the country, actively practicing, some for decades.  We do not seek licensure, which is governmental "permission" to do something.  

We seek enactment of a Health Freedoms Act or legislative bill which would resolve for our citizens the freedom to choose among a variety of health care practitioners- we already have that freedom, however a legislative bill would put it in writing, protecting our freedoms from being taken away in the future.

Meanwhile naturopaths have practiced for hundreds of years and will continue to.  While we do not seek licensure (which is "permission" to do something, not to be confused with a guarantee of training, skill, experience, or ideology),we at Naturopathic School of Ann Arbor are strong advocates of professionalism, hands-on education, clinical training, development of educational and curriculum standards, and innovation in naturopathy/natural medicine education.  When and if political climates and law change, we will be the first to inform. 

An enlightening discussion of this issue is offered by Dr. Linda Page:
drlindapage.typepad.com/healthyhealing/2009/07/what-is-a-traditional-naturopath-.html

 "Naturopathic" Physicians-  ("NMD") which is a different job title (following a medical model interpretation, a different philosophy, and different scope of practice, with a different education- (and lacking much of the important traditional naturopathic training we offer) - do as a group seek licensure around the country, as they seek to admit people to hospitals, perform surgery, and diagnose medical disease.  They practice in Michigan, but DO NOT have licensure.  They seek licensure to define their practice, which is different from our own, and moreover, to gain entry into the medical system with its insurance reimbursement model.

Naturopaths do not follow that model, which is an allopathic model.

 There will always be a demand for well trained and skilled naturopaths, and that demand is growing more and more each day- our communities need us!  Naturopaths practice in all 50 states, in Europe, and all over the world.  

ACCREDITATION