Choosing the best alternative healing school depends on the methods of healing you are interested in. Different healing traditions have different styles of educating new healers, some involving classes or school and others involving apprenticeship. One way to choose the best alternative healing school for your chosen method is to talk to people who are advanced in the field, particularly people you respect. Looking at the qualifications of others may not reveal the perfect alternative healing school, but it will provide a good place to start.
There are many factors to consider when choosing an alternative healing school. Some people believe that schools that are local are preferable, because these schools will give you a strong basis in the community. Others believe that schools located in the area where the healing tradition originated are better, because these will provide your healing with authenticity. Location is also a consideration because some people may not be able to travel far to go to school. Sometimes, you must compromise the prestige of the school for the practicality of attending it.
Some traditions have well-established rules about what qualifications are required to become a healer. These traditions often specify certain types of education, and this education may even be required by law in order to practice healing. Even when the qualifications are not required by law, it is unlikely that a person who has not been trained according to the relevant tradition will be able to have a successful practice. Obeying the traditions of your healing method is usually seen as extremely important by people who believe in the powers of alternative healing.
Given that standards are often changing and not all information is reputable, one of the best ways to choose an appropriate alternative healing school for your needs is to talk to healers who are already practicing. If a healer that you respect has advice about a particular school or if he or she received training in a specific way, then that advice should be taken under consideration. Receiving similar training may allow you to become a healer of similar strengths.
If you cannot find an appropriate alternative healing school through social networking, there are sometimes online resources that can help. The best place to start with online resources is researching the requirements for alternative healers as well as what schools are located in your area. Sometimes, reviews of these schools can be found, although objectivity is sometimes a concern in these small communities. As a last resort, it is sometimes possible to attend alternative healing courses online, but these should be approached with caution because they are not always reputable.