Specialise or diversify?

[SMM]

I read over a few different posts on different threads on the forum, which have been so helpful (some probably more than once) as I have been considering this most of today.

In terms of skillset and practicing, in this case therapies, healthcare and survival skills to some degree, does it make more sense to have a diverse range of therapies or specialise and work in a specific field to a higher level?

Long-term, for several reasons, I would like to leave the country. I can either do short courses with one day practicals, and be content with having a diverse range at a standard practitioner diploma level.

Then again, I am drawn to Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine. That may mean staying in the country longer, or finding suitable options elsewhere. It is possible to plan and visit family or go to other countries and return until I finish Acupuncture or Integrative Medicine, if I choose to specialise.

There is plenty of time to make a decision, so I don't feel rushed essentially. To sort out loose ends and stabilise as best as possible is key over the coming years.

What someone wrote in this thread keeps coming back: look at what you have to lose, not what you have to gain.

 

[Jenn]

In terms of skillset and practicing, in this case therapies, healthcare and survival skills to some degree, does it make more sense to have a diverse range of therapies or specialise and work in a specific field to a higher level?

Some questions that helped me were:

• What is my aim, short-term/long-term? This could be personal/ career etc.
• What would I like to know more about and study at a deeper level?
• What would I like to do with these skills when I have completed the course? See next question
• Is it for general interest purposes, or do I want to start a business and make an income?
• Do finances and time constraints factor into the decision at all eg. student loans/ debts?
• Am I interested and motivated enough to commit to the amount of studying required?

For me personally, I wanted to try to get really good at one particular skill, as the saying "a jack of all trades is a master of none" made sense to me. For example, someone could be an excellent reflexologist and study for 1-2 years or they could be a more general therapist that is pretty good at reflexology but also offers 10 different types of therapy. Neither one is right or wrong, but it depends on what you would like to do and for what purpose imo. Another thing to consider is that the therapy field is heavily saturated, so it can help to have a "unique selling point" and a specialism that people seek you out for.
In my case, there are at least 10 other massage therapists in my small town so differentiating myself from them has been tricky, which is partly why I chose to study Osteopathy. Alternatively, studying a broad number of subjects to diploma level could help you to identify one particular area you enjoy and wanted to study further, that is if you have the funds and time to do so.

If you hone in on one thing you enjoy, that's not to say you have to exclude other healing modalities. Even though I am studying Osteopathy which focuses on the structure of the body, I may also consider how diet relates to someone's illness/ symptoms, but I recognise my limitations and know that I will never have the whole picture, so I may send them to a nutritionist who is a specialist in the field. I hope that makes sense.

If acupuncture is something that interests you, why not take a small taster course/ attend an open day and read some relevant books on the subject and put the feelers out there. You could also contact a local acupuncturist and explain you are interested in entering the profession and see if you can do a work-experience/ shadowing period to really get a feel for what the job entails.

Long-term, for several reasons, I would like to leave the country. I can either do short courses with one day practicals, and be content with having a diverse range at a standard practitioner diploma level.

In that case, if moving away is your long-term goal, I would check to see whether the qualifications you want to gain are transferrable to other countries. Some qualifications can be used elsewhere, while others would be void and you would need to study again in your chosen country.

Maybe it would help to do some Pennebakerjournalling/ Jordan Peterson future authoring to give you some inspiration?

 

[Keyhole]

If you attempt to put yourself into the shoes of someone who is seeking out a professional in alternative medicine/healing, then you might be able to gain better insight into which path to choose.

I know that if I had a chronic health issue and wanted to resolve it through alternative methods (for instance through acupuncture), then I would actively seek out a practitioner who specialized in that field and had a good set of credentials and qualifications specific to acupuncture. Likewise, if I sought out nutritional advice, I would personally be looking for a nutritionist or medical doctor with some specialized training in nutrition.

This is because a solid depth and breadth of knowledge in a specific field is difficult to obtain for someone who spreads themselves too "thin", and I believe that the general public understands this to a large extent. That is not to say that there are not general therapists who can become good at multiple different therapies, but I think as a general rule, they are harder to come by. People want someone who can demonstrate their knowledge and experience so that they can put their trust in them.

One thing to also consider is that there are many people who seem to prefer practitioners who provides multiple different therapies and are not looking for more specialized services. So it really depends on what your aims are.

Do you want to get really good at one thing, and accept that your knowledge-base will be more limited in other areas? Or alternatively do you want to build up a wide variety of tools in your tool box, but not specialize in any of those areas?

In my opinion, specializing in one field and trying to become competent in that area is a superior way to go. But I will admit that I certainly have a personal bias.

Undertaking taster courses, or a broader overall training course which involves several different topics might provide you with some insight into which area is most appealing to you. This might help you make a decision on which path is the best for you.