What happens when you have a consultation?
Updated: Sep 14
If you haven't had a homeopathic consultation before, you may be unsure about what to expect or feel a little nervous about the process.
In this article, I explain what you can expect during a first consultation, the kinds of questions you may be asked, and what may happen afterwards.
I hope this gives you a clearer idea of what a homeopathic consultation is like and helps you feel more comfortable before your first appointment.
#1 - Working with a Homeopath
In a conventional medical consultation, you may discuss your symptoms with a doctor, who may assess your symptoms, make a diagnosis where appropriate, and recommend treatment.
In a homeopathic consultation, the focus is different. A homeopath will listen to your individual experience of your symptoms and consider this information when selecting a homeopathic remedy.
Homeopathy does not base the selection of a remedy simply on a diagnostic name. Instead, your homeopath considers the individual pattern of your symptoms and your wider experience.
Your homeopath will respect your decisions and support you with homeopathy regardless of what you choose. Your health decisions remain your own, and you will work with your homeopath as a team to review your experience and consider the next steps.
#2 - What can you expect to be asked during the consultation?
In a homoeopathic consultation, your homoeopath will ask you a variety of questions. You will be not only inquired about your main complaints, but also about your medical history, family history, emotional health, lifestyle, diet, and relationship with family and friends.
For example,
What was your health like when you were born?
What do you know about your health or experiences during pregnancy?
What health conditions have affected previous generations of your family?
Does your family have a history of cancer or other significant health conditions?
Is there a history of allergies in your family?
What are your relationships like within your family?
What is your diet like?
What is your lifestyle like?
How would you describe your stress levels?
How would you describe your mental and emotional wellbeing?
What is your medical history?
What medications or supplements are you taking?
Have you experienced any significant or traumatic events in your life?
These questions help your homeopath build a fuller picture of your individual experience and consider which homeopathic approach may be appropriate for you.
If you are preparing for a consultation, you may also find it helpful to read my article about how to observe and collect symptoms when choosing a homeopathic remedy.
#3 - What is the purpose of having a consultation?
The purpose of a homeopathic consultation is to understand you as a whole person. As described above, you may be asked about many different aspects of your health, experiences and everyday life.
This process is different from self-prescribing or an acute consultation. Homeopathy has different approaches to prescribing, and homeopaths are trained to consider which approach may be appropriate in an individual case.
It can be difficult to observe yourself objectively, particularly when you are experiencing ongoing or complex symptoms. You may also be unaware of certain patterns in your own experiences. This is one reason why homeopaths also consult other homeopaths when they need an outside perspective.
The aim is to build a detailed picture of your physical and emotional experience so that you and your homeopath can consider the most appropriate way of working together.
If you would like to understand more about the difference between acute and chronic consultations, you may also find it helpful to read my article on this topic.
#4 - What happens after consultation?
After the first consultation, your homeopath may make an initial prescription based on the information discussed during the consultation.
After some weeks, depending on your individual circumstances, the response to the prescription can be reviewed. We can look at what has changed, what has not changed, and anything else you have noticed since the consultation.
Rather than assuming that every consultation will follow the same pattern, we can review your progress and consider the next steps together. Some people may have several consultations over a number of months, while others may need a different frequency depending on their individual circumstances.
Homeopathy is sometimes described as being like peeling the layers of an onion. In my practice, I use this as a way of describing how the focus of a consultation may change as you observe and discuss your experiences over time. It does not mean that everyone will need a different remedy for every new layer.
Before your next consultation, it can be helpful to maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep track of any symptoms or changes you notice. If you experience emotional changes after taking a remedy, please let your homeopath know.
I recommend that my clients keep a journal. If you notice unusual dreams, changes in your emotions, or patterns that you had not previously noticed, you may find it useful to write them down and discuss them at your next consultation.
I have also written a blog about keeping a journal, which you can read here.
In my practice, follow-up consultations are usually scheduled around six to eight weeks apart. This allows time to observe changes while also providing an opportunity to review your experience.
If something needs attention before the next scheduled consultation, I may ask you for an email update. Depending on the situation, I may suggest stopping or repeating a remedy. If a change of remedy or a fuller discussion is needed, I may bring the next consultation forward rather than dealing with this by email.
If you would like to know more about how to observe whether a remedy is working, you may also find it helpful to read my article on this topic.
#5 - Will you tell me the reason why each remedy is prescribed?
Every homeopath will have a different answer to this question, so I can only explain my approach in my own practice.
I would say, "No, not necessarily."
In my practice, I usually don't explain in detail why I have selected a particular remedy at the time of prescribing. This is my personal approach, rather than a rule followed by every homeopath.
One reason is that I would like clients to have the opportunity to observe their own experience without being influenced too much by expectations about a particular remedy. Knowing information about a remedy can sometimes make us focus on whether our experience matches what we have read about it, rather than simply noticing what we actually experience.
For this reason, I usually ask clients to focus on their own experience after taking a remedy.
We will also have agreed on the purpose and priorities of the consultation, and I will ask you at the end of each session what is most important for you at that point.
Some homeopaths do not tell clients which remedy they are taking at all. My own homeopath does not usually tell me either. I understand this approach because if I already know the remedy, I may unconsciously develop expectations based on what I know about it.
I have sometimes had follow-up consultations where a client has remembered a great deal about a remedy from reading Materia Medica, but has had less opportunity to describe what they personally experienced. I appreciate the client's enthusiasm and interest, but I would rather hear about their experience in their own words.
So, there is a reason for my approach. If you would like to know which remedy was prescribed and why, I am happy to discuss this with you at the end of the following consultation.
#6 - When acute symptoms appear
If you experience an acute issue between consultations, please contact your homeopath to discuss whether an acute appointment may be appropriate.
Some people also choose to keep a basic homeopathic remedy kit at home for minor, everyday situations. Helios Homeopathic Pharmacy offers basic kits containing either 18 or 36 remedies, as well as specialised kits for situations such as travel and childbirth.
You can find more information about these kits on the Helios website.
Homeopathic remedies should not be used as a substitute for appropriate medical care. If you have a serious or potentially life-threatening symptom, seek appropriate medical help without delay.
If you are unable to reach your homeopath and need advice about homeopathic remedies, Helios Pharmacy may be able to provide information by telephone. This should not be considered a substitute for medical advice in an emergency.
#7 - Conclusion
I hope this article has given you a clearer idea of what to expect during and after a homeopathic consultation.
It can be nerve-racking to have your first consultation, especially if you have never tried homeopathy before or don't know what to expect. It is completely normal to feel this way.
I believe that homeopathic consultations work best as a collaboration between the homeopath and the client, with open communication helping to build trust and understanding.
If you are considering a homeopathic consultation and would like to talk through your situation first, you are welcome to book a 15-minute introductory chat.
You can also book a full consultation if you feel ready to get started.
Love and gratitude
Hiroko
