Mountain Massage Institute
No names are listed for this school, for that information consumers have to go to the website address that is provided, which lists Cammi Balleck as the owner, and Jill Montieth and Beth Boyd as instructors. Camela Ann Balleck and Jill Montieth are both licensed as massage therapists with the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, MT.0003610 and MT.0011125, respectively. A license for Beth Boyd is a little less clear as the database does not list a license under that specific name.
The State of Colorado requires massage schools to meet one of four requirements, one of which is to be approved by the Division of Private and Occupational Schools, which does list Mountain Massage Institute in its database.
Also noted on the website is owner Cammi Balleck's claim to have taught massage therapy for eight years, which could refer to her former position as massage therapy instructor at Colorado Northwest Community College (CNCC) in Craig, Colorado, during which time she used a number of credentials including certified nutritionist, certified naturopath, bachelor's degree, doctorate, PhD, and "numerous degrees", none of which could be corroborated at that time.
In addition, this individual has another listing in Steamboat Bodyworks under Hormone Balancing. The website for that business and a book authored by Cammi Balleck, which is offered for free, both reveal some of the same credentials, and again, none can be corroborated.
And, astonishingly, the website proclaims Cammi Balleck is "working on her second PhD."
It is best to avoid individuals whose credentials cannot be verified.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Consumer Guide to Steamboat Bodyworks-Massage Therapy Credentials
Licensing and certification
The state of Colorado requires massage therapists to be licensed with the Department of Regulatory agencies. Licensing is the strictest form of regulation and the most important credential for therapists and consumers. For therapists, it attests to meeting standards of skills and abilities. For consumers, it ensures a level of public health, safety, and welfare.
Licensure is considered non-voluntary, on the other hand, certification is voluntary. Certification is obtained mostly from private, non-governmental organizations, and can mean that certification has been granted based on the achievement of certain skills and knowledge for a particular method of massage therapy, or it can mean a professional certification that provides support for massage therapists in the form of insurance coverage, marketing materials, etc., which would not be of concern to consumers as much as mastery of relevant skills and knowledge.
Licensing and certification credentials are not interchangeable
Placing the correct credentials in the proper order helps consumers to evaluate the suitability of a particular practice to the needs of the consumer. Because of the value of education and professional credentials, there is a standard, accepted order, based on importance and relevance, of placing credentials after a name; academic degrees, followed by licenses, and then certifications.
Any Massage Therapist, LMT, CMT
LMT, Licensed Massage Therapist, is most important as it is a requirement to practice and should always be placed after a massage therapist's name. CMT, Certified Massage Therapist, is second in importance as it is not a requirement to practice. However, certification itself is not so clear to consumers and because of the number of different certifying agencies, all claims of certification should be quantified as to type of certification and from where it was granted.
Colorado's Massage Therapists Practice Act can be read here.
The state of Colorado requires massage therapists to be licensed with the Department of Regulatory agencies. Licensing is the strictest form of regulation and the most important credential for therapists and consumers. For therapists, it attests to meeting standards of skills and abilities. For consumers, it ensures a level of public health, safety, and welfare.
Licensure is considered non-voluntary, on the other hand, certification is voluntary. Certification is obtained mostly from private, non-governmental organizations, and can mean that certification has been granted based on the achievement of certain skills and knowledge for a particular method of massage therapy, or it can mean a professional certification that provides support for massage therapists in the form of insurance coverage, marketing materials, etc., which would not be of concern to consumers as much as mastery of relevant skills and knowledge.
Licensing and certification credentials are not interchangeable
Placing the correct credentials in the proper order helps consumers to evaluate the suitability of a particular practice to the needs of the consumer. Because of the value of education and professional credentials, there is a standard, accepted order, based on importance and relevance, of placing credentials after a name; academic degrees, followed by licenses, and then certifications.
Any Massage Therapist, LMT, CMT
LMT, Licensed Massage Therapist, is most important as it is a requirement to practice and should always be placed after a massage therapist's name. CMT, Certified Massage Therapist, is second in importance as it is not a requirement to practice. However, certification itself is not so clear to consumers and because of the number of different certifying agencies, all claims of certification should be quantified as to type of certification and from where it was granted.
Colorado's Massage Therapists Practice Act can be read here.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Consumer Guide to Steamboat Bodyworks-Massage
A Massage for All You Do!
No name is listed for this business, as a result no license can be verified.
It is best to avoid practices in which no names are made available and licenses cannot be verified.
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A Most Kneaded Massage
Lucille Gruss, CMT
This therapist is licensed through the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, MT.0004100, and, as such is allowed to put credentials after her name indicating that; LMT or MT for Licensed Massage Therapist or Massage Therapist. The letters CMT, Certified Massage Therapist, mean something else; certification is not the same as licensing. Certification in the massage industry can come from a number of certifying entities and can mean extra training hours and acquiring certain skills for certain methods or techniques of massage therapy, which would be in addition to the requirements for licensing with the state. To be more accurate and provide useful information to potential clients, the proper credentials, LMT or MT, should be used and any certification should be clarified as to the kind of certification and the agency which administers it.
Clients can save money by skipping the reflexology method which is based on the notion, which has not been proven and actually doesn't make sense, that certain points on the hands and feet correspond to and can somehow manipulate internal organs.
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Adrienne Welder, CMT
Sacred Spiral Healing Arts
This therapist is licensed through the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, MT.0006406. Because the state requires massage therapists to be licensed in order to practice, it would be appropriate and helpful to consumers to list licensing credentials, LMT(Licensed Massage Therapist) or MT(Massage Therapist). Listing certification informs clients of added training, but because of the number of certifying entities it is difficult to verify credentials. Listing the kind of certification and from where it was achieved would be helpful.
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Advanced Massage and Healing Arts
Lena Steed-Franzen, CMT
This therapist is licensed through the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, MT.0003998. For consumers, licensing means a therapist has met the requirements of state approved massage therapy education and also insures that therapists practice within the scope of the law. Massage therapy licensing protects the consumer, and the credentials that go with that, LMT(Licensed Massage Therapist) or MT(Massage Therapist) are more important than CMT, Certified Massage Therapist, which can indicate additional training hours for particular methods or techniques, but are not an indication of consumer protection.
Clients can save money by skipping the energy work, color energy, and sound healing gimmicks.
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Ali Boehm of Kneading Hands
No credentials are listed for this individual, however there is an Alison Boehm listed in the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies database licensed as MT.0002963.
This individual claims a "Best of the Boat" designation, which turns out to be not much help for consumers in determining the quality of the business as that designation is based not on a poll or survey, but on a popularity contest.
LMT (Licensed Massage Therapist) or MT (Massage Therapist) are much more important credentials and should be listed. Licensing takes a certain amount of work to achieve and lends a level of assurance to consumers of quality and capability.
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All Season Wellness Day Spa
No name is provided for this business, so no license can be verified.
It is best to avoid practices in which no names are mad available and licenses cannot be verified.
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Alternative Bodywork by Colleen
Colleen Perkins
No credentials are listed for this individual, however the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies database lists Colleen Perkins, license MT.0002119.
Clients can save money by skipping the reflexology method which is based on the notion, which has not been proven and actually doesn't make sense, that certain points on the hands and feet correspond to and can somehow manipulate internal organs.
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All Star Mobile Massage
No name listed for this business, so no license can be verified.
It is best to avoid practices in which no names are made available and licenses cannot be verified.
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An Awesome Duo
High country Bodyworks
Joni Rutledge
The State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies lists a Joan Rutledge, license MT.0006076, although this individual does not list MT for Massage Therapist or LMT for Licensed Massage Therapist as credentials, instead using CMT for Certified Massage Therapist and NMT, which could be the credential for Neuromuscular Therapy, however, both CMT and NMT credentials are difficult to verify. There are a number of certification entities for massage therapies which makes it unlikely a consumer could easily find and verify a particular therapist's certification. It is important for consumers to be able to verify a state license to ensure an individual is capable of providing massage services. It is equally important for consumers to be provided with information about certification, the type and the agency from which it was received, in order to determine if a massage therapist can provide the massage services that best suits them.
Clients can save money by skipping the cupping method, which is a process of inverting suction cups on the surface of the skin resulting in large red welts and nothing else because cupping does not have any health benefits. Also, tuning forks and earth gongs are equally useless. In addition, clients should take a pass on suggestions of the use of neuromuscular therapy, which is claimed to balance the central nervous system, the brain, spinal column, and nerves, as it is simply not proven that an imbalance in the central nervous system exists in anyone.
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Ericka Strodtman
Steamboat Massage Group
No credentials are listed for this therapist, however the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies database includes a license under this name, MT.0008031.
The massage services offered reflect the standards of care of massage therapy and are what consumers would expect in a massage therapy setting.
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Grateful Heart Massage Therapy, LLC
Patricia Burger, LMT
The State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies does not include this individual's name, so no license can be verified.
It is best to avoid practices in which licenses cannot be verified.
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Heartfire Massage
Erica Olson
No credentials are listed, however this therapist is licensed with the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, MT.0003788.
This therapist claims a "Best of the Boat" designation. For consumers, these claims are not credible in determining quality of care because that designation is based on popularity, not a randomized poll or survey.
The credentials LMT (Licensed Massage Therapist) or MT (Massage Therapist) are much higher distinctions and should be placed after this individual's name as an indication of a certain amount of work to achieve.
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Hot Springs Bodyworks Masssage At Old Town Hot Springs
No name listed, so no license can be verified.
It is best to avoid practices in which no names are made available and no licenses can be verified.
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In Depth Massage
Amber Hallsted, LMT
This therapist is licensed with the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, MT.0006897. Also, the proper credentials are correctly placed, which is good for consumers.
In addition, the listing is pretty straightforward in describing services that would be expected from a massage therapist.
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Ken Brenner
dba Performance Sports Medicine
This massage therapist does not claim a license, however the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies does list Ken Brenner as licensed, MT.0005841. The credentials that are claimed by this therapist are BA (Bachelor of Art), CSCS ( Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist) through NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association), CNMT, which may stand for Certified Neuromuscular Therapy. However, the NSCA database does not list this therapist and CNMT cannot be verified because of number of different agencies that provide that certification.
It would be helpful to consumers to be provided with more information for these credentials.
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Life Essentials Day Spa
No name listed for this business, so no license verification.
It is best to avoid practices in which no names are made available and no licenses can be verified.
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Massage Therapy by Diane
The State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies lists Diane Anderson, license MT.0000619.
Ashiatsu massage is a method in which the therapist walks on the back of the client who is laying face down on the floor. Table Thai uses methods of range of motion and gentle rocking to promote flexibility.
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Richard Williams RMT, NCMT, B.S.
RMT stands for Registered Massage Therapist, which is what state licensing was formerly called. The State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies does have a listing for a Richard Jason Williams with an address in Little Rock Arkansas, so it is not clear whether this individual is indeed licensed.
The letters, NCMT, are not particularly helpful as there is no massage certification agency that allows those particular letters. B.S. usually stands for Bachelor of Science.
As the licensing and certification for this therapist are not clear, possibly not appropriately updated, or may even not exist, this individual would not be the best choice as a provider of massage therapy.
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Roberta Geier M.Ed., NCBTMB, CNMT
Although LMT, Licensed Massage Therapist, or MT, Masssage Therapist, are not listed for this individual, the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies does list Roberta Geier licensed as MT.0005316. M.Ed stands for Master of Education. This therapist's name is included in the NCBTMB, National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, database. However, CNMT, which may mean Certified Neuromuscular Therapist cannot be verified due to the number of organizations that offer that type of certification.
Credentials that cannot be verified, because there is more than one certifying agency, indicates that particular certification, along with the training required for the certification, is not standardized. Each organization has their own sets of standards for methods, teaching and training, which means those who become certified will have different concepts and treatments from others with the same credentials, but from other agencies. This tends to be a less than ideal situation for clients and consumers.
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Royal Foot Massage & Reflexology
The State of Colorado does not require licensing for massage restricted to hands or feet. However, the listing includes body massage, but no names, so no license could be verified.
It is best to avoid practices in which names are not made available and licenses cannot be verified.
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Sacred Sister Healing Arts
Shelli Niedens
There is no mention of LMT, Licensed Massage Therapist, or MT, Massage Therapist, however, the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies does list a Michelle Niedens, MT.0009209.
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Serenity Massage by Valerie Pearl
No credentials listed for this therapist, however, the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies lists a license for Valerie Pearl, MT.0003909.
Consumers can save money by skipping the craniosacral work. Craniosacral therapy is claimed to be a technique to facilitate the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and to adjust the synarthrodial joints of the cranium with the use of a light touch to certain parts of the body such as skull, face, spine, and pelvis. Currently, there is no evidence that cranial bones can be manipulated or that therapists can detect cerebrospinal pulse or craniosacral rates, both of which have been determined to be non-existent phenomenon.
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Sundance Studio
Licensed Massage Therapist Crystal Lawson
Crystal Lawson is licensed with the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, MT.0005678.
Consumers can save money by skipping the reiki sessions, aromatherapy, and those expensive therapeutic grade Young Living Essential Oil products that are available for purchase.
Reiki sessions are based on the theory of an energy field surrounding and permeating the human body. Reiki practitioners claim to manipulate this field, for health benefits, by laying their hands on certain parts of the client's body, but sometimes no touching is involved. The problem for reiki practitioners is that this energy field has never been measured or proven to exist. So if the energy field really isn't there, then all claims of manipulating the energy field cannot be measured or proven to exist either.
Aromatherapy is realistically the experience of a nice scent, which can enhance a massage therapy experience or any experience, for that matter. No other promises can be made for scents, due to two facts which are known about humans and scents; enhanced feelings attributed to scent stop when the scent is stopped or removed and humans stop smelling a scent after a certain time, even though the scent is still present.
Young Living essential oils is a multilevel marketing scheme. Which means that distributors spend some amount of money buying into the scheme, then must start to generate income, first to cover initial start-up costs, and then presumably to make a living. In order to generate income, they must sell their product. They get no advertising or promotion support from the company. Instead, it is up to the individual "consultants" or distributors as to what methods they will employ in order to sell the product. Anecdotal evidence is strongly encouraged in these types of multilevel marketing schemes. Anecdotal evidence, or claims of what worked for a neighbor or friend or relative, does not serve as evidence of effectiveness or safety.
The terms, "therapeutic grade essential oils" for Young Living are marketing terms only. There is no organization, in government or industry, that certifies essential oils. The terms are concocted by the company for promotion purposes.
These are some expensive oils. The same quality oils can be purchased for much less from health food stores and other sources.
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The Grand Spa
No name is listed, so no license can be verified.
It is best to avoid practices in which no names are made available and no licenses can be verified.
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Tim Trumble Dipl. OM
It is best to avoid practices in which no names are made available and no licenses can be verified.
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Tim Trumble Dipl. OM
Dipl. OM stands for Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, which is a certification by the NCCAOM, National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, however, Tim Trumble's name does not appear in the NCCAOM practitioner database or its registry, so this individual's use of this credential appears illegitimate.
It is best to avoid practitioners whose credentials cannot be verified.
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Yampa Valley Integrated Health
Sarah Freese, RMT, NCTMB
Michael MacKinnon, CMT
RMT stands for Registered Massage Therapist. The term "registered" is no longer used: the term "licensed" is currently used. Sarah Freese is licensed with the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, MT. 0001977. The letters NCTMB stand for National Certification for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, which is administered by NCBTMB, National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Sarah Freese is listed in this organization's database of nationally certified massage therapists.
CMT stands for Certified Massage Therapist. There are a number of certifying agencies for different massage methods and techniques which makes it problematic to verify a certification, However, Michael MacKinnon is licensed with the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, MT.0009722.
LMT (Licensed Massage Therapist) is a much higher distinction than CMT. Licensing is indicative of a certain amount of work to achieve while certification is usually achieved in a very short amount of time, normally one to three day seminars, used for specific methods or techniques that can add to the qualifications of a licensed massage therapist.
It is most helpful to consumers to be provided with complete information about a massage therapist's credentials in order for them to discern a massage experience that is most suitable for their particular needs.
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Youtopia Massage Therapy
Savanna McGlone is licensed with the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, MT.0008340.
Consumers can save money be skipping the extras; essential oils, because they are expensive and have no effectiveness other than smelling nice, infrared sauna, because it has no effect beyond relaxation, which is what the massage is supposed to do, shower, because that just seems weird in a massage therapy setting.
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Sarah Freese, RMT, NCTMB
Michael MacKinnon, CMT
RMT stands for Registered Massage Therapist. The term "registered" is no longer used: the term "licensed" is currently used. Sarah Freese is licensed with the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, MT. 0001977. The letters NCTMB stand for National Certification for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, which is administered by NCBTMB, National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Sarah Freese is listed in this organization's database of nationally certified massage therapists.
CMT stands for Certified Massage Therapist. There are a number of certifying agencies for different massage methods and techniques which makes it problematic to verify a certification, However, Michael MacKinnon is licensed with the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, MT.0009722.
LMT (Licensed Massage Therapist) is a much higher distinction than CMT. Licensing is indicative of a certain amount of work to achieve while certification is usually achieved in a very short amount of time, normally one to three day seminars, used for specific methods or techniques that can add to the qualifications of a licensed massage therapist.
It is most helpful to consumers to be provided with complete information about a massage therapist's credentials in order for them to discern a massage experience that is most suitable for their particular needs.
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Youtopia Massage Therapy
Savanna McGlone is licensed with the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, MT.0008340.
Consumers can save money be skipping the extras; essential oils, because they are expensive and have no effectiveness other than smelling nice, infrared sauna, because it has no effect beyond relaxation, which is what the massage is supposed to do, shower, because that just seems weird in a massage therapy setting.
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Monday, September 8, 2014
Consumer Guide to Steamboat Bodyworks-Internal Medicine
Yampa Valley Medical Associates, P.C.
There are no names listed for this organization. To find that out consumers have to go to their website where the names of the providers for this organization are revealed. All listed health care professionals are licensed and the organization appears to provide what consumers would expect from a health care facility; health care services, primary care physicians, internal medicine, family medicine, medical professionals.
Kevin Borgerding, MD, DR.0030900
Brian Harrington, MD, MPH (Master of Public Health), DR.0042159
Michelle Jimerson, MD, MPH (Master of Public Health), DR.0049508
Jennifer Kempers, MD, DR.0041633
Mark McCaulley, MD, FACP (Fellow of the American College of Physicians), DR.0023289
Lambert Orton, MD, DR.0017674
Charles Petersen, MD, DR.0047397
Sarah Hopfenbeck, MD, DR.0031777
Petra Chladek, PA-C (Physician Assistant-Certified), PA.0001359
Frankie Hannah, PA-C (Physician Assistant-Certifed), PA.0000802
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Consumer Guide to Steamboat Bodyworks-Hypnotherapy
Colorado Hypnosis & Healing
No name given. A coupon that readers are directed to reveals the name, Michelle. E. Hale, and the credential, CH.t.
The letters, CH. t, are not clarified in the listing, but could stand for Certified Hypnotherapist. As those particular letters are not common, this certification is more than likely from an obscure organization with little or no education, knowledge, or testing requirements.
The State of Colorado does not require hypnotherapists to be licensed or registered.
Here's why.
Hypnosis is a specialty or sub-specialty of mental health and medical professionals who are already bound by the ethical standards of their specific field, profession, and practice. That is good for consumers. But, there is another kind of hypnosis, the kind where training and certification is a very short, maybe only a few hours long, seminar, or online, practitioners claim that hypnosis is useful for anything, and there are no professional standards, established guidelines of patient care, or codes of ethics. This kind of hypnosis is bad for consumers.
There are two things consumers can do to protect themselves and ensure hypnotherapy is provided by a qualified professional.
First, ask practitioners about credentials, education, license information, and professional associations.
The NBCCH (National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists), the only nationally recognized certification for health care professionals using hypnosis, requires:
- all applicants to have earned a graduate-level degree in any of the appropriate academic disciplines
for mental health practitioners or a Master or Doctorate degree for medical practitioners and
- all applicants to be appropriately licensed or registered in their professions in the state in which they
practice.
Second, ask practitioners about specific needs.
- NBCCH certified hypnotherapists have varied areas of expertise. Because they are bound by the
ethical standards of their profession, they disclose their qualifications and expertise as well as whether
their practice includes a particular area of interest or recommend a qualified practice that does.
- If the answer to questions regarding specific needs is more along the lines of, "hypnosis is useful for
anything", or a long list is provided of what the practitioner claims to use hypnotherapy for, it is more
than likely the practitioner does not have the education, training, skills, and integrity to provide a
professional level of care.
Hypnotherapy outside the health care profession is the stuff of stage shows and entertainment.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Consumer Guide to Steamboat Bodyworks-Hormone Balancing
Cammi Balleck CTN
ANCB Board Certified Traditional Naturopath
The State of Colorado does not require licensing for traditional naturopaths, which are not the same as Naturopathic Doctors, which are required to be licensed through the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. The differences between traditional naturopaths and Naturopathic Doctors are; education, knowledge, training, capability, and ethics.
Naturopathic Doctor education includes the requirement of a bachelor's degree in order to apply to a four-year Naturopathic program at an accredited Naturopathic School, which includes clinical training and patient care. The next step, successfully passing NPLEX, Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations, is a prerequisite for applying for state licensure. The granting of a state license to qualified professionals means that license holders are required to follow the laws that govern their practice.
In contrast, traditional naturopaths have no education requirements, none, not even a GED requirement. Consequently, traditional naturopaths lack the education, knowledge, training, capability, and ethics that are necessary in any health care setting.
ANCB, American Naturopathic Certification Board, the only credential listed for this individual, is not much help.
In fact, ANCB gives false certification based on false credentials. Their website says exam eligibility requires "a doctoral level degree for the exam in Traditional Naturopathy", but, "Practical experience, apprenticeships, and additional certifications are also considered..." What that means is that if a doctoral level degree is not available, any work-related experience, which does not need to be corroborated or checked, can be used to claim eligibility to take their exam. Because there are no other credentials listed for this individual it is assumed there is no doctoral level degree or any education qualifications that would allow the capability to provide some type of health care. ANCB does not indicate whether the doctoral level degree must come from an accredited source or may be accepted from non-accredited sources, like diploma mills or distance learning enterprises where degrees of any kind are handed out for little or no effort and a price.
Flimsy certification is not a good consideration for any health care issues, but that is only one consideration health care consumers should have for this listing.
This is not health care.
This particular traditional naturopath offers to test urine or saliva samples, however, traditional naturopaths are not qualified or capable to gather or test urine or saliva samples. To get around this inconvenience, urine and saliva test kits are sent directly to the client, who gathers the sample on their own, then sends it off to a lab, not a local lab or even a real lab, but an enterprise that claims to be a lab, whose sole function is to always, ALWAYS, produce test results revealing an imbalance that can be treated with the very supplements that the fake lab sells to the traditional naturopath, who then sells them to the client, with additional markup. Once a consumer has been convinced they have an imbalance that can be treated with supplements, further tests are always, yes always, recommended to determine progress and additional supplements, and it is interesting to note that optimum balance may have to be maintained indefinitely or for the rest of the client's life, with supplements, but it isn't about client's health: it is about generating income for the traditional naturopath and the fake lab. In reality, these fake labs are not medical testing facilities, and are not even brick-and-mortar enterprises, existing only in the internet, designed to create profit by the sale of supplements through an arrangement with a shady alternative health practitioner. These fake labs do no testing whatsoever. The samples are simply thrown out and phony results are processed to the client in order to shorten the time it takes to get the client to part with their money.
Hormone and Neurotransmitter Balancing and Testing?
It is irresponsible to suggest to "Find out where all your hormones are..." from saliva and urine testing. Hormone levels naturally fluctuate and are normally tested with blood samples, which means, in order to get an accurate assay, several blood tests would have to be taken over the course of a set period of time. This presents a problem for unskilled traditional naturopaths and consumers who have to collect their own samples, which is why easier-to-obtain saliva and urine samples are promoted. But, in real health care, saliva tests are generally not used to test hormone levels because the reliability can be compromised by rapid fluctuations in saliva, normal degradation, and sample collection, storage, and shipping conditions. Further, there are no published ranges of what would be considered normal hormone levels in saliva. Some hormones can be measured in urine samples, but cannot be used to determine "possible imbalance".
Neurotransmitter levels, which might be considered to be able to be tested because they are chemical messengers in the body, have their own normal actions that a saliva or urine test would be inadequate to discern and therefore would not be reliable; diffusion, degradation or deactivation, and reuptake. Furthermore, the neurotransmitter system depends on where the receptors are located, such as connecting motor nerves to muscles, or in the brain or spinal column, many are produced and activated only in the intestine, making it impossible to get an accurate and complete assay of neurotransmitter levels from saliva and urine samples.
Naturopaths are very limited in their scope of knowledge and treatments they can offer for any health issue. In the case of hormone or neurotransmitter imbalance, even if those conditions were real, the only hope naturopaths can offer is supplements, expensive supplements with no evidence they can affect hormone or neurotransmitter levels, let alone optimize them.
"...we even test food intolerances."
Remarkable, for two reasons; there are no recognized food intolerance tests available because food intolerance is a condition limited to the digestive system, the symptoms of which pass when food passes through and out of the system, and there is no physiologic reason to test food intolerance from a saliva or urine sample.
"Great for depression, anxiety, mental focus, addictions, and low energy."
This claim seems to suggest that saliva and urine testing are great for these conditions and presumably that treatment would be equally great. This is misleading and disingenuous. Depression, anxiety, and addictions are serious health issues and people who are looking for real help will not get it from unskilled and unethical traditional naturopaths, nor will people with mental focus or low energy issues, both of which can be symptoms of potentially serious conditions. Lack of education, knowledge, training, capability, or ethics results in an extremely limited scope in which a traditional naturopath is unable to properly assess a condition, properly treat it, or recommend a client to a qualified professional health care provider.
The coupon this listing directs consumers to offers a free online visit, which adds to the obviously isolating, detached experience for the consumer that consists of an online visit, saliva and urine test kits sent by mail to the consumer, samples collected by the consumer and sent to an unknown enterprise, results from the tests sent to the consumer, emails to the consumer from the traditional naturopath recommending supplements, which can also be sent through the mail, all without the consumer ever seeing someone who can so much as check blood pressure, which, by the way, is a more serious and common health concern than something conjured up like hormone and neurotransmitter imbalance.
Less than optimal health care experience
Bogus testing, fake lab, phony results, false diagnoses, illegitimate treatment, and sham practitioner, adds up to fraudulent health care.
An added note about fraud
The coupon for this listing also offers a free copy of a book authored by this individual. On the front cover of the book, the letters PhD are placed after the name, the back cover reveals the same letters plus the proclamation, "leading Happy Hormone Doctor" and "a doctorate degree in naturopathic health."
However, there is no evidence to support this individual's claim to be a doctor. There is no license for this individual with the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, either as a naturopathic doctor or a medical doctor.
In addition, there is no evidence to support this individual's claim to have obtained a PhD. A doctorate degree in naturopathic health is not offered nor recognized in the United States and there is no accreditation for that program or the colleges that offer it.
Education and degrees in the alternative health industry can be quite a bit different than traditional courses of education and degrees. For instance, there are online and distance learning enterprises, in the Unites States as well as outside the country, which, for a fee, will provide doctorate, bachelor, or master degrees for as little as a year or so of online study or distance learning, with no education pre-requisites. These types of enterprises are not accredited in the United States and, in addition to not requiring previous college experience, or even a GED, do not offer clinical training, residency, patient care training, or any other training that would be expected for careers in the health industry.
This leaves consumer's health and pocketbooks vulnerable to uneducated, unskilled, and unqualified individuals who claim fraudulent credentials.
It is worth it to take the time to verify credentials of anyone who promises any type of health care.
ANCB Board Certified Traditional Naturopath
The State of Colorado does not require licensing for traditional naturopaths, which are not the same as Naturopathic Doctors, which are required to be licensed through the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. The differences between traditional naturopaths and Naturopathic Doctors are; education, knowledge, training, capability, and ethics.
Naturopathic Doctor education includes the requirement of a bachelor's degree in order to apply to a four-year Naturopathic program at an accredited Naturopathic School, which includes clinical training and patient care. The next step, successfully passing NPLEX, Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations, is a prerequisite for applying for state licensure. The granting of a state license to qualified professionals means that license holders are required to follow the laws that govern their practice.
In contrast, traditional naturopaths have no education requirements, none, not even a GED requirement. Consequently, traditional naturopaths lack the education, knowledge, training, capability, and ethics that are necessary in any health care setting.
ANCB, American Naturopathic Certification Board, the only credential listed for this individual, is not much help.
In fact, ANCB gives false certification based on false credentials. Their website says exam eligibility requires "a doctoral level degree for the exam in Traditional Naturopathy", but, "Practical experience, apprenticeships, and additional certifications are also considered..." What that means is that if a doctoral level degree is not available, any work-related experience, which does not need to be corroborated or checked, can be used to claim eligibility to take their exam. Because there are no other credentials listed for this individual it is assumed there is no doctoral level degree or any education qualifications that would allow the capability to provide some type of health care. ANCB does not indicate whether the doctoral level degree must come from an accredited source or may be accepted from non-accredited sources, like diploma mills or distance learning enterprises where degrees of any kind are handed out for little or no effort and a price.
Flimsy certification is not a good consideration for any health care issues, but that is only one consideration health care consumers should have for this listing.
This is not health care.
This particular traditional naturopath offers to test urine or saliva samples, however, traditional naturopaths are not qualified or capable to gather or test urine or saliva samples. To get around this inconvenience, urine and saliva test kits are sent directly to the client, who gathers the sample on their own, then sends it off to a lab, not a local lab or even a real lab, but an enterprise that claims to be a lab, whose sole function is to always, ALWAYS, produce test results revealing an imbalance that can be treated with the very supplements that the fake lab sells to the traditional naturopath, who then sells them to the client, with additional markup. Once a consumer has been convinced they have an imbalance that can be treated with supplements, further tests are always, yes always, recommended to determine progress and additional supplements, and it is interesting to note that optimum balance may have to be maintained indefinitely or for the rest of the client's life, with supplements, but it isn't about client's health: it is about generating income for the traditional naturopath and the fake lab. In reality, these fake labs are not medical testing facilities, and are not even brick-and-mortar enterprises, existing only in the internet, designed to create profit by the sale of supplements through an arrangement with a shady alternative health practitioner. These fake labs do no testing whatsoever. The samples are simply thrown out and phony results are processed to the client in order to shorten the time it takes to get the client to part with their money.
Hormone and Neurotransmitter Balancing and Testing?
It is irresponsible to suggest to "Find out where all your hormones are..." from saliva and urine testing. Hormone levels naturally fluctuate and are normally tested with blood samples, which means, in order to get an accurate assay, several blood tests would have to be taken over the course of a set period of time. This presents a problem for unskilled traditional naturopaths and consumers who have to collect their own samples, which is why easier-to-obtain saliva and urine samples are promoted. But, in real health care, saliva tests are generally not used to test hormone levels because the reliability can be compromised by rapid fluctuations in saliva, normal degradation, and sample collection, storage, and shipping conditions. Further, there are no published ranges of what would be considered normal hormone levels in saliva. Some hormones can be measured in urine samples, but cannot be used to determine "possible imbalance".
Neurotransmitter levels, which might be considered to be able to be tested because they are chemical messengers in the body, have their own normal actions that a saliva or urine test would be inadequate to discern and therefore would not be reliable; diffusion, degradation or deactivation, and reuptake. Furthermore, the neurotransmitter system depends on where the receptors are located, such as connecting motor nerves to muscles, or in the brain or spinal column, many are produced and activated only in the intestine, making it impossible to get an accurate and complete assay of neurotransmitter levels from saliva and urine samples.
Naturopaths are very limited in their scope of knowledge and treatments they can offer for any health issue. In the case of hormone or neurotransmitter imbalance, even if those conditions were real, the only hope naturopaths can offer is supplements, expensive supplements with no evidence they can affect hormone or neurotransmitter levels, let alone optimize them.
"...we even test food intolerances."
Remarkable, for two reasons; there are no recognized food intolerance tests available because food intolerance is a condition limited to the digestive system, the symptoms of which pass when food passes through and out of the system, and there is no physiologic reason to test food intolerance from a saliva or urine sample.
"Great for depression, anxiety, mental focus, addictions, and low energy."
This claim seems to suggest that saliva and urine testing are great for these conditions and presumably that treatment would be equally great. This is misleading and disingenuous. Depression, anxiety, and addictions are serious health issues and people who are looking for real help will not get it from unskilled and unethical traditional naturopaths, nor will people with mental focus or low energy issues, both of which can be symptoms of potentially serious conditions. Lack of education, knowledge, training, capability, or ethics results in an extremely limited scope in which a traditional naturopath is unable to properly assess a condition, properly treat it, or recommend a client to a qualified professional health care provider.
The coupon this listing directs consumers to offers a free online visit, which adds to the obviously isolating, detached experience for the consumer that consists of an online visit, saliva and urine test kits sent by mail to the consumer, samples collected by the consumer and sent to an unknown enterprise, results from the tests sent to the consumer, emails to the consumer from the traditional naturopath recommending supplements, which can also be sent through the mail, all without the consumer ever seeing someone who can so much as check blood pressure, which, by the way, is a more serious and common health concern than something conjured up like hormone and neurotransmitter imbalance.
Less than optimal health care experience
Bogus testing, fake lab, phony results, false diagnoses, illegitimate treatment, and sham practitioner, adds up to fraudulent health care.
An added note about fraud
The coupon for this listing also offers a free copy of a book authored by this individual. On the front cover of the book, the letters PhD are placed after the name, the back cover reveals the same letters plus the proclamation, "leading Happy Hormone Doctor" and "a doctorate degree in naturopathic health."
However, there is no evidence to support this individual's claim to be a doctor. There is no license for this individual with the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, either as a naturopathic doctor or a medical doctor.
In addition, there is no evidence to support this individual's claim to have obtained a PhD. A doctorate degree in naturopathic health is not offered nor recognized in the United States and there is no accreditation for that program or the colleges that offer it.
Education and degrees in the alternative health industry can be quite a bit different than traditional courses of education and degrees. For instance, there are online and distance learning enterprises, in the Unites States as well as outside the country, which, for a fee, will provide doctorate, bachelor, or master degrees for as little as a year or so of online study or distance learning, with no education pre-requisites. These types of enterprises are not accredited in the United States and, in addition to not requiring previous college experience, or even a GED, do not offer clinical training, residency, patient care training, or any other training that would be expected for careers in the health industry.
This leaves consumer's health and pocketbooks vulnerable to uneducated, unskilled, and unqualified individuals who claim fraudulent credentials.
It is worth it to take the time to verify credentials of anyone who promises any type of health care.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Barber and Cosmetology Consumer Guide
Barber and Cosmetology Consumer Guide
http://cdn.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheadername1=Content-Disposition&blobheadername2=Content-Type&blobheadervalue1=inline%3B+filename%3D%22Barber+and+Cosmetology+Consumer+Guide+April+2011+Web+Version.pdf%22&blobheadervalue2=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1251855381138&ssbinary=true
http://cdn.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheadername1=Content-Disposition&blobheadername2=Content-Type&blobheadervalue1=inline%3B+filename%3D%22Barber+and+Cosmetology+Consumer+Guide+April+2011+Web+Version.pdf%22&blobheadervalue2=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1251855381138&ssbinary=true
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