Aromatherapy CV
In 2005 I qualified in Aromatherapy Massage with ITHMA, a good school run by Gabriel Mojay out of Regent's College, London. Gabriel is famous for his application of Traditional Chinese Medicine approaches with aromatherapy essential oils and his background includes Shiatsu, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Aromatherapy and Western Herbal Medicine all of which influenced my decision to train with him.
During and after my training, I did case study practice within a drop-in crisis clinic for people 'on the edge', sometimes they were people experiencing a period of mental illness themselves, often they were carers for other people needing support.
I also worked around the edges of the local mental health trust, within charities, supporting services users within the community and I was particulary interested in working with schizophrenic clients, seeing the trust relationship deepen week by week.
I hoped to find paid work in this field, but my efforts weren't met with success in 2005 or 2006.
I was too early perhaps or there was too much chaos in the local NHS at the time, and so I chose to focus more on my Tai Chi and personal development, mainly in Asia and I believe this has been a wise choice for the last five years.
I am not currently registered with the Aromatherapy association, IFPA, as I felt the CPD requirements were a burden to me, while I wasn't actively working, but will restart this as soon as I feel its time.
I was surpised to find how much I connected with the essential oils during and after the training and they are still very important to me. My original reason for training being that I was interested in effect of smell on the emotions. This is a whole new world still waiting for the medical world to explore if they wish.
A far nicer alternative to all of the anti-depressants, anti-psychotics and beta-blockers etc. which are prescribed so readily at present. They also make a good alternative to anti-biotics if used wisely.
Prior to the Aromatherapy, I completed the Shiatsu Foundation with the ESS and a Swedish Massage foundation with the London School of Massage, along with a variety of other non-professional massage courses stretching back to 1994.
Since 2005, my professional development interest has mainly been with Akinobu Kishi and his Seiki bodywork.
My aromatherapy work and bodywork has generally stayed on a 'friends' level so far, apart from a short period in 2008, when I tried out Seiki within one of the local mental health charities, but I expect at some stage I will open a practice for the general public.