Even the word “certified clinical aromatherapy” sounds daunting to most people, and conjures up images of medical text books and clinical research…however, the Institute of Spiritual Healing and Aromatherapy (ISHA)’s Certified Clinical Aromatherapy training is poles apart from traditional aromatherapy courses. This course uses a variety of brands in their training, because it’s important for students to develop their own “nose” so that they can identify a top quality oil versus a poorer quality oil. This is critical in a practitioner setting, where quality is paramount to success.

The ISHA Certified Clinical Aromatherapy training also incorporates energy healing into its course, teaching students energy healing, based on the “Healing Touch” techniques. This is a wonderful complement to any aromatherapy practice, which is why the ISHA course is of such appeal not only to those wishing to become aromatherapists, but also to nurses, kinesiologists, healers, hospital and aged care volunteers, stay-at-home mums, and people who simply love essential oils and want to learn more.

In 2011, Catherine Garro brought the ISHA course to Australia. When she moved to New York in 2013, it was Karen Bysouth who picked up the reins. Karen had become a student of the course when it first started in Australia:

I was really drawn to the course – yes, I wanted to learn how to best help my family; but it was more than that – it was calling out to me. Through doing the course, I found a whole new modality that I could work with, and I discovered the power of essential oils. Although I’d often dreamed about being a practitioner, it was this course that gave me the confidence I needed for that part of my journey. 

There are 3 modules in the course, with over 300 hours of course content (this being a combination of online study, homework and class attendance). Students learn about 75 single oils, including their history, chemistry and important safety information. They learn about the vibrational frequency of oils, and discover how to create their own blends. There is plenty of hands-on experience built into the course, and students emerge with a heightened appreciation for what essential oils can do spiritually and when incorporated into a healing modality.

As of December 2017, 33 students have graduated through this program in Australia, and many more students are underway on their journey. The course is internationally accredited through the UK-based International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists (IFPA), as well as the US-based National Association for Holistic Association (NAHA).

Where in the past the founder of the program, Linda Smith, and her team of teachers have travelled to Australia to teach the hands-on segments of the class, Karen is in the process of gaining her teacher accreditation through ISHA and looks forward to being one of the accredited teachers. If you want to know more about the training, contact Karen at https://ishahealing.com.au