Herbal medicine mentorship
Herbal Medicine Student Training Clinic
Apprenticeship training in herbal medicine has traditionally occurred where herbalists worked alongside their peers; sharing their accumulated knowledge and wisdom and learning from each other. While Herbal Mentorship is not intended to replace academic training; apprenticeship is a valuable experiential form of education, keeping alive the oral tradition of learning and providing a bridge for students completing their formal training and preparing to merge into a professional practice.
Many students of herbal medicine seek the guidance of an experienced clinical herbalist to act as a mentor in a clinic environment while offering support, guidance and critical feedback; providing an unique opportunity for students to become confident, skilled clinical herbalists.
Supervised Clinical Experience
Preparation for Professional membership
For professional membership in various Herbal Medicine organizations such as the American Herbalists Guild, the British Columbia Herbalist Association and the Ontario Herbalist Guild; supervised, ‘hands on’ clinical experience is an essential component of the professional training. Most governing bodies require 400-500 hours of supervised clinical practice to qualify for the designation of professional medical herbalist.
Mentorship options include one on one coaching online, in person week long intensives, scheduled throughout the year and online group trainings.
Since 2002, Katolen has been accepting student apprentices who are enrolled in structured herbal medicine education. She is an approved clinic supervisor with Dominion Herbal College Student Training Clinic, a mentor with Wild Rose School of Natural Healing and Heartwood Education (UK) and Betonica (UK) where students of advanced herbal medicine programs have the opportunity to obtain clinical training hours under the supervision of a qualified Medical Herbalist.
Herbal Medicine Student Mentorship
Depending on your past training, interest and current goals and the time of year attending; this Mentorship may cover some or all of the following:
- Philosophy and Foundations of Western Herbal Medicine
- Medicinal Actions of Herbs in the Western Tradition
- Intake Process: review of client consultations, skills involved in case history taking, record keeping and follow up consultations.
- Health Assessments and long term health program strategies medicine making, remedy formulation and dispensing are also important components of mastering herbal medicine skills
- Development of your Clinical Skills: physical examinations and assessment, urine analysis and blood pressure taking
- Herbal Protocol Development for Common Health Ailments
- Formulation Techniques
- Herbal Medicine Dispensing
- Understanding dosage for individuals
- Setting up your business: stocking your dispensary, tips for running a clinic, inventory taking and systemization in the office for growing your clientele
- Observation of day to day activities and contribution to the running of an herbal business
- Medicine Making Techniques: tea blends, tinctures, tincture formulations, salves, oils, compresses, vinegars, creams etc. * Note: students may be responsible for purchasing some materials for this component- shopping list to be sent out in advance
- Incorporating Herbs into your existing Holistic Practice: for practitioners of various healing paradigms
- Application of Essential Oils, Flower Essences
- Plant Identification and herb walks may be incorporated at certain times during the year
- Making Herbarium Collections
- Creating case studies for publications and journals
- Resource Lists for Books, Schools, Programs, etc. for Herbalists
- And much more…
Testimonials
One on One Mentorship
Preparation for Professional membership
Options are available for advanced students of herbal medicine or new practitioners to attend coaching sessions where the focus of the time is created through goals on the mentee. This may include case history review, business coaching, or even preparation for membership into a governing herbal association.
Herbal Medicine Student Clinic
Apprentiship Process
For select students of herbal medicine completing their formal training, there is limited opportunity to obtain clinic training and apprenticeship hours at pre-set dates throughout the year. Online mentorship is also an option for distant learning during monthly preset dates. For more information on requirements and the application process please send us an email:
- Introducing yourself and
- Outlining your herbal studies, education, and current level of knowledge
- Sharing your interest in and goals with pursuing the mentorship program
- Communicating dreams and intentions for furthering your education in Herbal Medicine
- Requesting our application form
