Essential Oils - My Training and Professional Development Journey

Way back in 2010, I decided to return to education as a mature student, ready to fulfil my dream of qualifying as an aromatherapist. I aimed to take the Aromatherapy VTCT course at the local college, but I had to complete Swedish massage first, and by the time I had completed this course and my Indian Head Massage qualifications, the Aromatherapy course I was aiming to do had been removed from the curriculum. It was a huge disappointment and left me searching for years for the right path to complete the training I knew, deep down, was meant for me. 

That path eventually led me to Jane Lawson of The Natural Approach to Essential Oils. I had followed Jane on social media long before I enrolled, and when the chance came to train with her, it felt like everything finally fell into place. Working with Jane wasn’t just about ticking a qualification box, as her way of approaching essential oils lit something inside me.

When she introduced her intuitive method of selecting oils through radiesthesia (pendulum dowsing), it was like my soul sat up and shouted, “Yes! This is it”. It wasn’t just technique; it was a remembering, a way of working that resonated so deeply I knew I had finally found the approach that was mine. 

On this journey, I also discovered my own deeper connection working not just with physical oils, but with their energy and frequency. That’s where my heart truly sings, and where I feel the essence of this work alive in me. 

This road has been far from smooth. I doubted myself along the way so many times. There was so much to learn, so much to retain… and of course, all that bloomin’ chemistry! At times, both personally and professionally, I felt close to giving up. I so nearly didn't continue the training after I qualified as an Essential Oil Practitioner - my doubts and lack of self-belief were holding me back from taking on Clinical Aromatherapy. But with Jane’s support and encouragement, and my love of aromatherapy, knowing the way it can support and transform others, kept me going.

Alongside the training, I’ve also been blessed to meet incredible colleagues and friends - my “oily family” - who have lifted me, inspired me, and shared both the laughter and the tears. 

This has never been just professional development for me. It has been deep personal growth too: learning resilience, finding my voice, trusting my intuition, and embracing the emotional side of who I am. Learning oils is a personal healing journey! With Jane’s mentoring and the CPD opportunities I’ve taken with her, I have expanded not only my skills as a therapist but also my confidence in the person I’m becoming. 

Looking back, I feel nothing but gratitude. This hasn’t been the easy “float through life sniffing oils in a cloud of relaxation” journey I once imagined it would be. It’s been tougher, richer, and far more rewarding (with a few homework and exam-induced headaches along the way). Yet every twist and challenge has shaped me into the therapist I am today and the one I shall continue to develop. The training with Jane has been a cornerstone of my life, just as much as my work, and it continues to influence how I serve, connect, and hold space with love. 

And as I step forward now, fully qualified as a Clinical Aromatherapist, I remind myself of the old KISS mantra ....  “Keep It Simple, Stupid”. Because really, like after passing a driving test, this is where the true learning begins: applying what I’ve gained, living it, and continuing to fine-tune my craft as the magical journey unfolds.