Are you curious about using essential oils in your counseling practice? What are some of the ethical considerations to be aware of when working with essential oils in your sessions? How can you introduce your clients to essential oils?
DeeAnna Nagel, LMHC is a former psychotherapist turned aromatherapist and intuitive. She integrates energy healing and intuition as well as chakra balancing and essential oils into her work with others. Her greatest passion is guiding people toward their soul's purpose. She holds several credentials in the healing arts.
Find out more at her website and connect on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Ethically Speaking: The Use of Essential Oils in Therapy
Our scope of practice in most states says [that] if you are going to introduce any new thing, you must demonstrate that you have training. It is worded differently in every state, but that’s the gist. (DeeAnna Nagel)
You can use essential oils as a kind of prompt, or journal prompt. Wave the bottle under someone’s nose and ask them to write down or discuss what it brings up for them. It can be that simple.
What it is that they do or do not know will inform you and give you clues as to where you need to teach them more, or what else you can introduce them to.
Ask your clients if they have any experience with essential oils. If they do, and they have used the essential oils “straight” (without carrier oil) then you will give them different advice or guidance as opposed to another client who has never worked with essential oils before.
Avoid discussing medical practices of essential oils with your clients.
I teach people that they can either rely on the systems of the body like the digestive and respiratory system, or they can rely on the chakra system. Whichever systems you use, you speak to the oils as in “this particular oil really supports the respiratory system” … [use the word] supports. (DeeAnna Nagel)
As a psychotherapist or coach or a helper or healer of any kind, again, the best thing we can do is empower our client to learn their bodies, whether you’re talking about mindful eating or essential oils or suggesting yoga. The client needs to know their body. (DeeAnna Nagel)
If you are supplied with essential oils from a company and you are distributing those oils to your clients through sales, you are not allowed to sell them to your clients because that is considered a dual relationship.
If you sell oils to your clients and they sell oils to other people, you become their employer, and that breaches ethical considerations.
Recommend to your clients that if they would like to purchase an essential oil that they get a high-quality one. Do not push for a certain brand or company, as that could land you in ethical trouble.
DeeAnna Nagel - Essential Soul Care: Your Guide to Designing an Expansive Life [in progress]