About Us

How Did Aroma Wellness Therapy Come to Be?

I was born and raised in rural northern Vermont, where I developed a great love and appreciation for the plant world. I worked as a Controller in the health care industry after education in medical and business fields. After retiring, I found my true calling.

It has evolved over the years. In the beginning, I fell in love with how plant-powered oils, known as essential oils, could make a real difference in my life. I wanted to know more, and I discovered a great deal of misinformation on the Internet. The saying, “don’t believe everything you read on the Internet,” is SO very true. I began my training in essential oils to know what was and wasn’t true. After studying with an accredited school, Aromahead Institute, I clocked more than 400 hours of training. These hours don’t include hundreds of other hours in training by the best-known experts in the field.

Training

I began my journey into essential oils ten years ago. If you are going to do something, you need to put your whole heart into it or don’t bother at all. If it means something, go big or go home. I earned the following titles: 

· Certified Aromatherapist (CA) in 2016 

· Completed the Teacher’s Training Program in 2018 

· Earned the Registered Aromatherapist (RA) designation in 2018

· The Advanced Graduate Program (Scholar’s Program) in 2000 

· The Certified Clinical Aromatherapist (CCA) designation in 2021

· HEARTS Process© Practitioner 2021

· Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA) – FL State Representative (2019 – Present)

Aromatherapy is a profession that continues to grow; its usage in hospitals and many complementary medical disciplines is also increasing as more people realize its benefits.

How Could I Serve the Public?

My question was how to serve the public in the best way I could while incorporating my need to help and serve the people very close to my heart. These people are the ones who are suffering from Alzheimer’s/dementia, other cognitive conditions, cancer, palliative care, hospice care, as well as the caring, compassionate individuals who dedicate themselves to being caregivers to their loved ones. This is not an easy task. 

Life Experience

You may wonder, what do I know about this. I lived the caregiver role with my mom. Being a caregiver is one of the most demanding physical and mental drains on the body that anyone can imagine. You want to support, in my case, my mom, who did it all. As a baby, I contracted polio at the age of 18 months. I had several operations through the years. My mom had to accompany me to the hospital for these operations, with the hospital being located an hour and a half away. This meant my only sibling had to be cared for by my father. My parents divorced, so my grandmother, who lived 1800 miles away, took over the care for my sister. It was a lot to juggle, but somehow my mom managed to work it out. 

My corrective operations provided me with the opportunity to lead an above-average life. I did everything and more than most kids do in their childhood. Sometimes what appears to be a terrible thing can spawn excellent unforeseen rewards. I always felt I needed to do more to be considered equal. I now realize that was unnecessary, but it pushed me to do everything, and I mean everything, even though I had one leg that was atrophied and weak. I walk with a limp, but my friends never saw me as anything except their friend. Through all this, my mom and dad never babied me. If there was something I found difficult, they expected me to figure it out, and I did. It developed character and a can-do attitude.

Why I Care

My mom worked hard and deserved a nice retirement. Her retirement was cut short by physical health issues and then, the kicker, Alzheimer’s disease. I was her caregiver; I wanted to take care of her as well as she had taken care of me. I know how challenging the role is. You have to be everything to everyone ALL the time. When I was helping dress my mom for our daughter’s wedding, she told me I now had to take care of her the way she had taken care of me. It hit me like a rock. I owed her more than I could repay, so I set out to give it my all.

Bumps in the Road

The caregiver role affects the entire family. At one point, I was taking care of my grandson while my daughter and son-in-law worked. My grandson was a real trooper. He went with me to take his great-grandmother to doctor appointments, hair appointments, and many other things. He never fussed; he just took it all in stride.

As the time rolled on, I felt utterly drained, mentally tired, and ready to drop at times. Eventually, it was clear that my mom needed to be in a facility where she could get the care I could no longer muster.

Why Am I Telling You This?

I want you to understand my dedication to this population. I understand and have empathy for you. I am sure my story is not nearly as bad as some of you have had or are now experiencing. This disease doesn’t only affect the person; it affects the family and friends involved with the decline of their loved ones. 

How I Can Help You

My experience with being my mom's caregiver and empathy are why I do what I do. I provide relaxation and pain reduction (emotionally and often physically) utilizing a technique that delivers in a very short period of time. It is called the HEARTS Process©, an acronym for Hands-On (not a massage), Empathy, Aroma, Relaxation, Texture, and Sound. When I was introduced to this technique, I knew it was what I had been looking for. I am now a HEARTS Processor© Practitioner. In addition, I think it is one of the best parts; I make a product that reduces anxiety through tactile, visual, and sensory stimulation, providing engaging activity for confusion, disorientation, and restless hands. I make Twiddle Muffs and Fidget Mats and can design them with your input to reflect your loved one’s life. I also have many predesigned and ready to ship. Twiddle Muffs, and Fidget Mats have been known to bring back memories, even for a short time. They can comfort your loved one when you can’t be there. If you would like to see them, you can view them in my Etsy store. They are a gift of love and handmade with a true understanding.

Every Fidget Mat and Twiddle Muff is made as a tribute to my mom, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease; I understand.