Interview with colleen thompson By Michelle Ensley
- Aromatika Magazine
- 12 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Pg. 38-41 3-minute read
Aromatika editor Michelle Ensley interviewed Canadian aromatherapist Colleen Thompson, who changed her life from banker to aromatherapist in the 1980s and made it to the president of the Canadian Alliance of Aromatherapy (CAOA). She also serves as the Chair of the Education Committee for the AIA. Colleen runs her school Essence of Thyme to date.
How did you initially get involved with aromatherapy, and what made you start working with essential oils?
It began with a chance comment from a professor in the late 1980s. He mentioned that rosemary essential oil could help with memory. As an adult educator, this intrigued me, but at the time, I couldn’t find any further information about rosemary essential oil or aromatherapy in general. Several years later, a small aromatherapy store opened in the local mall, and I was sold!
What inspired you to start an aromatherapy school?
I have been an adult educator for most of my adult life, and even when I was pretty new to aromatherapy, I offered courses and workshops. I just needed to wait for the right time to start an aromatherapy school. In 2008, I started writing the course, which took four years.
What is/was your philosophy in teaching aromatherapy?
The importance of evidence-based information. Sometimes, this is anecdotal, but mostly, it is based on research papers. I use a lot of examples when I teach – sometimes, this includes things I did wrong as a new aromatherapist. Stories help people remember the content and also help to make the study of aromatherapy more enjoyable.
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