Enhancing Psychotherapy with Essential Oils by Arlene Anisman, Clinical Member, Ontario Society of Psychotherapists (OSP)

Over the 29 years of my practice as a psychotherapist, I have always sought effective ways to empower my clients and to help them feel better and make the changes they want with the least amount of struggle or pain. I am writing to share my experiences with one tool that has become invaluable in my practice: therapeutic-grade essential oils. I hope by this introduction to pique your interest in essential oils as an aid to any form of psychotherapy.

My original training was in Redecision Therapy, a model that combines Transactional Analysis, Gestalt, and body work. I have recently studied various energy psychology disciplines, most extensively Energy Diagnostic and Treatment Methods (EDxTM), a technique developed by Dr. Fred Gallo, an American psychologist, and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) developed by Gary Craig. I have also trained over 400 hours in the use of therapeutic-grade essential oils for physical and psychological healing.

Essential oils are volatile liquids that are pressed and distilled from plants. Like our blood, volatile oils contain thousands of chemical constituents that a plant uses to fight infection, seal wounds, oxygenate and nourish cells, and destroy microbe and pathogeninvaders. According to ancient Egyptian and Chinese texts, physicians and priests were using essential oils more than three thousand years ago. There are over a thousand references to aromatic oils in the Bible alone (Stewart, 2002).

Dr. D. Gary Young, one of the foremost North American authorities on the production and use of therapeutic-grade essential oils, has stipulated (2001) that the most powerful link to the subconscious is through the sense of smell. The comforting aroma of a favourite food can bring back memories of childhood or other moments when the smell was present; it is easy to understand on a visceral, commonsense level the impact a smell can have on our perceptions. Science, likewise, supports this observation of the connection between scents and the emotions.

In order for any airborne molecule to stimulate the olfactory receptors inside the nose, the chemical must be matched to the precise receptor that fits its size and chemical structure. Whether a fragrance is noticed consciously or not, it is accepted like a key in a lock, by its matching receptor. This triggers electrochemical signals that travel via neurons to the amygdala within the brain’s limbic system.

The amygdala is our emotional memory centre. According to C. Pert (1997), the limbic system in the mid-brain houses the emotions, with the amygdala acting as the storehouse of traumas and the densest concentration of neuropeptides (neurotransmitters that act in emotional signals). The amygdala receives incoming scent information before the higher brain centres, and activates the autonomic nervous system in response to either pleasant or traumatic memories before any information reaches the decision-making cortex. Clearly smell, not sound, is the primary sense which activates and affects traumatic memories stored in the amygdala.

Essential oils are, by their nature, beautiful tools for working with the amygdala; the very name ‘volatile oil’ means that, like any volatile chemical, they readily ‘flash off’ to vapour at normal room temperatures, bringing the oil to a form which can be taken up by the olfactory receptors in the air we breathe.

Only therapeutic-grade, 100% organic essential oils will achieve the desired results. Fillers or adulterants (including but not limited to pesticides, solvents, and deformed molecules created accidentally during speedy extraction of essential oils) can create side effects or negate the inherent benefit of the pure oil.

I have found that when clients inhale and/or apply a particular essential oil or a blend of essential oils, trauma may be released and core beliefs changed in a session or two (with the assistance of homework). Many times, the changes take longer. Consistently, the length of therapy has shortened. To demonstrate, I now present three cases with the clients’ permission (and all names changed).

Denise, a fifty-year-old patient who attended a psychotherapy group for six months, continued to evidence a pattern of extremely toxic self-talk. When at my suggestion she applied an essential oil blend called Hope to the middle of her forehead and under her nose before each session, Denise found that she felt happier and was able to release most of her negative thoughts. Her self-critical thought patterns did not return with any severity. Denise left the group two months later, and she continues to feel positively about herself.

Rick and Ann are a couple in their thirties who chose therapy to bridge the distance that had developed between them. They had been married for ten years, and wanted to feel close again, but anger from both sides had created a communication breakdown. Ann was anxious and distracted; she seemed on the verge of panic as she complained about Rick’s faults. Rick rejected her opinions and feelings on the grounds that she was being “hysterical.” After forty-five minutes had elapsed with no progress, I brought out the essential oils.

Ann applied Grounding to the back of her neck while Rick inhaled Lavender from cupped hands held over his nose. Both immediately became more relaxed and the session concluded on a positive note, with Ann more focused and able to discuss concrete issues. Rick was less angry and was able to be silent and listen. Subsequently, they continued couples therapy with me for six months, quite successfully. We used essential oils at every session.

Twenty-one-year-old Jenny contacts me every month or so with what seems like a crisis to her, overwhelmed by her university degree, her family, and social relationships. I have used a combination of therapies with Jenny, including energy psychology and the oils Highest Potential Believe, and Vetiver. These essential oils have enabled her to shift her emotional crises quickly and effectively. After the first few sessions there were fewer blocks to get through and there has been no re-occurrence of the distress with respect to earlier problems. Jenny tells me she feels more content and rarely feels as depressed as she was two years ago.

The preceeding examples simplify the therapy processes. I use them to illustrate how the appropriate use of essential oils in a therapy session can synergistically accomplish more than oils or psychotherapy might independently.

Copyright 2006 Arlene Anisman, Clinical Member, Ontario Society of Psychotherapists (OSP) Arlene's web site.

References:

Mein, C. (2005) Releasing Emotional Patterns with Essential Oils, 6th Edition, Rancho Santa Fe, CA. Vision Ware Press

Pert, C. PhD. (1997) Molecules of Emotion. New York, N.Y. Simon & Schuster

Stewart, D. PhD. (2002) Healing Oils of the Bible. Marble Hill, Missouri. Centre for Aromatherapy Research and Education

Young, D.G. N.D. (Oct. 2001) Presentation: Essential Oils Integrated Aromatic Conference, Level II. Coeur D’Alene, Idaho.

Young ,D.G. N.D. (2003) Essential Oils Integrated Medical Guide. U.S.A., Essential Science Publishing

Hope is composed of the essential oils of Melissa, Juniper, Myrrh, and Spruce in Almond oil
Grounding is a blend of Spruce, Fir, Ylang Ylang, Pine, Cedarwood, Angelica and Juniper
Highest Potential contains Blue Cypress, Ylang Ylang, Cedarwood, Blue Tansy, White Fir, Lavender, Galbanum, Frankincense, Geranium, Sandalwood, Spruce, Cinnamon, Rose, and Jasmine
Believe contains Idaho Balsam Fir, Frankincense and Rosewood
*All blends created by Young Living Essential Oils