This program on these dates is currently full and registration is closed.
If you would like to be part of the next session for this course, send an email with your contact info to mmasek@theforagerspath.com.
How does an herbalist take all the information gathered from one’s own experience + readings, classes, workshops, conferences, round tables, webinars and blogs and actually apply it to a real life situation with a client who comes asking for help?
This stage of herbal learning and doing is Clinical Herbalism.
It is working 1:1 with a person, first gathering information, then devoting thoughtful time to assessing what is happening for the person and finally, sharing a plan that is used to help bring the person back to a healthier, more balanced state.
Being a clinical herbalist draws upon every experience and bit of information the herbalist has gained over the years.
Like every Craft and Art, it is an ongoing learning process that is both deeply rewarding and challenging.
The idea of practicing clinical herbalism can be daunting, even overwhelming at first.
In this class, we will move step by step through the stages of doing an herbal consult + provide demonstrations of each step + include extensive written notes + do complete consults in class.
The goal of this program is to provide you with the resources, information, notes, experience and confidence to begin doing herbal consults on your own.
At the end of the course, you will have a 55 page notebook + step by step knowledge to move through the consult process, knowing how to perform a productive intake, create a workable plan for the client + how to do the follow-up.
My Background as a Clinical Herbalist
My practice of clinical herbalism is a combination of studying with Dr. Tieraona LowDog, MD and Paul Bergner, mixed with my own clinical experience.
In 1995, I completed the Clinical Herbalist program with Tieraona at her herb school/clinic in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Her approach was a combination of a lifetime as a traditional herbalist + her medical knowledge.
At the time, there were few herb programs in the US that offered clinical training and this was a rare and special opportunity.
Since then, I have studied extensively with Paul Bergner in both a wide range of advanced clinical topics + his specific approach to performing an herbal consult.
2025 marks my 30th year of practicing and teaching herbal medicine and offering herbal consults to my community.
What You Will Learn:
Before beginning the clinical process, these issues will be addressed:
Reasons for Being a Clinical Herbalist
Your Growth as an Herbalist vs Personal Healing
Your Herbal Style
Being a Role Model
Being an Educator
Your Boundaries as a Healer and Care-Giver
How To Avoid Burnout
Your Specific Skills
The Community You Serve
A Network for Referrals
Legal and Ethical Issues
Financial Considerations
Clinical Space
Length of the Initial Intake
Herbal Consults vs Herbal First Aid
+
This section of the course gives the Four Steps to a Consult:
SOAP is a helpful acronym used in many medical fields.
It keeps the caregiver focused during the intake stage
S – Subjective info – this is the OPQRST questioning
O – Objective info – factual information about the person
A – Assessment – what you think is happening
P – Plan – what will you do about it
Interview and Intake
Step 1 – Gather information about the health issue:
Chief Concern (CC) + OPQRST + Secondary Complaints
Step 2 – Gather information about the person:
Personal health/medical history
Family health/medical history
Current lifestyle – stress, sleep, relationships, home life, work, level of physical movement, connection to Nature, Creator, community
Diet Record, Digestion and how to use this info
Current Medications, Herbs, Supplements
ROS – Review of Body Systems
Energetics: Constitutional vs Conditional
Step 3 – Assessment
Regarding the CC:
What is the problem + its causes and energetics
Step 4 – Plan
What needs to happen to move the client to a healthier, more balanced state?
Food – Lifestyle – Herbs
Negotiating the Plan with the client
+
Follow Up
How to determine success and what to do if the Plan doesn’t succeed.
This stage is often overlooked in training for clinical herbalism yet it is key for long term success.
Schedule
January 18-19
Saturday
The Herbal Consult is addressed in detail, using the format in the class notebook.
Sunday
Two Herbal Consults are demonstrated with the group – one in the morning and one after lunch.
Homework
Each person is expected to do at least one complete consult outside of class during the month between the two weekends.
1:1 email or phone guidance with me is offered as needed to do this consult.
February 22-23
Saturday
The Follow Up stage of an herbal consult is demonstrated with the group.
These Follow Ups will be done with the clients from the previous month.
Sunday
This day involves working in small groups getting more experience in speciifc portions of the consult process.
Throughout the two weekends, one or more clinical/advanced topics will be presented depending on the time available. These topics are related to, but not directly connected to the consult process.
March 15-16
These are make-up dates if an earlier weekend is snowed out.
Cost
The total cost is $396.
A discounted price of $370 is offered if payment in full is received by January 1, 2025.
An installment plan is offered at $132 x 3.
The installment payments are due December 1, January 1 and February 1.
