Winter Clinical Skills Apprentice Program

Clinical Skills Apprentice Application: Click Here

Information about the Summer Herbal Apprentice Program: Click Here

Overview Old Ways Herbal School of Plant Medicine offers a unique, personalized winter apprenticeship in Herbal Clinical Skills. This program is available online via live webinar and in person in Newfane, Vermont.

As winter encourages us to ruminate around the fire with a cup of tea while the glittering snow obscures our gardens, we have time and space to thoroughly explore ideas and concepts that can be brushed aside in the frenetic excitement of herbalism in the growing season. Join AHG Registered Herbalist Juliette Abigail Carr to build knowledge and fluency around useful, tangible clinical skills for herbalists.

It is important to note that as herbalists we do not diagnose diseases or treat symptoms; instead, we work with a client to self-empower to maximize their health and wellness. Therefore, this apprenticeship does not focus on physiology or disease process, but rather on how to elicit useful responses, create effective remedies, and work with clients from a place of empathy and respect for their lived experience.

Topics Include:

Assessments by Body System
Interview Techniques: Verbal
Interview Techniques: Nonverbal & Somatic Techniques
Creating a Therapeutic Relationship
Trauma-Informed Care
Healthcare Bias and Health Disparities
Racial Equity in Clinical Herbalism (guest)
Herbal Actions by Body System
Formulation
Energetics
Contraindications and Drug Interactions
Making Recommendations
Dietary Recommendations: How to Make these Useful
Complementary Recommendations & Referrals
Professional Guidelines
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Case Study Analysis

Schedule The Herbal Clinical Skills Apprentice Program consists of 40 hours of instruction and 40 hours of self-study (with teacher feedback). Classes are Wednesday from 10 am to 3 pm EST from January through March, with some breaks for holidays and a built-in snow/illness make up day. Exact dates will be announced in December.

Assignments There are several required books. Ongoing assignments help students synthesize and integrate their new knowledge. Weekly assignments include reading and participating in discussions. As a final project, each student will perform clinical intakes (including interview, recommendations, and a formula) and prepare a case study for group review.

Please Note: students are responsible for finding their own clients for the clinical intake project, with teacher guidance. If you prefer a multiyear clinical training program with its own student clinic, Old Ways Herbal School of Plant Medicine recommends the program at the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism in Montpelier.

Graduates of this course receive a certificate reflecting their hours of study. Graduates are eligible to transition into the summer apprentice program, or to apply for mentorship with Juliette through the American Herbalists Guild mentor program. Graduates in good standing may also request a reference for applications pertaining to their ongoing study at multiyear clinical herbalism programs.

Selection Process Space is very limited so sign up early! Because of the personal nature of the program, we can only accept 2-6 winter apprentices. It is simply not possible to tailor the curriculum to more people than that; we have had a wide range of experience levels and it lessens everyone’s experience when the group is too large. This course requires previous study: personal study, herb school, anatomy & physiology class in college, etc. Our discussion of body systems and energetics will be adjusted based on students’ preexisting expertise.

Accessibility Talk to us about your barriers. We are happy to find workable solutions whenever possible. In the past we have made accommodations for lack of childcare, lodging obstacles, etc.

Tuition & Deadlines Tuition $800. We offer payment plans and BIPOC reparations scholarships. Work-trade is available for 4 days of work and $400, but must be completed in full by the end of November or when we get significant snowfall (whichever happens first), as work-trade will usually be garden work.

An application deposit of $100 to hold your place is due with your completed application (applied to tuition if you are accepted, refunded if you are not). Applications will be reviewed and followed by a phone interview to ensure our perspectives are a good match. Application deposits are fully refundable up to the application deadline. Your deposit will be refunded if you are not chosen for the apprenticeship. The remainder of the tuition ($700) is due by 1 week prior to the beginning of the program.

The application deadline for the Herbal Clinical Skills Apprentice Program is December 15.