Currently, herbalism is not a recognized healthcare modality in Nova Scotia, and its status varies from province to territory. As such, there is no provincial or federal licensing for herbal practitioners. In Nova Scotia, there is a self-directed provincial registration through the Herbalist Association of Nova Scotia (HANS). I have obtained my provincial status as a Registered Herbal Practitioner through this association.

I believe that, in an unregulated profession, being a registered practitioner demonstrates my commitment and accountability to herbalism as well as a high standard of education, a deep respect for ethics, and a clear understanding of my scope of practice.

I am a graduate of Royal Roads University, in Victoria, BC, where I received a Master of Arts degree in Inter-Disciplinary Studies. I have completed my Naturopath-Herbalist training at the Académie de massothérapie et orthothérapie, in Gatineau-Hull, QC, and many levelling-up courses at the Pacific Rim College, in Victoria, BC. My ongoing training and continued education include more than 2100 hours of extensive courses in naturopathy and herbalism, comprised of anatomy/physiology, holistic nutrition, and aromatherapy. I chose to specialize in Traditional Western Herbalism, out of the three conventional herbal practical routes, while maintaining a strong grasp of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine.

I have also completed the Clinical Herbalist Path at the Herbal Academy, including the Advanced Herbal Course and Clinical Skills Course, which further added +-900 hours of the highest-level training to my toolbox. I am still working on completing a comprehensive Materia Medica living document, delving into the pharmacopeia of over 170 medicinal plants, with a specialization in native Nova Scotian plants and endangered / at-risk plants. 

​

​Finally, my status as a naturopath was previously recognized by the Association des Naturopathes Professionnels du Québec. I chose to only remain an herbalist when my family and I moved to West Pubnico on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. There are many contentious areas between Canadian provinces subscribing to different naturopathic associations and the agreed upon scope of practice. While no longer a certified naturopath, I continue to apply an academic-oriented, holistic, and methodical approach to herbalism, all while understanding the complexity between science, progress, the aboriginal knowledge and folk medicine, and wisdom of our elders.