Eileen Hutcheson, M.Ed., holds a Master's degree in counseling and a post-graduate certificate in Gestalt therapy (two-year program).   She has also completed over 300 hours of study/training in dance/movement therapy and graduate coursework in theology.  At the undergraduate level, she holds a B.A. in religious studies and teacher certification in Spanish, French, and dance.  Eileen is especially interested in new science and eco-theology and in the integration of these two areas of study into a theological framework for understanding energy medicine (in general) and flower essence therapy (in particular).  Learning is one of her primary passions and she is continuously involved in the pursuit of additional knowledge in the field of natural healing.  In addition to reading and studying, Eileen loves to hike, kayak on mountain lakes and Missouri streams, and spend time "just being" in nature. 

Early in her life, Eileen worked as a bilingual secretary (Spanish-English), Spanish teacher, and modern dance or creative dance teacher (for high school and children).  More recently, for about ten years, she led workshops which integrated creative dance with spirituality and psychology, leading series such as Dancing Myths and Fairy Tales, Dancing the Inner Child, Self-Esteem Enhancement through Dance and Creative Expression, Creative Dance for Survivors of Sexual Abuse, Dancing with the Earth, Dancing Our Planet's Story, and Exercise, Expression and Relaxation for older adults.

Eileen has been involved in natural health care and alternative medicine on a personal level for over twenty-five years.  She has followed a natural foods vegetarian diet for over thirty years and is currently a vegan.  Eileen embraces a form of working with the inner child called Inner Bonding, a process developed by Margaret Paul, Ph.D., which she highly esteems and tries to practice.  She has attended many trainings, such as Healing Touch, Touch for Health, Pranic Healing, and Energy Medicine (with Donna Eden).  In 2001 she completed two levels of the Hanna Kroeger School of Natural Healing.  Eileen's primary focus lies in the area of vibrational medicine, of which flower essence therapy is one modality.

Eileen is currently a flower essence therapy practitioner certified by Australian Bush Flower Essences, Flower Essence Society (FES), and Pacific Essences.  She uses in her practice over 2,000  flower, sea, gem and environmental essences representing every continent on our planet.  She finds that flower essence therapy is fulfilling in so many ways which are meaningful to her:  it lends itself well to a psychological framework; is very spiritual and, dealing with subtle energy, is rooted in Mystery; helps foster a deep sense of connection with the earth; puts one in touch with the aesthetic dimension of life through the beauty of the flowers and the natural world; allows her to help her clients by creatively selecting essences; and is oriented toward the inner life and awareness, even the inner world of dreams.  Of course, flower essence therapy can also be used solely in an "energy technology way" when necessary, as a short-term catalyst for shifting blockages and establishing balance in the energy systems of the body, and this certainly comes in handy in a pinch (for alleviating minor pains and symptoms such as headaches, shifting moods, etc.).  That's the beauty of it--it is so versatile. 
 

In pursuing flower essence therapy certification requirements, Eileen, in 2001, attended the week-long Pacific Essences energy medicine practitioner training on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, with Sabina Pettitt, acupuncturist and author of Energy Medicine.  That same year she attended the four-day Australian Bush Flower Essences practitioner training in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, with Ian White, herbalist, naturopath, and author of Australian Bush Flower Essences and Bush Flower Healing.  In 2002 she attended the week-long FES (Flower Essence Society) practitioner training in California, USA, led by Patricia Kaminski and Richard Katz.  These  trainings became the catalyst for the long and complex case study work required for certification. To meet requirements for all three certifications combined, Eileen conducted 70 flower essence therapy sessions and submitted 245 pages of case study material, including one plant study and an archetypal character study (an FES certification requirement; click here to read it).  Richard Katz, co-director of Flower Essence Society, in commenting on her extensive case studies submitted to FES, said, "They were really quite a tour de force; very thoroughly documented."  In addition to the trainings described above, in 2003 Eileen attended an experiential training week in Arizona led by Rhonda Pallas-Downey, author of The Complete Book of Flower Essences.  The culmination of all her flower essence training occurred during her three-hour oral certification process with Patricia Kaminski, co-director of FES and author of Flowers that Heal and Flower Essence Repertory.  Eileen considers this lengthy case study discussion with Patricia and the depth of wisdom and affirmation she gained from it the highlight of all her flower essence studies.  It has been invaluable for Eileen to learn so many different approaches to working with essences--from muscle-testing meridians and chakras to the attention to depth process which is so characteristic of FES--and to be able to integrate them into a cohesive working model.  She always continues to study for learning is her passion!  Eileen is currently studying Baihui diagnosis and the Living Essences of Australia through their correspondence course. 

Flower and other vibrational essences lend themselves well to concurrent use with other forms of alternative therapy.  Using a broad spectrum of natural healing approaches is helpful for addressing the issues in need of healing on all levels of one's being, vibrational essences having a specific affinity for the mental and emotional aspects.  Flower essences and essential oils complement one another beautifully.  In 2003 Eileen began studying aromatherapy through the Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy, directed by Kurt Schnaubelt, Ph.D., author of Medical Aromatherapy and Advanced Aromatherapy.  She chose this school because of its emphasis on the French medical approach which allows for internal ingestion of essential oils, when appropriate, in addition to topical application, and because Dr. Schnaubelt's work is very scientifically-based, well-researched, and respected.  Eileen completed her Certificate of Aromatherapy Studies in early 2004, passing the required test with the highest possible score.  She continues to read in the vast field of aromatherapy and is also currently studying herbal medicine through Christopher Hobb's Foundations of Herbalism course.  In March, 2004 she attended the five-day Spring Seminar offered by Uchee Pines Institute, a natural health clinic and training center founded by Agatha Thrash, M.D. and her now-deceased husband, Calvin Thrash, M.D., authors of many excellent books on simple remedies, vegetarian diet, and natural approaches to health.  Eileen takes great delight in steadily continuing to learn from past and present "masters" in the field of natural healing.  

Eileen is the author of an article, "Getting Physical with Flowers," featured in the July 2003 issue of CAM Magazine for Practitioners of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (London, England).  She finds it fascinating to be engaged in a range of alternative therapies which connect us with our past and which are at the cutting edge of the future of medicine. 

First photo:  Eileen and Coccolino, her companion parrot for twenty-five years.

Second photo: A rest and reading break along the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA.

Third photo:  Kayaking on String Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA.

Fourth photo:  Zinnia helps one experience the playful inner child (courtesy of FES).

Fifth photo:  Indian Paintbrush fosters lively, energetic creativity.

Sixth photo: Scarlet penstemon growing in the mountains within an hour of Sedona, Arizona, USA.

Background:  Holly, a classic Bach remedy, is helpful for anger, jealousy, and envy.  It stimulates forces of love in the heart.