Mentorship Part I: Mentorship as a practice
The study of herbalism brings an abundance of new concepts, new ways of looking ~ at the world and our practices to support well-being; at flora, both locally and beyond; too, at the people around us. My introduction to herbalism brought with it the extraordinary wealth of an ever-growing new vocabulary (mind-boggling at times), herbs that I wanted to better understand and explore (too many to count) and the continuing constant trickle of concepts that require me to pause, consider and consider again, from a multitude of angles, from mind to spirit.
A New Idea
I was introduced to the idea of mentorship only after I had begun traveling along my herbal path. Neither as an undergraduate or postgraduate had I considered the possibility or the term. Indeed, throughout my academic training, the nearest I had come to mentorship was as an undergrad, when I was offered a work-study program. Work-study was an exchange between an individual and an institution and cannot be further from my idea of mentorship. Mentorship is an exchange between two people.
The Exchange
For this exchange to be possible, certain parameters need to be in place. A mentee wanting to cultivate their practice of herbalism and a mentor willing and able to offer guidance, support and kindnesses and yes, educational development. Two individuals who come together with relatively clear goals and commitments that they identify together and of course, which can be reshaped and adjusted as needed.
Every mentee is as unique as every mentor. Each mentee brings their own skill set, and their own desires towards achieving a suite of outcomes. A mentor is a guide offering experience and expertise while navigating a continuing herbal educational path. For me, most often but not always, my role as a mentor involves working with mentees who aspire to embark, or have already embarked, on a path to work with others, perhaps a clinical path with a focus on consultations, or with a focus as an educator, or a medicine maker. The journeys are different and it’s important to discuss wants and needs with a prospective mentor.
Finding Clarity and Language
Too, I remember not having the language, or the experience, to ask important questions, not just about mentorship when I was interviewing prospective mentors, but also when I chose programs early in my herbal education.
As a mentor, I need to make sure that I have the appropriate background, skill set, experience, interest, and yes – time to work with each person I mentor as we cultivate openness, listening, a safe space for growth and deeper understandings as we dis-entangle practice, formulation, and medicine making, in addition to diving into holistic protocols that, by definition, keep pace with a client’s well-being.
Mentorship as a Verb
At the same time, mentorship is about introducing new ideas, or practices and ways to relate to plants and people. I work to ensure that mentees both think and feel that they have the tools that they need to work safely, effectively, creatively and with integrity. I work to support each mentee as they make their practice of herbalism their own, as they shine their own ‘heartlight’ as they gain the experience and confidence to rest comfortably, confident in their strengths and unique qualities.
Mentorship is a conversation. It is so much more than offering instruction, assignments and evaluation. It is a relationship between crafters that broadens understanding and experience, while addressing a multitude of questions and topics. It is built on both the new and the old, tradition and innovation, opinion and fact and yes, art and science. Mentorship can offer opportunities to step into new experiences and feel supported, even when newness is uncomfortable. It does not exist within a prescribed curriculum or course outline.
Embracing the New
Mentorship embraces support and guidance, concrete tools and oh, yes herbs. It necessitates conversations around the uses of plant medicines, a working herbal storehouse (αποθηκάρι) and the continuing development and cultivation of dispensing and dosing strategies. Mentorship is often foundational to a developing confidence around clinical practice and can be fed with questions, flourishes and the space to return to topics, allowing for individual integration.
Mentorship can be occasionally uncomfortable, exploring new techniques, ideas and teasing apart conceptions. It can be funny and sweet. It can also nourish courage, foster compassion and creativity. Mentorship is focused on the needs of each mentee; its pace reflects each individual’s inner journey. Mentorship is not static (thankfully). Nor is it formulaic (also thankfully). There is no, “one size fits all” and for this reason it is imperative to find a mentor that feels like a good fit.
The focus of mentorship is a multidimensional thing. It may incorporate putting together the necessary skill and materials to begin working with others, or to open a brick and mortar; it may focus on complementary herbal actions or symptom profiles as well as the interplay between pharmaceuticals and herbal preparations.
Defining the Practice
The actual architecture of a mentorship can be part of initial exploratory conversations between a mentor and a prospective mentee. Likely key topics may include the types of herbalism to be explored; energetics of herbs and philosophies of practice; working in-person, remotely, or combinations thereof; frequency and duration of meetings, cost and accessibility outwith set dates and times.
For example, I work both in-person and remotely, often using Zoom and meetings usually last 90 minutes to two hours. Generally, I find that meeting twice a month allows ample space for growth. That said, I currently work with a mentee who prefers meeting weekly for an hour. Some mentors barter although generally I no longer do. Additionally, it is important to me that I am accessible outside of scheduled meetings by email and phone for unforeseen questions, concerns, support associated with casework and guidance.
Mentorship is far more fluid than a program or a course which can be purchased online, offer prescribed content and standardized assessment/assignments. While this prescribed approach to learning is indeed valuable, as a mentor, I like to meet students wherever they are, metaphorically speaking (!).
Personal Experience
I can easily harken back to the early days of my saying that I wanted to become an RH, a Registered Herbalist. In retrospect, this acronym was for me a shorthand for saying that I wanted to understand more about herbalism; in particular, clinical herbalism and working with others. I had so many questions, and the path of herbal study is multidimensional. I was most familiar with degree-based programs.
I was also schooled within a model that identified particular termini as measures of achievement, or more particularly knowledge. For example, upon being awarded a BSc in environmental studies, I knew that I wanted to go “further.” Hence, I studied for a Ph.D. What interested me the most was the research path, the skills and knowledge that I developed along the way.
RH is but one avenue when it comes to studying herbalism, and being invited to join the American Herbalists Guild as an RH is but a jumping-off point; a designation marking a peer-reviewed level of understanding and clinical competence that suggests one can continue learning while going forward safely and effectively working with others.
More about my own experiences going forward.
For those wishing to accrue clinical hours, I offer opportunities to work alongside me with new clients, developing holistic protocols and moving forward on a case by case basis, with the agreement of each client. Of course too, as new clinicians begin to develop and expand their practices, I am often asked to accompany them as they work with their own new clients.
If you have an interest in learning about the medicinal properties of herbs, even if you are unsure about where to start, or how to go forward, let’s set a date to meet and chat. I’ll look forward to it.
