For students and educators

Students, teachers, and school administrators are more challenged now than ever. The trials and tribulations of the rest of the world have a domineering presence in today’s classroom and right now a pandemic has the actual classroom held at bay in most communities. Beyond that, many of today’s youth are challenged by less connection with family than ever before. Technology is amazing and we have seen so many advancements over the past few decades. However, with technology’s benefits also comes its dark side. So many of our young people, and a growing number of adults, are absorbed by a digital world, more likely to connect with others online than pause to look another human being in the eye while communicating. Cyber relationships have paved the path to cyberbullying and online harassment that has exposed young people to devastating character assassinations, severe isolation and depression, and many to self-harm, even suicide attempts. Many families are broken. Others struggle financially and both parents are required to work. Today more kids than ever before are physically or virtually dropped off at school to develop not only educationally; but also, emotionally, morally, ethically, and perhaps even spiritually under the guidance of what we hope is a stable educational figure or mentor. Many students suffer from stress and depression. Many teachers and administrators are overwhelmed with not only lesson plans, teaching, and school logistics, but also so many added responsibilities, up to and including, in some circumstances, raising other people’s kids. That being said, paying attention to and caring for the mental wellness of students, teachers, and administrators is critical. 

During my years in the schools teaching elementary school D.A.R.E. and Character Counts curricula, and more so as serving as a school resource officer, I gained great respect for today’s teacher. The behind-the-scenes exposure to how hard caring educators work together as teams and with counselors and administrators to best serve the struggling learner, the at-risk student, and the student struggling with crisis at home is encouraging to see and being part of that process even more rewarding. The victories, small and large, are encouraging. The process, however, can often be quite emotionally exhausting for all involved. 

We all start to create life rules to live by when we are very young. Our memories of our past guide us in how we predict others will react to us, how well we are equipped to take on whatever challenge we are facing, how much confidence we have in ourselves, how much we trust others, or how safe it is to be real with ourselves and those around us. We modify our life rules based on what family was to us; what that parent, teacher, or coach said or shouldn’t have said; and some of us are even more guarded if we are targeted by bullies along our journey. We modify our life rules through the trials, tribulations, exploration, and relationships of high school. We form or don’t form our independence through college and professional training. As we journey on through adult life any number of emotionally charged events we experience may immediately and completely modify who we feel safe being from that point on.

Here’s the exciting news. If you find yourself limited today, as you read this, because of something bad or unfortunate that has occurred in your past, you have both opportunity and a choice to finally break free from those limitations. Most of us give in to rules we declared necessary years ago to feel safe back in that moment that have no business defining who we are now. This is a profound concept. Read this paragraph again and let it sink in. 

A process called Aroma Freedom Technique and a certified practitioner like myself can assist students and educators who struggle to overcome doubts and insecurities. The process can help identify and overcome blocks and downward spirals. It can ease the stress of emotionally charged events in a person’s past. The process can help people overcome procrastination, instill confidence, assist in maintaining emotional balance, and support one’s actual being present in the moment both at school and at home. 

Aroma Freedom Technique is not psychotherapy nor is it designed to replace psychotherapy for an individual suffering from diagnosed mental illness. It can, however, be used to supplement clinical therapy by a licensed therapist. And, when used in a timely fashion, a simple AFT session can address stress and emotional blocks before any actual disorder is able to take root. Proactive use may eliminate the need for formal therapy in the future, even in the aftermath of significant events, past or present.

The emotional freedom of the Aroma Freedom Technique happens at the brain’s amygdala - the crossroads and location of our primal fight, flight, or freeze response and our sense of smell. Aroma Freedom Technique was founded by Clinical Psychologist Dr. Benjamin Perkus. Understanding that this process can be responsibly practiced with clients by peer certified practitioners within various professional, therapeutic, life coach, religious, and/or others social support groups, he personally trains practitioners to pass on Aroma Freedom Technique benefits to others without requiring his students to be licensed medical or mental health professionals. This makes this powerful and beneficial tool more available, more affordable, and less ominous for a client. A guided conversation with a practitioner, a bit of personal reflection, and strategically smelling 100% pure and therapeutic essential oils during that process engages our past at the brain’s amygdala that triggers an neurochemical opportunity for memory reconsolidation and much needed relief from stress, anxiety, insecurities, doubt, guilt, depression, loss, isolation, frustration, heightened emotional response to a past event, and/or many other emotional hurdles common to the human experience. 

From January 2021 through March of 2023 I volunteered as a mentor at a local high school for at-risk teens. I was able to use the Aroma Freedom Technique practices to assist students with general anxiety, drug dependency anxiety, anger management, peer conflicts, and to assist with emotional recovery and development after exposure to domestic violence, parental absenteeism, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, death of a sibling, and death of a parent. I made my services available to staff members as well. With staff, AFT helped with restoring marital relationship, work related stress and anxiety, personal confidence, and career goal planning.  

Educators, choose to live your life and serve your students with unlimited potential. Students, dismiss the naysayers of your past, including any inner negative voice, and choose to thrive in this world. Who’s ready for a breakthrough?

Sincerely, 

Mark J. Doyle

M.A. Pastoral Studies with emphasis in Pastoral Counseling

Certified Aroma Freedom Technique Practitioner