I’m formally trained as a veterinarian and worked for well over a decade directly in that realm. I chose to pursue small animal medicine for two reasons: I like individual cases vs herd health and because I LOVE heat in the winter. I currently maintain active licensure and care for a smaller circle of pets. Along life’s path, I’ve taken a few different turns. I homeschool my amazing daughter, I worked for a non-profit as a supporter liaison, and I assist in my husband’s software business with financial paperwork, software testing, and technical writing. While I do many things, my heart is smitten with bringing comfort and growth and peace.
Over and over, in my veterinary practice we applied “band-aids to broken bones.” Allergic cats injected with long acting steroids to relieve their skin or gastro-intestinal suffering. Dogs itch for months with minimal comfort while on immunosuppressive drugs. Autoimmune diseases ravage patients and problems simply cycle back through the clinic and the patient, and it is heartbreaking.
A dear friend introduced me to the concept of homeopathy when we were both on a “journey.” I respect her so I listened even though the idea of “nothing” shaped as little white sugar balls sounded ridiculous and tasty.
When a family member was struggling, I searched for relief through this avenue since others held no promise. It’s been an experience to attempt treatment as an unskilled novice, and then to sit under the care of a skilled, respected homeopath. Go for the latter!!!
I chose AHE for many reasons. AHE offers a great opportunity to be part of a community. After practicing as a solo practitioner, then as a member of a multi-doctor practice, and later in a loco tenum fashion, I learned that having a cohort of colleagues is vital. Because we have live classes and clinics, students get to know professional homeopaths and many other students by directly interacting with questions and problem-solving exercises. More than many of us know or may admit, we need others to walk alongside us both professionally with complex cases and personally, through the stresses that direct care brings the practitioner.
I appreciate the live (you can ask questions!) classes which are offered in a spiral fashion. Information is introduced and later re-introduced. As you navigate the simultaneous live clinics, you begin to understand the deep application of what you are taught and better understand what you do not yet know. Then a topic spirals back to you didactically and you grasp a little more which you then take back to clinic and the cycle repeats.
Since I enjoy variety, I will likely continue to do lots of things post-graduation! Many people I pass in my day to day life face health issues so I hope to be a source of comfort, connection and relief for my community. As a veterinarian, I also plan to serve my four-legged friends. Using veterinary focused readings and lectures, I’m concurrently investigating how to translate my AHE education to nonverbal furry patients. There are so many similarities among the systems of humans and animals. Watching a dog or cat respond to a remedy is true beauty. More importantly, no one can argue “placebo effect!” with a 13-year-old vomiting cat.
I launched Life Abundant Homeopathy for two-legged clients and I hope to extend my reach back into the veterinary world next year. Live life and live it abundantly!
