I know that states of anxiety and despair are not individual pathology, but responses to our need for collective healing.
I first turned to herbalism fifteen years ago, in search of healing from the impacts of trauma. I found that herbs helped me to shift patterns of hypervigilance, and to ease and regulate my nervous system. I also learned that getting my hands in the soil, and building relationships with the plants, helped me to feel more grounded, embodied and alive. As my work with plants deepened, it led me to the work of somatics and other therapuetic modalities.
After many years of self-study in Western Herbalism, I graduated in 2015 from the Clinical Energetic Herbalism program at the Blue Otter School of Herbal Medicine and I am very grateful to have been trained as a practitioner by Karyn Sanders and Sarah Holmes. I have completed the Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy certificate program through The Embody Lab and the Somatics, Trauma and Resilience course with Staci Haines through the Strozzi Institute. I have also been trained as a Flower Essence Practitioner through the Flower Essence Society and have studied hands-on energy work with Vanissar Tarakali. I am currently earning my Masters in Community Mental Health from California State University, East Bay. A large part of my knowledge with the plants has come from direct experience growing and tending herbs as co-farmer/co-owner of Steadfast Herbs for 9 years. I currently live and work on occupied Chochenyo Ohlone land in Oakland, CA . I identify as queer and trans nonbinary and use they/them pronouns.
To get in touch, please use the form available here or you can email me at finnoakes@proton.me