Coping during covid: Using AromaStick inhalers in online therapy sessions with parents of critically ill children

Priya began delivering complementary therapies within a healthcare setting after qualifying with The Institute of Traditional Herbal Medicine and Aromatherapy (UK) in 2009.
During her time volunteering at a Hospice, Priya continued developing her professional interest in end of life care, enhanced her clinical training and taught hospice nurses simple hand massage techniques so that they could understand and experience the benefits of complementary therapy.
In 2017, Priya moved to the University College London Hospital (UCLH) Cancer Centre where she continued to offer treatments within the chemotherapy and out-patient unit. Whilst at UCLH, Priya spent time in the Radiotherapy unit blending bespoke aromastick inhalers with patients waiting for their treatments. Priya took this intervention further by creatively using aromatherapy with children and young people, utilising her skills as a qualified Youth and Community Worker. 
In early 2020, Priya joined the charity ‘Spread a Smile’, where she has been delivering face-to-face and online individual and group therapeutic well-being sessions, combining the use of AromaSticks ® with breathing techniques, to parents caring for a child/young person with an illness. Priya teamed up with Nick Singer, the owner of AromaStick ®, to evaluate and present the impact of these therapeutic sessions.