Today we sat down with our Diploma Course Graduate Florence Fong who was recently interviewed by a local radio station for her great work at the “Haven of Hope Memory Care Center”.
We talked about her decision to get formal training in aromatherapy, her online shop for natural products and how she helped her client at the Haven of Hope Memory Center to feel more relaxed after only a couple of treatments:
1) Florence, what were your reasons for studying aromatherapy?
I’ve had anxiety and skin allergies for a long time. I consulted many doctors and used different medicine. In my mind, I know that some natural products can help me to solve my health problems. I read books and articles on the internet giving many suggestions on using essential oils to solve the anxiety and allergies problems.
I really wanted to find the best way to solve my health problems but I didn’t know what I can believe. So, I decided to get formal training and enrolled in a course on aromatherapy.
2) What did you like most about APA’s diploma course? Any subject(s) you found challenging?
I liked Shireen’s class and massage class very much. In Shireen’s class I learned the properties and details about different essential oils. The massage class taught me to know how to use massage on the body to enhance the properties of essential oils.
The most challenging subject, of course, was Anatomy & Physiology. I haven’t studied A&P before, so it was very difficult to understand and remember the A&P wordings in English.
3) After graduating from APA, you’ve set up your own online shop for aromatherapy products. Can you tell our readers a bit about your business?
While I was studying the diploma course, I talked about my course details with my two old friends. They are interested in all nature products and information. So we discussed the possibility of setting up a website and online shop for all nature products and services.
The website mainly provides the information and channels for people to share the information on nature area. Of course, we are also providing a channel for individual nature lovers to share their products and services. For the online shop, we source high quality nature products from different countries.
We also found that some nature lovers made many good nature products but they don’t have a good channel to sell or promote to others. So, we try to provide the service to help them to launch their own products.
The website is on fine tuning stage and we hope to launch as soon as possible. 
APA Diploma Course Graduate Florence
4) You’ve also been interviewed from a local radio station recently about your work with the “Haven of Hope Memory Care Center”. Can you describe your work and maybe tell us about an interesting case you handle?
I work as an aromatherapist in the center. I provide consultation and full body massage for the clients especially for the elders.
I handled a case for a stressed and sleepless client. The client wanted to try 1 aroma treatment only. Once finished, I asked the client to comment on the treatment. Her reply was that she just relaxed a little, but she gave no more positive feedback and showed me a cool face. I was really disappointed and guessed that the client will not do any second treatment. In fact, my thinking was wrong. The client booked the next treatment immediately.
I was so surprised and I learnt that the client was not easy to show her feelings. After several treatments, the client relaxed more, talked more and accepted my suggestions easier. It’s great!
5) What are your tips for our students and graduates who are interested in becoming volunteers with different welfare organizations to promote the benefits of aromatherapy?
I think that working with welfare organizations is a good way for us to learn more, to explore more and to prepare us more. Chance is given to the people who are ready.
When I started the work in the center, I got more chances to let people know what I do, I have more friends and clients asking me to blend the oils for their use. Maybe they think that I have a more solid experience on aromatherapy after I worked for the welfare organizations.
In my mind, I will catch every chance to promote the properties of aromatherapy because I know that aromatherapy is excellent for people’s health and life. I’d like to share all excellent products and services with my dears, my friends and my neighbors.
Thanks so much, Florence! We will share a link to her radio interview once available.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer aromatherapist for Haven of Hope Memory Care Center, please email us for more details: info@apagroup.com.hk