Dr. Danielle Daniel

10/10/2025

Wild Orange essential oil isn’t just energizing, it’s neurologically impactful.

Research shows that citrus oils like Wild Orange can stimulate the release of dopamine and serotonin, neurotransmitters that support motivation, focus, and emotional balance. This makes it a gentle yet powerful tool in both client and therapist settings.

Its bright, sweet aroma can:
→ Lift low moods and emotional heaviness
→ Stimulate mental clarity during fog or fatigue
→ Create an atmosphere of optimism and possibility
→ Help regulate the nervous system by reducing cortisol (the body’s primary stress hormone)

🌬️ In-session ideas:
→ Diffuse to shift the emotional tone before or after difficult conversations
→ Inhale before transitions (especially helpful with grief, trauma, or anxiety clients)
→ Blend with grounding oils (like Cedarwood or Frankincense) to create emotional stability with uplift

Remember: not all essential oils are created equal. Many citrus oils are adulterated with synthetic fragrance or produced with pesticide-laden peels. Always choose a pure, tested essential oil for safe and effective use in your practice.

🌿 Therapist Tip:
If your clients struggle with apathy, fatigue, or emotional flatness, Wild Orange can be a beautiful way to support activation without overwhelm.

Comment or DM “EOBRAIN” to get my essential oils & the brain e-guide wheel!

10/08/2025

Mental health doesn’t live in the brain alone — it’s built from the inside out.
And it begins with what we feed our body, our cells, and our nervous system.

Foundational nutrition plays a vital role in:
+ Mood regulation
+ Cognitive clarity
+ Sleep quality
+ Stress resilience
+ Neurotransmitter production

🧬 Here’s the science:
The brain is only 2% of your body weight, but uses about 20% of your daily energy. That fuel comes from micronutrients like B vitamins, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, and amino acids — all of which are needed to build neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA.

Without these nutrients, the brain simply can’t regulate mood or stress effectively.

But here’s the challenge:
Modern diets, chronic stress, and environmental toxins all deplete these key nutrients. Even with “healthy” eating, we may not be absorbing what we need.

That’s why foundational wellness matters, not as a diet trend, but as nervous system support.

In your practice, consider:
→ Talking to clients about the brain-gut connection
→ Integrating whole-food or supplement support as part of referrals
→ Using oils like Peppermint or Lemon to stimulate appetite or digestion (when appropriate)

Wellness is not just self-care. It’s brain care.

And when the brain is nourished, therapy has room to land.

Comment VMG to join my next Foundational Wellness class, and I will DM you the link!

10/07/2025

New 2 min Brain Talk on LEMON essential oil:

Welcome to Holistic Brain Talk Oils A-Z, today we will explore LEMON essential oils. I am Dr. Danielle Rae, a doctor of psychology, founder the Holistic Brai...

10/06/2025

When incorporating essential oils into therapeutic work, the quality of what you're using is just as important as how you're using it.

Not all essential oils are created equally. Many oils on the market are diluted with synthetic fillers, harvested improperly, or include undisclosed ingredients that can irritate the skin, trigger sensitivities, or provide no therapeutic benefit.

Here’s why quality matters in your practice:

1️⃣ Purity affects the brain.
The olfactory system sends scent molecules directly to the limbic brain. If what you're diffusing contains synthetic compounds or contaminants, you're not offering true plant-based support — you're introducing chemicals that may disrupt rather than regulate.

2️⃣ Sourcing shapes potency.
Soil, climate, altitude, and harvesting practices all impact the chemical makeup of an essential oil. Lavender grown in high-altitude France, for example, has a very different profile than lavender grown in lowland areas.

3️⃣ Safety depends on testing.
Third-party testing ensures oils are free from adulterants, pesticides, and solvents. Without that transparency, there's no way to confirm what's actually in the bottle.

4️⃣ Ethics and sustainability matter.
Therapeutic tools should never come at the cost of people or planet. Knowing your source ensures oils are harvested ethically and with long-term sustainability in mind.

As a mental health professional, you don’t need to become a chemist, but being informed helps you offer safer, more effective support.

If you're not sure where to begin, start by asking:

Is this oil tested for purity and potency?

Is it safe to use aromatically, topically, or internally?

Does the company share sourcing and testing practices?

Your tools reflect your care. Choose essential oils that match the integrity of the work you do.

10/03/2025

Frankincense has long been considered sacred across cultures and traditions. Today, neuroscience is beginning to affirm what ancient healers have known—this resin holds remarkable potential for the brain.

🧠 Modern studies suggest that Frankincense may support:

Neuroplasticity: Helping the brain form new pathways during healing

Inflammation reduction: Easing the chronic stress response and calming the body

Focus and clarity: Supporting emotional regulation and cognitive performance

In clinical and therapeutic spaces, Frankincense offers a grounded, steady presence. Its aroma is earthy and resinous, and often evokes a sense of calm that anchors clients gently.

🌿 Ways to integrate Frankincense in practice
→ During somatic resourcing or grounding exercises
→ As part of trauma-informed care to support safety and stability
→ Paired with breathwork or guided meditation for integration
→ In self-care rituals for therapists to mark the close of a session or day

Frankincense can be diffused, applied to pulse points with consent, or offered on a scent strip for clients to explore at their own pace.

Quality is imperative, not all Frankincense essential oils are alike. I highly recommend Certified Pure Tested Grade oils because you can see the testing report to ensure your oils are pure. Just because an oil says it is pure, doesn’t mean that it is, you need to be able to request the testing report.

💡 When we pair ancient wisdom with therapeutic intention, we help the brain feel both safe and supported.

10/01/2025

Your client’s nervous system begins scanning for safety the moment they walk through the door and not when the session starts.

That means your waiting room isn’t just a holding space. It’s the pre-session intervention you may be overlooking.

🧠 What’s actually happening?
The brain’s limbic system, which governs emotion and memory, is constantly interpreting the environment. Lighting, sound, and especially scent can influence whether your client enters the session feeling settled or already dysregulated.

🌿 Why diffuse essential oils?
Certain oils have been shown to reduce stress markers, lower heart rate, and modulate cortisol levels … all before a word is spoken.

Also remember that not all oils are alike and they must be Certified Pure Tested Grade to ensure their purity and potency.

Here are a few client-safe oils to consider diffusing gently in your waiting area:

→ Lavender: Calms anticipatory anxiety and supports emotional ease
→ Wild Orange: Uplifts mood and eases tension
→ Frankincense: Promotes grounding and nervous system stability
→ Bergamot: Eases anxiousness and supports emotional regulation

💡 Therapist Tip: Use a low-output diffuser and keep scents subtle. The goal is soothing, not overpowering. You can also alternate oils weekly to keep scent associations fresh.

Creating a trauma-informed practice starts before session begins and often, with the first breath your client takes in your space.

09/29/2025

For neurodivergent children, emotional regulation isn’t just about calming down. It’s about feeling safe in their bodies and environments. It’s about having sensory input that matches their unique needs. And it’s about being met where they are, not where we expect them to be.

🌿 Aromatherapy can offer gentle, non-verbal support.
Because scent travels directly to the brain’s limbic system — the seat of emotion and memory — certain essential oils can help soothe, stabilize, or uplift the nervous system without the need for language or cognitive processing.

Here are three oils to consider:
Cedarwood – Grounding and stabilizing. May help slow a racing mind or body and promote a sense of rootedness.

Lavender – Known for calming overstimulation and promoting rest. Helpful when big emotions are flooding the system.

Lemon – Light and bright. May help re-engage a child who’s mentally shut down, or bring clarity during transitions.

🧠 How to use them:
+ Diffuse gently in your office or therapy space
+ Offer a personal inhaler (with caregiver permission)
+ Use a roller on the feet or wrists, always with consent

💡 Important reminder: Not all neurodivergent children will respond positively to scent. Some may be hypersensitive to smell or dislike certain aromas. Always introduce slowly, with curiosity and consent.

✨ Aromatherapy isn’t a fix — it’s a supportive tool.
When integrated with care, it can become part of the sensory toolkit that helps a child regulate and reconnect.

09/26/2025

In clinical settings, we often work with clients whose nervous systems are stuck in overdrive … hypervigilance, reactivity, and exhaustion woven into their daily experience.

🌸 Magnolia essential oil offers a gentle, research-informed way to invite the nervous system back into balance.

🧠 Why it works: Magnolia has one of the highest natural concentrations of linalool, a chemical compound known to influence the GABA system in the brain.
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the brain’s primary calming neurotransmitter, key for regulating anxiety, mood, and sleep.
When clients are dysregulated, linalool-rich oils can help shift the brain from a state of threat to one of restoration.

🌿 Clinical use cases:

During trauma-focused work to gently downshift activation

To support clients with generalized anxiousness, panic, or difficulty sleeping

Between sessions for emotional resilience and self-soothing

💡 How to use it:

Diffuse in your office for a subtle, continuous effect

Offer on a cotton round or aromatherapy inhaler for client-led use

Apply (diluted) to pulse points with consent, as part of a grounding ritual

✨ Magnolia invites the body to remember what calm feels like — even when the mind is working hard to process.

09/24/2025

The nervous system is the foundation of everything we do in therapy, but most programs never teach how to regulate it with the senses.

That’s where the Holistic Brain App comes in.

🧠 Designed for therapists, counselors, and mental health professionals, the app offers:
- Research-backed tools for integrating aromatherapy and brain science
- Self-paced courses on trauma-informed scent use, brain anatomy, and emotional regulation
- Monthly coaching + live calls to help you deepen your understanding
- A growing community of integrative professionals like you

Whether you’re brand new to essential oils or looking to expand your clinical toolkit, the Holistic Brain App makes it easy to learn and apply this work, at your pace, on your terms.

This isn’t fluff. This is evidence-informed, client-centered, and grounded in neuroscience.

🌿 Start your journey today. Comment BRAINAPP to learn more.

09/22/2025

Essential oils can be simple and powerful tools when used intentionally. For therapists, they offer an accessible way to support emotional regulation, nervous system balance, and even session flow.

There are three primary ways to use essential oils — here’s how to explain each to your clients (and use them yourself):

Inhalation (Aromatic Use):
Best for emotional grounding, focus, and nervous system regulation
+ Diffuse in your office
+ Inhale from a cotton round or personal inhaler
+ Pair with breathwork or transitions in session

🧠 Why it works: Scent travels directly to the limbic system — the part of the brain that governs emotion, memory, and safety.

Topical Use (Skin Application):
Best for grounding, somatic practices, and creating scent rituals
+ Apply diluted oil to the wrists, chest, or back of the neck
+ Use during body-based work or breath-led resourcing
+ Recommend for between-session support with client guidance

⚠️ Therapist note: Always dilute, and check for sensitivities. Less is more.

Internal Use (Ingestion):
Used more for functional wellness — not common in therapy settings
+ Only with high-quality, tested oils
+ Can support digestion, immunity, or cellular health

Always educate thoroughly, and know this method isn’t necessary for emotional support

✅ Reminder: Aromatic use is typically the most effective and gentle for emotional regulation, especially in session.

Therapist Tip: If you’re new to oils, start with diffusion. It’s safe, subtle, and effective, and it builds a consistent sensory anchor that clients come to associate with safety and calm.

Want to see the top 10 oils I recommend for therapeutic settings? DM or comment TOP10 and I’ll send you my free guide. 🔁 And share this with a friend that you know would love to learn more about essential oils and the brain.

09/19/2025

While most therapists reach for floral or citrus oils in session, Oregano holds a unique—and often underestimated—place in brain and nervous system support.

🧠 What the research says:
Oregano essential oil has been explored for its ability to support mental clarity and soothe internal tension. One of its key compounds, carvacrol, may help reduce oxidative stress in the brain, contributing to long-term cognitive resilience.

🌿 Energetically and emotionally:
Oregano’s bold, herbal scent has a natural “clearing” effect. It’s strong, direct, and deeply stimulating. In moments of mental fog, emotional stagnation, or low motivation, it can help cut through heaviness and restore forward movement.

Ways to use in practice:

Use sparingly in a diffuser blend with Lemon, Wild Orange, or Lavender to soften the intensity

Add to an energy-clearing spray to refresh your therapy room between clients

Use personally after difficult sessions to create a sense of separation and restoration

⚠️ Because it’s a “hot” oil, Oregano should never be applied neat and always used in diluted form or aromatically. Less is more—especially in a shared space.

This is a plant with boundaries. Bold. Protective. Clearing.
Exactly what many of us need in emotionally demanding work.

09/17/2025

Aromatherapy isn’t just about pleasant smells. It’s about neuroscience.

When we inhale essential oils, aromatic molecules travel through the olfactory nerve directly to the limbic system—the part of the brain responsible for emotion, memory, and behavior regulation. No other sensory input reaches the brain this quickly or directly.

This is why scent-based interventions are so effective in therapeutic work:

They bypass the prefrontal cortex (language, logic)

They can regulate without requiring verbal processing

They support co-regulation, memory recall, and emotional anchoring

🧠 What research shows:

Inhaling certain oils can influence neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA

Citrus oils may reduce cortisol and increase alertness

Floral oils may activate parasympathetic responses, reducing heart rate and anxiety

Resins and woods may support grounding and increased HRV (heart rate variability)

🌿 For therapists, this means we have access to a gentle, evidence-backed tool that can complement talk therapy, especially with trauma-informed, neurodivergent, or emotionally resistant clients.

Scent can be the first step toward safety. It’s a nonverbal bridge between dysregulation and grounded presence.

Share this post with others interested in learning about the brain and essential oils. 🔁