The Naturopathic Institute is excited to present the Self-Healing Department as one of the nine departments offered in our Emphasis Certification Program. The Emphasis Certification Program is launching in January 2026 in collaboration with the Embassy of Life Mastery.
Department Overview
One of the most important forms of healing is the healing of the self. This Emphasis is designed for all on the path of self-healing and is especially encouraged for practitioners in the health field. When we have healed ourselves, we are better able to assist others, and we are able to not merge into our clients’ patterns and concerns. You might say this is one of the most important emphasis certifications available for taking responsibility for your own healing journey and improving your quality of life.
Required Courses · Course Breakdown · 2026 Course Schedule
Courses Required
To earn an Emphasis Certification in Self-Healing, students are required to take seven core classes and 10 emphasis classes. The Naturopathic Institute’s Emphasis Certification program is registered with the state of Michigan and meets the educational requirements. After taking all the required courses, completing directed studies, and passing the tests, you will earn an Emphasis Certification in Self-Healing.
Program Core Courses
- NHE:Â Nutrition
- NHE:Â Beginning Essential Oils
- NHT:Â Meridian Work / Light Healing Touch
- NHT:Â Flower Remedies and Emotional Roots of Disease
- NHT:Â Food as Therapy
- CN:Â Feng Shui
- CN:Â Color Therapy and Sound TherapyÂ
Self-Healing Emphasis Courses
Not all courses are offered each year. Review the class schedule guide to learn what is available in any given year.
There are 14 Emphasis Courses offered in the Self-Healing Department. You only need to take 10 of the following 14 Emphasis Courses (in combination with the seven core classes above) to earn an Emphasis Certification in the Self-Healing Department:
- Breathwork
- Drum Making
- Fasting to Activate Your Soul Energy
- Healing Trauma
- How to Heal from Trauma and Manipulation
- Introduction to Astrology
- Mineralization and Mental Health
- Pilgrimage of the Heart Retreat
- Sacred Smoke
- The Truth Series: Programming
- The Truth Series: Navigating
- The Truth Series: Strategies for Living Free
- Understanding and Healing Grief
- Understanding the Enneagram
Course Breakdown
Diploma Students
If you are enrolled in the Natural Health Program, you have already completed some of the core classes required to earn the Self-Healing Emphasis Certification. Below are the additional classes you are required to take, based on the number of years in the program you completed, to earn an Emphasis Certification in the Self-Healing Department.
| Program Year Completed | Additional Core Classes Needed | Self-Healing Emphasis Classes |
| Natural Health Educator | 5 | 10 |
| Natural Health Therapist | 2 | 10 |
| Natural Health Practitioner / Certified Naturopath | — | 10 |
Emphasis Certification Only (Non-Diploma Students)
You must complete the seven Core Program Classes and 10 of the 14 Self-Healing Emphasis Classes to earn an emphasis certificate.
Personal Development
If you are taking an Emphasis Course for personal development, you will not be responsible for the homework or taking the test.
If you choose to take classes in the Emphasis Program for personal growth, then you are not held to the same academic requirements as Certification Students. Please go to the Emphasis Personal Development Page to fill out and submit the Alumni/Guest Individual Class Registration Form.Â
Look for this icon when searching for a class from the Self-Healing Department.
2026 Self-Healing Emphasis Course Schedule
1-Day Emphasis Courses are held from 9 am – 5 pm at 503 E. Broadway St., Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858, unless otherwise noted.
Not every Emphasis 1-Day Course will be offered every year. Here are the courses in the Self-Healing Department that are being offered in 2026:
Instructor: Dr. Nicole Paquin, CN, ND
Course Description: Dive into the myriad ways we are programmed to think, act, believe and see the world around us. This programming happens in such subtle ways as to be almost inconceivable. Most systems in place are designed for our destruction, from the homes we live in to the way food is produced to how healthcare systems are designed, etc. Learn how we can shed light on this darkness, pull back the curtain and get out of our own way – step into the light both figuratively and literally.
Course Outcomes:
- Recognize how society, media, and systems shape the way we think and act.
- Understand how hidden influences can affect health, beliefs, personal freedom, and overall quality of life.
- Learn ways to think for yourself and make choices that match your own values and truth.
Instructor: Dr. Nicole Paquin, CN, ND
Course Description: Part of our program begins with the belief that we are to obey authority, without knowing what and who that authority claims to be. Thus, we unknowingly enter contracts with authorities that give them controlling power. It is imperative that we begin the process of understanding what contracts we are entering into and with whom, unlawful vs. legal behavior and assumptions behind meanings of words. We will learn strategies to break the bonds we have unwittingly participated in.
Course Outcomes:
- Understand how authority and language shape the rules we live by.
- Learn the difference between lawful and legal systems and what they mean for personal rights.
- Practice ways to stay aware and make informed choices that protect your freedom.
Instructor: Dr. Nicole Paquin, CN, ND
Course Description: Come explore new ways of interacting in the world while preserving your core integrity and sacredness. Insights will be given on the connection between beliefs and health, ways to protect oneself from environmental toxins and how to develop meaningful friendships with others who share similar goals. Gather tools to move forward with confidence and proceed with a life of abundance, freedom and longevity.
Course Outcomes:
- Explore how thoughts and beliefs affect emotional and physical health.
- Discover practical ways to lower stress, avoid toxins, and build positive connections.
- Create a personal plan to live with purpose, balance, and confidence.
Instructor: Kriscinda Davis
Course Description: Grief can come in many forms. It can come in the form of the death of loved ones, both people and animals, significant changes in the status of a career or relocation, roles of responsibility in other people’s lives, and even seasonal changes. Join this heartfelt healing class where tools are provided to navigate your own grief and to help others who struggle to walk the path to restoration after a loss or significant change.
Course Outcomes:
- Learn about the stages of grief and how they affect the mind, body, and spirit.
- Practice caring methods to support yourself and others during times of loss or change.
- Use healing tools that help bring comfort, peace, and renewal after grief.
Instructor: Sheila Carroll, Founder of Living Books Press
Course Description: Unresolved trauma—emotional or physical—is often the hidden root of chronic illness. This class explores the trauma-illness connection, with special attention to brain injuries and their long-term effects on emotional and physical regulation. Learn to calm the hypothalamus and restore balance through seven key healing modalities: homeopathics, flower remedies, tapping, Emotion Code, expressive writing, resilience practices, and trauma-informed communication. Gain practical tools, clinical insights, and a trauma-informed framework for creating a therapeutic healing arc for yourself and your clients. Join this heartfelt healing class where tools are provided to navigate your own grief and to help others who struggle to walk the path to restoration after a loss or significant change.
Course Outcomes:
- Understand how trauma can affect the brain, body, and emotions over time.
- Learn simple techniques, such as tapping, writing, and flower remedies, to release stored stress.
- Develop healthy habits to calm the mind and build long-term emotional strength.
Instructor: Corey Winters, CN, ND
Course Description: Experience the art of fasting and the tools of cleansing in this workshop-style class. There will be breath work for specific organs and tissues, along with ways to energize the key developmental centers of the brain and glandular system for better mental clarity, hormone balance, and peace of mind. Fasting broths, teas, and juicing will be included in this healing experience.
Course Outcomes:
- Understand how fasting helps the body heal and restore energy.
- Practice breathing and movement exercises that support the organs and glands.
- Learn how to make simple fasting broths, teas, and juices to improve mental clarity and inner peace.
Instructor: Dr. Tarin Hyder, CN, ND
Course Description: In the world we live in, we are outnumbered by heavy metals. They are found in the air, water, food, deodorant, cookware, and even the medication we are given! It isn’t the first exposure, nor the second, nor the third, that typically stands out as the problem, but the buildup over time. Recurring exposure results in our minerals being hijacked, leading to modern disease diagnoses. Learn how heavy metals hijack good minerals, ways to reduce your exposure, and options for cleansing and rebuilding.
Course Outcomes:
- Learn how heavy metals get into the body and affect overall health.
- Understand how the loss of good minerals can affect mood and mental balance.
- Discover safe ways to reduce exposure and rebuild the body’s natural mineral levels.
