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What is the 'M' Technique®?
The 'M' Technique® is a gentle, structured form of therapeutic touch developed by R.J. Buckle Associates and taught through its courses. According to the site, it was pioneered specifically for people who are critically ill or very fragile, and it is described as easy to learn. A key practical point is who can train: the courses are open both to licensed health professionals and to the general public, and the technique has been taught in the USA, UK, Japan, South Africa, Hong Kong and Australia.
What it is used for
- Comfort and supportive care for patients who cannot tolerate firmer massage, such as those in intensive or palliative settings.
- A structured touch routine that a nurse, therapist or family member can learn in a course rather than through open-ended massage training.
- A complement to clinical aromatherapy: the same organisation teaches both, so some practitioners combine gentle touch with essential oils where policy allows.
How you would actually learn it
The organisation lists instructor-led courses in the USA and internationally, a certified instructor directory, and paid unlimited-access demonstration videos covering the full-body routine and a hand-and-foot routine. The videos require creating a login and purchasing access, so they suit someone who wants to review or refresh a routine rather than a complete beginner who has no hands-on teaching.
Deciding whether it fits you
Ask three questions before enrolling:
| If you are… | Consider |
|---|---|
| A licensed clinician wanting a documented, teachable touch method | An instructor-led course, plus the video access for practice between sessions |
| A family carer of a fragile relative | A course open to the public; check that your local care setting permits it |
| Interested mainly in aromatherapy | The clinical aromatherapy course instead; the 'M' Technique® is the touch component |
Next step: use the site's course schedule pages to find a date and location near you, and confirm with the organiser whether the course you are considering carries continuing education credit for your profession.
How can I get certified in clinical aromatherapy through RJ Buckle Associates?
RJ Buckle Associates offers certification in clinical aromatherapy through its CCAP (Clinical Aromatherapy Certified Instructor) pathway, aimed mainly at licensed health professionals rather than the general public. The organization's page lists a "Clinical Aromatherapy for Health Professionals" course, a hospital-focused "Aromatherapy for Hospitals Course (CAH)," and a separate "CCAP Certified Instructor" designation, along with a list of certified instructors.
How the pathway is structured
- Start with the core course: "Clinical Aromatherapy for Health Professionals" is the foundation course named on the site. It was the first aromatherapy course endorsed by a national nursing organization, the American Holistic Nurses Association, in 1997.
- Add the hospital course if relevant: The "Aromatherapy for Hospitals Course (CAH)" is a distinct offering, useful if your goal is to introduce aromatherapy within a clinical or hospital setting.
- Progress to instructor status: The "CCAP Certified Instructor" listing indicates a further step beyond practitioner-level training, for those who want to teach. The site maintains a "Clinical Aromatherapy Certified Instructor List."
- Check the schedule and credits: The site links to an "Aromatherapy Course Schedule" and a "Continuing Educational Credit" page, which matters if you need CE hours for a nursing or professional license.
A practical next step
If you are a nurse or allied health professional, the most direct route is to review the "Clinical Aromatherapy for Health Professionals" course page, confirm the current schedule, and check whether continuing education credit applies in your state or profession before enrolling. If your interest is teaching, ask specifically about the requirements that separate the CCAP Certified Instructor track from the standard course.
What to verify before committing
The site describes certification and instructor status but does not lay out prerequisites, hours, or assessment details in the material available. Before you register, confirm:
- Eligibility requirements (licensure or background expected)
- Total course hours and any hands-on or supervised component
- Whether the certification requires an exam, practicum, or teaching demonstration
- CE credit approval for your specific licensing body
For broader context on clinical aromatherapy education and standards, you can also compare offerings from American Holistic Nurses Association and International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists.
What courses does RJ Buckle Associates offer for licensed health professionals?
RJ Buckle Associates offers two main course tracks for licensed health professionals: Clinical Aromatherapy and the 'M' Technique®. Both are designed for nurses and other licensed clinicians who want to bring these approaches into hospital or clinical settings.
Clinical Aromatherapy for Health Professionals
This is the flagship professional course. The site notes it was the first aromatherapy course endorsed by a national nursing organization — the American Holistic Nurses Association — in 1997. It is aimed at licensed health professionals who want to use essential oils in a clinical context.
Related offerings include:
- Clinical Aromatherapy for Health Professionals — the core professional course
- Aromatherapy For Hospitals Course (CAH) — a hospital-focused version
- Clinical Aromatherapy Certified Instructor (CCAP) — a path for those who want to teach the material, with a certified instructor list
The 'M' Technique®
This is a gentle, structured form of touch the organization pioneered, described as suitable for critically ill or very fragile people. Unlike the aromatherapy courses, 'M' Technique® courses are open to both licensed health professionals and the general public. They are offered in the USA, UK, Japan, South Africa, Hong Kong and Australia.
How to choose
If your goal is to use essential oils with patients, start with the Clinical Aromatherapy for Health Professionals course and check whether the hospital-focused version fits your setting. If your interest is in providing gentle touch for fragile or critically ill patients, the 'M' Technique® is the more direct fit — and it does not require a clinical license.
The site also offers unlimited access to Full-Body and Hand/Foot 'M' Technique® demonstration videos, which requires creating a login and purchasing access. Course schedules for both tracks are posted separately on the site.
For current dates, credits and availability, check the course schedule pages directly or contact the organization at the email listed on the site.
How do I find an 'M' Technique® course near me?
Use the course locator on RJ Buckle Associates — the site has separate schedule pages for 'M' Technique® USA courses and for clinical aromatherapy courses. For international courses, the same site lists 'M' Technique® activity in the UK and internationally, so check those sections before assuming you must travel to the USA.
What to check first
- Which course type you want: 'M' Technique® (open to licensed health professionals and the general public) versus Clinical Aromatherapy for Health Professionals (aimed at licensed health professionals).
- Whether you need continuing education credit — the site has a dedicated continuing educational credit section.
- Whether a certified instructor is listed near you; the site maintains a certified instructor list, which is often the fastest route to a local or regional course.
If nothing is near you
The site offers unlimited access to Full-Body and/or Hand and Foot 'M' Technique® demonstration videos. That requires creating a login and purchasing access. Treat this as a supplement or a first step, not a replacement for hands-on instruction — touch technique is learned through supervised practice and feedback on pressure, pacing and positioning.
Practical next step
Email [email protected] with your location, profession/licence status and which course you want. Ask specifically: the next scheduled course within a reasonable travel distance, whether any certified instructor in your area teaches independently, and whether the demonstration videos count toward any credit you need.
What are the benefits of using the 'M' Technique® in hospitals?
The 'M' Technique® is designed for people who are too ill or fragile for conventional massage. Its main hospital benefit is that it delivers structured, gentle touch without the pressure, movement or duration that can be risky for critically ill patients, so it can be offered in settings where massage would normally be ruled out.
Practical benefits in a hospital context
- Suitable for fragile patients: The technique is described as gentle and easy to learn, and specifically intended for critically ill or very fragile people.
- Can involve family or staff: Because it is taught to both licensed health professionals and the general public, hospitals can use it in staff-led care and in family involvement, subject to local policy.
- Low training barrier: Its simplicity means nurses and other caregivers can learn it without extensive bodywork training.
- Structured and repeatable: A defined method makes it easier to document, teach consistently and fit into a care routine than ad hoc touch.
Evidence and credibility
The site notes that the 'M' Technique® is used in hospitals and that research exists on it. It also states that more than 3,000 people have learned the technique. Dr. Buckle's Clinical Aromatherapy: Essential Oils in Healthcare is described as a peer-reviewed, evidence-based clinical text, which supports the wider clinical aromatherapy programme rather than the touch method alone.
What to weigh before adopting it
The benefits claimed here are largely about comfort, appropriate touch and ease of delivery, not about curing conditions. Hospitals still need to consider infection control, consent, staff time, documentation and whether the technique fits existing policies. Training and certification routes matter too: the site distinguishes certified instructors from general course attendees, so check instructor credentials before booking.
Next step
If you are evaluating it for a ward or trust, start by identifying one patient group where standard massage is contraindicated, then pilot the technique with trained staff and a simple comfort measure. Compare it against your current alternatives using this quick test:
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Can the patient tolerate pressure or movement? | Determines whether 'M' Technique® is appropriate at all |
| Who will deliver it — staff, family or both? | Affects training, consent and time |
| How will comfort be recorded? | Makes the pilot reviewable |
| Is the instructor certified? | Supports consistent teaching |
For course schedules and instructor listings, see R.J. Buckle Associates.
Can I access demonstration videos for the 'M' Technique® without taking a course?
Yes. R.J. Buckle Associates sells unlimited online access to its Full-Body and/or Hand and Foot 'M' Technique® demonstration videos separately from its courses. You create a login on RJ Buckle Associates and then sign up to purchase the video access you want, so a course enrollment is not a prerequisite for viewing the demonstrations.
What this means in practice
- Who it suits: nurses, therapists, carers and family members who want to see the hand placement and rhythm before deciding whether to take a full 'M' Technique® course.
- What you get: streamed demonstration footage, not a qualification. The page describes unlimited access to the videos; it does not present them as a substitute for instructor-led training or certification.
- What you still need a course for: the 'M' Technique® courses are offered to licensed health professionals and the general public across several countries, and the site lists certified instructors and course schedules separately. If your goal is to use the technique in a clinical role, teaching others or earning continuing education credit, the course route is the relevant one.
A useful next step
Ask yourself what you need the videos for. If it is orientation or personal use, buying video access alone is the cheaper, faster path. If it is professional practice, credentialing or continuing education credit, check the course schedule and the continuing education credit page first, then use the videos as revision material. For questions about which option fits your situation, the site lists [email protected] as its contact address.
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