Why did you become an acupuncturist?
When I was 17, my mother became ill. I became disenchanted with the lack of communication and respect she was given while at her most vulnerable. Doctors were so busy chasing her symptoms, they forgot that she was an actual person, a whole being who was more than the sum of her physical parts. Intrigued by a medicine that treats the whole, I applied to grad school for acupuncture, wondering if I was doing the right thing—how could inserting tiny needles really affect someone’s health? I quickly learned the necessity of disregarding my preconceived notions. A back problem led me to my first experience with acupuncture. Within two treatments, the pain was gone. At that point, I didn’t yet know the “how” or “why”—I only knew that it worked. It was the first time in my life that I couldn’t rely on science or logic, and I loved it.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
As an acupuncturist and hypnotherapist, my goal is to act as a catalyst for positive change in every patient. I specialize in a unique treatment that I refer to as “hypnoacupuncture,” which is a combination of acupuncture and hypnotherapy. Combining the power of hypnosis with acupuncture has proven to create treatments that are effective on all levels: physical, mental, and emotional. Many patients describe these sessions as life-altering, and find them to be more deeply relaxing than anything they have ever experienced before.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
The work that I do here truly feeds my soul. I refer to my office as the happiest place in the world, and my patients agree. When I started, I knew that I could help patients with physical pain. I never imagined that I would see people catalyzed into monumental life changes, every single day. Witnessing the metamorphosis of so many struggling people, seeing their gratitude as they reach their highest potential, makes me love every second of what I do.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
That it only works if you believe in it! New patients come in all the time and tell me that they don’t think acupuncture will work for them, because they are skeptics. I tell them all the same thing: believe in it or don’t, it doesn’t matter. Just tell me how you feel after your session. I let the results speak for themselves.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
As an acupuncturist, I know how important it is to be proactive about my health. I work so much that I simply can’t afford to get sick. Regular acupuncture, massage, and yoga help me to function at my highest level. Laughter also keeps me healthy and youthful, so I make sure to take time to enjoy myself, and to surround myself with positive, happy people!

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healingpointtherapeutics.com
healingpointtherapeutics@gmail.com
(877) 433-1554
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185 Commonwealth Road, Wayland, MA 01778

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Why did you become an acupuncturist?
Before becoming an acupuncturist, I worked with horses. I was amazed at how much better my horse felt after his acupuncture treatments, so I decided to try it for myself. As time went on, training and competing became less of a priority, and holistic medicine became a deeper interest. I wanted to learn more. Now, I am very happy to be able to share my knowledge and my skills with my patients. Nothing brings more satisfaction that knowing you’ve helped someone feel better!

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
I am very comfortable talking to people, so they generally feel very comfortable with me. I am happy to work with a patient on any level, whether it’s physical pain, emotional imbalance, or spiritual seeking. I have done much personal exploration into these areas, and my life experience allows me a unique perspective on whatever my patients might bring to the table.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
I love the interaction with the patient. The trust my patients place in me is something I never take for granted. I also love that each day is different, and that I get to witness the positive changes that happen in patients’ lives.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
The biggest misconception I hear is that it “doesn’t work.” This statement is often made by people who only tried one treatment, or one practitioner, or expected acupuncture to “heal” them without taking any responsibility for their health.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
I do my best to eat healthy, get enough sleep, get outside daily (weather permitting!), and stay engaged in activities that I love. Meditation, qigong practice, growing my own food, and walking in the woods with my dog are all activities that contribute greatly to my physical and emotional wellbeing.

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fullheartacupuncture.com
abby@fullheartacupuncture.com
(508) 341-3481
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494 Union Avenue, Framingham, MA 01702

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Why did you become an acupuncturist?
To help everyone find balance and create health. To educate that we can heal ourselves. To improve community and personal health in a tangible, clear way.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
I easily translate Chinese medical theory into everyday metaphors. I make this medicine accessible and understandable. I help you understand what is happening with your body in a quiet and gentle way that allows for deep healing, compassion and understanding.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
I love helping people feel better. I love seeing the “aha” as my patients understand and believe that they can have a better quality of life. I enjoy educating my patients on diet, exercise and mental skills that allow for lower stress and greater health.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
“Acupuncture is only for pain. Acupuncture doesn’t work long term. Acupuncture helps that?” These are the common misconceptions I hear about acupuncture. Acupuncture is for wellness; it’s for stress relief, insomnia, allergies, etc. Basically, if you’re out of balance, acupuncture can help. Please, just ask!

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
I live my medicine. I take Chinese herbs when I get sick, I use acupuncture to manage my health. I use pediatric acupuncture and herbs with my children. For me, this medicine is the first and usually the only medicine I use. I eat well, exercise, sleep well and take care of my mental wellbeing.

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goodlifelongmont.com
info@goodlifelongmont.com
(720) 583-5608
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702 10th Street, Longmont, CO 80501

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Why did you become an acupuncturist?
I became an acupuncturist because I felt so much better after being treated myself, beyond what I sought treatment for. My practitioners were attentive, kind and compassionate, and that inspired me. I discovered that this medicine contained a web of connections from body to mind to spirit that spoke to me more profoundly than anything I’d experienced before, except for yoga. I became certified as an Iyengar Yoga teacher before I made the transition to Chinese medicine. Acupuncture presented an opportunity to take energetic bodywork to a deeper level.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
The most important reason someone chooses me is that I listen to them, address their questions and concerns, and then—based on that initial chemistry—they decide to trust me. I care deeply about my patients, take them seriously, and they connect with that. I give them my full attention and frequently stay in the room with them the entire treatment. I find techniques, protocols and tools with which they resonate. If someone is too sensitive for needles, I might apply essential oils on acupuncture points. Someone might need a blood test, or a referral to another medical professional, or dietary suggestions. I have a gentle touch. I treat my patients according to what they need, not according to a style of treatment.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
When a new patient explains their health history and I am able to explain the unique pattern of their disharmony, they are grateful that I understand, and I enjoy that moment of connection. I am thrilled when someone steps off the table and exclaims “wow!” when we both see the immediate impact of their treatment. When someone has a stubborn or chronic condition, they might not be able to hold the initial results for more than a day, but they get a sense of where we can go with this, and that motivates them to continue with treatment. That moves me deeply. I enjoy offering solutions and options that they feel are workable. I am very happy when a patient returns after a successful course of treatment for support in another area, and then chooses to come in for a seasonal “tune-up.”

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
I hear two big misconceptions: acupuncture only treats pain and that it has to hurt in order to work. First, ours is a comprehensive medical system and has the potential to treat many conditions (the World Health Organization lists 30 conditions with research to back the efficacy of treatment, and up to 40 additional ones, with research caveats). Second, there are many styles of needling, plus effective acupressure techniques. I can achieve results with techniques appropriate to my patient, without alienating them. And usually, once the first few needles are in, the patient becomes more relaxed and then we find the appropriate way forward together.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
I try to stay healthy by taking a moderate path and trying to make good choices. When life becomes out of balance, as it invariably does from time to time, I try to lighten up and go with the flow until I can correct course. I need fresh air and a walk with my dog, a bowl of soup, a few yoga poses and a steady dose of New Yorker cartoons. I like to laugh. I listen to music. I believe in the power of a cup of tea. And, of course, I take herbs and receive acupuncture.

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kathleenport.com
kathleen@portfamily.com
(310) 230-0280
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2211 Corinth Avenue, Suite 202, Los Angeles, CA 90064

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Why did you become an acupuncturist?
Although I respect Western medicine and what it can offer, I became more and more discouraged with the limitations of the current healthcare system. I thought to myself, “there must be a better way,” especially for those in pain. I decided to enter into a Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree program that strongly incorporates a Western-medical protocol as part of its curriculum.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
With dual Masters Degrees—acupuncture and Oriental medicine, and community counseling—I am able to offer my patients a more comprehensive and holistic approach in helping them out of pain (physically, mentally and emotionally). In my previous experience working in the mental health field as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFTI), I realized the importance of providing quality and compassionate care in a professional setting. I have experience counseling individuals, couples, families and children. I am passionate about getting my patients out of pain and guiding them to a life filled with peace and balance. My intention is to help create and maintain a renewed vitality within each individual.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
I appreciate and love that I have found a career that allows me to help people in every aspect of their life. Chinese medicine is often a last resort for many and it is gratifying to give patients the results they are hoping for.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles; roughly 10 acupuncture needles can fit into one hypodermic needle. The largest misconception about acupuncture is that it hurts. Of course, every individual has his or her own pain tolerance level and I am very sensitive to this in my own practice. For the majority of people though, minimal discomfort is felt. In fact, some people have commented that the feeling is unfamiliar, pleasant and relaxing.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
I incorporate a variety of vegetables into my diet, drink a lot of water, and breathe deeply often. I love to spend time in nature and enjoy walking, hiking, snowboarding, biking, running, and paddle boarding. I practice yoga as a way to stretch and strengthen the body, and as a tool to help manage the stress of daily life. I also use Chinese herbs and acupuncture for general wellness.

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acupunctureinnature.com
info@acupunctureinnature.com
(949)-505-4004
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23151 Verdugo Drive, Suite 114, Laguna Hills, CA 92653

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Why did you become an acupuncturist?
I’ve always been athletic. Many years ago I developed heel spurs. My podiatrist told me that he could operate but that I might need several operations as well as physical therapy. He suggested I try acupuncture; my heel pain disappeared after a few treatments. Over the years I’ve learned that Chinese medicine is more effective than Western medicine for my pain. I was never interested in pain medication and rarely got relief with physical therapy. I became an acupuncturist after I had raised my kids. I had been a graphic designer for many years and wanted to do something else. I had been receiving regular acupuncture for years, happened to go to a new acupuncturist and asked her how she got into Chinese medicine. She told me she was older, she had to work while attending school, that it was very difficult but the best thing she’d ever done. I started grad school a couple of months later.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
In grad school we’re taught that 10 practitioners treating a headache can find 10 different causes and treatments for the headache. Practitioners are individuals—each bringing a different set of experiences and skills into the treatment room. I don’t think the question is which practitioner is better than the other, but which is the best fit for the patient. I encourage prospective patients to call or email me to determine if I am the best practitioner for them.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
Being an acupuncturist is the best! Each day I’m presented with a complex set of symptoms that I must analyze and formulate a treatment plan for. No mater how long I practice I will always have the opportunity to learn more. Each day brings a new challenge. I’m a people person so I enjoy interacting with patients. I work with some of the best people! Most of all, there is really no better feeling than working with someone and helping them heal.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
Most folks are fairly knowledgeable about Chinese medicine. A few, however, are under the impression that acupuncture is some sort of magic art one must believe in for it to be effective. Chinese medicine has been used to treat physical ailments for thousands of years. In Chinese medicine our basic understanding of the human body is different than Western medicines’. Both conceptions are valid. Chinese medicine is not hocus pocus—no pun intended.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
I am physically active—I row for River City Advanced Women’s team. I am very committed to eating well—organic, local, home cooked, including meat. I receive regular massage and acupuncture. I try to balance work and relaxation. I constantly work to maintain peace of mind. I absolutely insist on enjoying life.

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lvernasco@gmail.com
(916) 244-9363

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2011 P Street, Suite 305, Sacramento, CA 95811

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Why did you become an acupuncturist?
I became an acupuncturist to preserve and maintain my own health and the health of others. I truly enjoy making acupuncture accessible to my community.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
The mission of my clinic, Costa Acupuncture, is to provide safe, affordable, effective care to everyone. We provide affordable treatments tailored to each individual’s needs.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
Providing highly effective acupuncture treatments that are affordable to just about everyone is the most rewarding aspect of my work. Acupuncture is effective for many conditions. My goal is to make it available to as many patients as possible.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
New patients tend to think acupuncture is going to feel similar to getting an injection or blood drawn with needles that are much thicker than those used in acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture needles are almost hair thin and most patients barely feel them at all.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
Self care through meditation, eating a nutritious diet, and getting adequate rest. I use acupuncture, herbs, and nutritional supplements to support wellbeing when everything is going well and when things get out of balance.

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yoursourceforwellness.org
michaelcosta@theacucenter.com
(310) 838-2817
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10200 Venice Blvd., Suite 109B, Culver City, CA 90232

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Why did you become an acupuncturist?
I was trying to make it as an artist in New York City. With all that was happening in the world after 9/11/01, making art by myself in my studio and trying to work the gallery scene wasn’t resonating. I wanted to contribute in a meaningful way. I considered pursuing journalism, but somehow ended up teaching English as a foreign language in Prague, where I met an art therapist. A lightbulb went off. She introduced me to a Shiatsu practitioner, from whom I learned about the Five Elements and so much more. Fascinated, I considered studying Shiatsu in Japan and learned that acupuncture had the same roots in Chinese medicine as Shiatsu. I remembered a few years back when one acupuncture treatment almost completely resolved a terrible cough I had for weeks. As things began to unfold before me, I knew I had stumbled upon the right path.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
Because I am a classically trained visual artist, I have a keen eye for structural imbalances in the body and a heightened sense of observation. I spent four years learning how to draw, paint and sculpt the human form with extensive training in anatomy for artists to help see the structural forms underneath the skin. When people hear that my first degree was in art, they often think it sounds like a drastic shift, but everything I learned in art school is directly applicable to what I do now. A developed observation helps not only to see the person structurally, but also to take in the experience of the person before you. I have also been practicing Yoga for more than 10 years. Through practice and trainings, I have done a considerable amount of self-work and discovery, which helps to hear and relate to what another person is experiencing.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
I love providing a space where people come and spend time for themselves. I also love it when people come out of an acupuncture treatment and have had a profound and transformative experience. I love listening to people and providing a platform for their concerns to be validated and addressed. I love when someone leaves feeling better than when they came in. I love providing these services and I love that I can share whatever qualities and attributes I have in a way that may somehow benefit another.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
Most people aren’t aware that acupuncture is a branch of a system called Chinese medicine, which is an entire system of medicine that has been constantly developed and improved for over 2,000 years, much like modern biomedicine is constantly evolving and advancing. Many people believe that acupuncture is only good for pain, but because it’s been applied and refined over generations with human specimens as subjects, during a time when many illnesses were prevalent that we rarely even see anymore in the developed world, it has the potential to treat numerous conditions ranging from sleep to hormonal and emotional imbalances to digestive disorders and allergies. Of course today, while it isn’t a substitute for conventional healthcare, acupuncture should be considered a sophisticated and viable option for many diseases and conditions.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
I understand the difficulties of maintaining a healthy lifestyle because I am a busy person in a busy world too. I try to live as closely by the principles of health in accordance with the philosophy of Chinese medicine as I can. I try to keep a regular sleep schedule and go to bed early, practice yoga and qigong (a form of exercise) and meditate. I also try to keep a fixed eating schedule and eat fresh foods that are local and in season. I know from experience that maintaining health involves a great deal of effort on my part outside of my weekly acupuncture sessions. My own state of happiness and health reflects how much of my life I dedicate to those things.

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seva-acupuncture.com
karen@seva-acupuncture.com
(347) 766-3075
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32 Union Square East, Suite 615 North, New York, NY 10003

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Why did you become an acupuncturist?
I decided to change my career to acupuncture after being a patient for several years and finding that acupuncture changed my outlook. I worked in corporate America for over 20 years and was well on my way to being sick and miserable in my life. Acupuncture changed all of that. I am now happy and grateful and full of hope. I live life with wonder each and every day and I cannot think of a better gift for my patients.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
As a practitioner I approach every session as an openhearted intelligent acupuncturist who creates an open, safe, nonjudgmental space for my clients. My goal is to help my patients find their way to inner peace through health and passion in their lives. I have spent much of my life in service to others both personally and in business. I believe that my unique training and skills give me the ability to help people successfully achieve their health and happiness goals.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
I specialize in treating women and children in all the stages of their lives and development. I have found that issues of infertility, depression, heart break and anxiety are often significant factors in women’s lives. At Dynamic Strategies Acupuncture I specialize in helping women through these life challenges so that they find true joy and fulfillment in their lives. Children and teens have their own unique challenges as they have to grow up in a complex world. At Dynamic Strategies Acupuncture I am concerned with giving children and teens a natural treatment modality for the issues that face them during their growth. I use many different techniques from the traditions of Chinese medicine, aromatherapy, Bach flower essence, and Zero Balancing to treat pain and enhance the health of my patients. I believe that wellness comes from within—when there is an alignment of body, mind and spirit, healing is just around the corner.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
I often hear that people are afraid of needles and that they have heard acupuncture hurts. In acupuncture we use a different kind of needle from what you are used to in the doctor’s office. We use a solid needle the width of several fine hairs. Sometimes, in some locations, the needle sensation can be exciting. It is nothing like a bee sting because the sensation lasts less than five seconds.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
I stay healthy in my life by cooking all organic foods from scratch that I grow on the farm where I grew up. I truly believe that cutting out all food processing and knowing exactly where your ingredients come from can help solve nine out of 10 health issues. I also walk several times a week and meditate on a regular basis.

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dynamicstrategiesacupuncture.com
idalee@dynamicsstrategiesacupuncture.com
(410) 591-2666
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715 Park Avenue, Baltimore MD 21209

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Why did you become an acupuncturist?
As a patient of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, I experienced significant transformations both physically and emotionally. After suffering for years with conditions I had come to believe were unchangeable, I was amazed by the degree to which acupuncture and herbs were able to improve my health and enhance my life. My experience left me completely enamored and in awe of Chinese medicine. I knew I needed to learn everything I could about this amazing medicine and share its capacity for dramatic but gentle healing with every person I possibly could. That realization led me on my journey to becoming an acupuncturist and practitioner of Chinese medicine.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
My approach to treatment is organic and adaptable, emerging out of my interaction with a particular patient and the health concerns or conditions being addressed. I believe that each patient is unique, with needs and circumstances that are specific to his or her individual situation. We are diverse, dynamic creatures in a constant state of evolution and flux. I believe a model of healthcare that is equally dynamic and free from orthodoxy is essential for stimulating the body’s own innate capacity for healing and bringing about long-lasting transformation. To this end, I draw upon multiple traditions within the field of Chinese medicine, tailoring each treatment to the individual patient and merging styles when necessary, rather than strictly adhering to one particular tradition or approach to treatment.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
I love watching patients realize they don’t have to feel sick or tired or live in constant pain. I love when patients realize that they can feel better, that their health can improve, and that feeling good is possible. A lot of people live with health concerns or conditions to which they have simply become accustomed, perhaps believing their particular problem or issue is permanent and unchangeable. Even a single acupuncture treatment can help these patients understand the possibilities for improved health and well being. I love helping my patients understand that being healthy and feeling good is their right, that they don’t have to resign themselves to a life of permanent and constant discomfort or pain, and that their bodies want to be healthy and are inherently capable of healing.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
That it doesn’t work because we don’t understand how it works. I have seen amazing transformations and healing occur through the application of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, and I have experienced the transformative power of this medicine myself. We might not be able to identify or describe the exact mechanism responsible for acupuncture’s effects, but that does not negate its capacity to heal.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
I try to maintain balance in my life on a daily basis. I strive to eat well, sleep well, exercise often, and have as much fun as possible. Being in nature energizes and inspires me, and I strive to make contact with the natural world every day. I read as often as I can whatever I can get my hands on, laugh frequently, rest when necessary, and surround myself with an amazing, supportive community of family and friends. And I strive to invoke gratitude daily.

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organicacupuncturepdx.com
caylychristensenlac@gmail.com
(503) 302-4303
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3735 SE Division Street, Portland, OR 97202

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