Acupuncture, Massage Therapy & Sound Healing

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. I specialize in pain and stress relief and and have been a healthcare provider since 1982. Have had good results with back and neck pain, migraines, knee pain, plantar fasciitis, tmj, etc. Am a licensed Acupuncturist as well, so one of my specialties is focusing on acupuncture points using needles or the energy in my hands, if you prefer. Also, have a degree in psychology so am very comfortable working with people who want to deal with emotional issues leading to stress complaints.

Q. Describe three recent jobs you've completed.

A. A woman with plantar fasciitis (pain in the heel) came to see me recently. She had had the pain for quite a while and nothing, including meds, had helped her much. After 3 sessions with me, the pain was nearly gone and she has continued to come for maintenance and just because she loves the way I work and the way it makes her feel each time.
I worked with a woman who came in for massage who was kind of impatient and slightly irritable. She was smilling, happy and relaxed when she left.
A man came in with a diagnosis of Parkinson's; I gave him many suggestions for alternative approaches to the disease as well as a very balancing massage session.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Talk with the person first to get a feel for whether you resonate with the person or not. If you feel that you do, have one session to get a real experience of what it is that they do. If you love it, continue to work toward achieving the results you were looking for originally. And, keep giving the provider feedback since you know your body better than anyone else.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. Think through your general health and make a list of the major issues so you can present it all in an organized way. This will help the healthcare provider begin to understand what's going on with an overall, holistic approach to your health. Also, note how long things have been bothering you and what may have happened in your life just prior to the onset of symptoms. You are the person who really knows your body, even if you don't think you do, so honor yourself and trust your gut and your intuition and share it with your health professional.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. I am sincere in my desire for you to reach optimal health and use many different tools to help in that regard. I am experienced and creative in my approach and don't just perform a standard set of moves. I will refer you to others who may be more appropriate for your care if I feel that I cannot help you achieve the results you desire.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I have the ability to make many people happy and free of pain. Most people love my work and feel that I have a positive effect in the world. I get to meet the most interesting people and develop good relationships with them. I have an honorable way to support myself helping others and making their lives more pleasant.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Is acupuncture only for conditions of pain?
What's more effective, acupuncture or acupressure?
My answer is that acupuncture is an entire method of healthcare and is not just limited to issues of pain. It deals with the entire person, not just some disease. And, sometimes acupuncture can be more effective but, often, acupressure can achieve comparable results.

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. When I was working at Whole Foods as a massage therapist doing chair massage, a young 10 year old boy was brought in by his mother. She left us alone for about 10 minutes and then came back and asked her son if he liked what I was doing. He said "I want her to do this till I go to bed". Then he said "No, I want her to do this till I die!" That was a wonderful example of the
power of this work. It certainly made me proud and very happy! I've also heard comments from clients like this is better than wine or chocolate or sex! Or, if I could have this done every day, I'd be sane!

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. As an acupuncturist, I wish people knew how very valuable acupuncture and acupressure really are instead of relying on medicines which usually create many side effects and surgery, which is often totally unnecessary and can also create side effects. And I wish they knew that Asian medicine, including the use of herbs, is very effective for a wide range of problems, especially chronic health problems that Western medicine can't really address successfully. And I wish they knew how much I could help them because I really care about the people I work with and spend a lot of time with each one and use many varied techniques depending on what each person needs.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I thought I was going to be a psychotherapist and received a Master's degree. Then I enrolled in a Ph.D. program and made it through only one semester because I didn't feel good about the way the courses were being taught. I have always believed that health care should be a partnership and didn't want to place myself in a superior position (as an expert). In fact I didn't even like the terminology of doctor and "patient".
I felt that it created an artificial relationship and diminished the importance of the individual who really, deep inside, knows most about their own health.