I set sail escaping the city, finding home and sanctuary here on Orcas Island.  It is here, surrounded by sea, where I started my practice Heal~Flow Acupuncture in 2017. I began with house calls,  a community clinic at Mandala Yoga Studio, and a booth at the farmer’s market.  The desire to work amongst community and do business differently drew me to the Healing Arts Center eight years ago and it’s been the perfect fit. 

It took some exploration to find where I fit. My undergraduate work was centered in sociology and conflict resolution. I worked for many years in social work at the intersection of homelessness and mental health. This gave me a strong foundation into our human behavior, emotion and how we form our self in relation to others and our environment. I had a deep call to help others but found this work, mainly the systems I had to work within, limited. I wanted to help people to be more free, healthy and empowered.  Then I found the way in Chinese Medicine. 

I received my Masters of Acupuncture from Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine (SIEM) in 2016. SIEM focuses on clinical hands-on apprentice style learning. Traditionally, this is how acupuncture was passed down through family lineages.  My school did not prescribe to one method or style, they curated eclectic learning with teachers who were masters of their various lineages. This foundational flexibility allows me to draw from many potential treatment approaches depending on how each patient presents and responds.  To my treatment room, I bring authenticity and an outside-the-box approach. I meet each person where they are, focusing on the areas they want to address.

In Chinese Medicine no two patients are treated the same. Each treatment is unique to your body and the current presentation. I believe one thing that sets me apart as a practitioner of this medicine is the way I let my hands inform my work. Touch is vital to my practice and is often missing from our experiences with modern medicine. I am a Reiki Master and am trained in Tuina (Chinese sports massage), Shiatsu (Japanese meridian massage), fire cupping and Gua Sha. I love the combination of bodywork with acupuncture as it relaxes the body and lets the energy flow.  I also use touch as a means of gathering information from the body through diagnostic tools like pulse reading and channel palpation. Touch for me is the best way to connect, to understand and to create coherence in the Qi of my patients. It is healing you can feel. 

I also utilize Chinese herbs, simple dietary advice, electro-acupuncture and Qigong (movements to direct Qi).  Healing is a kind of synergy, it is relational. In my work, patient and practitioner are acting in partnership. I look forward to working with you. 

To book an appointment or ask questions, please call  (458) 205-9450

Chinese Medicine is a whole system of medicine that stands alone and has been around thousands of years. The conditions that can be treated and improved with acupuncture are extensive.  Below is a link to see the over 100 conditions the World Health Organization endorses that have been studied in the Western medical model.

https://www.publichealth.com.ng/world-health-organization-acupuncture-list-of-conditions/

In my practice, I’ve had the most experience treating acute/chronic injuries and pain of all varieties. Some common pain conditions include: 

Chronic pain, Sciatica, back pain, sprains, broken bones, muscle tears, muscle cramps/spasms, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff injuries, tendonitis, arthritis, Raynauds, carpal tunnel, whiplash, concussions, nerve pain, post-surgical recovery, headaches/migraines and muscle tension.

I also see a lot of patients struggling with fatigue, menstrual cycle regulation, PMS, fertility, pregnancy-related symptoms, digestive issues, stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, allergies, sinus infections, colds and flus (herbal while actively sick), anemia, cancer treatment side effects, Multiple Sclerosis, stroke recovery, TMJ, paralysis, neuropathy, dizziness, vertigo, nausea, autoimmune conditions, frequent urination, uterine prolapse, UTI’s, overactive prostate, heart palpitations and circulation issues.