PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
I am licensed by the Board of Acupuncture of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to practice acupuncture in the state of Maryland. I received my training and degree twenty years ago from the Traditional Acupuncture Institute (now called TAI-Sophia) in Columbia, Maryland. The Institute, a nationally accredited college, offers the most comprehensive training program in the U.S. in traditional acupuncture, philosophy, herbal medicine, and animal acupuncture. Since that time, I have also received additional training and certification in Animal Acupuncture, ACU-Quit Smoking Control, Toyohari Acupuncture (a Japanese form), and Tibetan Feng Shui.
Prior to beginning a career in acupuncture, I earned a Master’s Degree in Psychology. I worked for many years as a counselor at a crisis and suicide prevention service, a community health clinic, and a pain management center.) For five years, I served as director of a non-profit community health clinic which offered a variety of health education, counseling, and medical services. During my time there, I encouraged the development of a holistic orientation, including preventive health services, such as nutrition, relaxation training, and stress management. For three years, I worked as a biofeedback trainer and stress management counselor at a research clinic. My clients were referred from conventional medical sources as a way to offer them an alternative approach to resolving chronic pain or other health conditions.
PERSONAL/ PROFESSIONAL PHILOSOPHY - I was drawn to traditional Chinese medicine for many reasons. In addition to having experienced a depth of healing unequaled by any other approach, I was completely in accord with its basic premises - 1) the complete unity of mind and body, 2) the importance of living in harmony with natural cycles, and 3) the concept that even longtime physical or emotional imbalances can be altered quickly by correcting patterns of chi flow in the body.
The importance of emotions and beliefs on health cannot be overstated. Prolonged periods of any strong emotion can begin a downward spiral of physical health and immunity due to their ability to set off abnormal physiological functioning. Conversely, prolonged experience of physical pain or illness can negatively affect one’s mind and spirit. Both levels, mental and physical, can be wonderfully balanced through acupuncture.
Even in cases where external stress cannot be reduced, acupuncture treatment can help a patient react with more calm, insight, clarity, and flexibility. Those improvements in perception and reaction can create entirely different outcomes in life situations. When you are calmer, you become an agent of positive change for those around you as well.
