ACUPUNCTURE

Early Passion for Healing

I began my studies of Chinese Medicine in 2014 at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in Portland, Oregon. My interest in this medicine began in my early 20s, as a patient. I was seeking support for overall fatigue and mental burnout. I was a believer after my first session! I felt deeply relaxed and at home in my body, something I had not experienced in a very long time. As I aged and grew with the medicine I found it more and more interesting, I was captivated. True healing is just so interesting! And although I came to this medicine to heal myself, I knew on some level that in order to fully embody it, I needed to share it with others. While in school I found myself naturally drawn into the healing art of Shiatsu massage, which has informed much of my practice to this day.

Doing the work and going abroad

After graduation and completion of the 3 board exams required for acupuncture licensure, as well as the additional 4th (optional) Chinese herbal board exam, I flew to Nepal with the Acupuncture Relief Project. This was an amazing experience that pushed me to grow. I gained so much knowledge and confidence as a beginning practitioner. It was a little bit like acupuncture bootcamp, I performed over 515 treatments in 8 weeks! And was so lucky to work with the Nepali people there. It was an experience that made me feel humbled and expansive, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.

A love for holisic healing

Since being back in the states I’ve enjoyed growing and diving deeper into this work as the years go on (I’ve been practicing for 5 years now), there is so much to learn! I love exploring and learning about the nervous system, trauma, and addiction, and how acupuncture, herbs, and lifestyle can dramatically turn things around. I love practicing and studying orthopedic acupuncture, the muscles, palpating on bodies, and needling into release points. I love working with Chinese herbal formulas for emotional, spiritual, digestive, and physical health. And I love cupping and Shiatsu massage to provide a deep, often instant relief for aches and pains, to create room for physical ease and health to flourish.

Healing journey with you

My current acupuncture style focuses on Orthopedic and sports acupuncture techniques, as well as working to calm the central nervous system to facilitate the body’s natural healing capabilities. I especially enjoy working on Sciatica, low back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, IBS and other autoimmune dysfunctions, insomnia, and anxious/depressive feelings.

I’m thinking of an idea that was shared with me recently: something can only be considered medicine if it heals you, as well as your patient. I have spent the past 5 years growing and expanding into my role as a healer, and do believe this medicine has helped me heal. I am grateful, excited, and humbled to share that healing with others.

Notable credentials include:

License of Acupuncture with the Oregon Medical Board (LAc)

Master’s of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine with the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (MAcOM)

Diplomat of Oriental Medicine with the NCCAOM (Dipl. O.M.)

It all started with a bicycle crash

My path to acupuncture didn’t start with curiosity or fascination - it started with a crash - literally. I was in school for nutrition when a bike accident landed me in the hospital and a teacher at that time suggested I give acupuncture a try so I did.

What I found, while reclining at the community clinic, was far more than just relief from my injuries. I felt so incredibly relaxed and ‘put back together’ after every session. Unexpectedly, I experienced relief from my awful periods for the first time in my life and continued every week for months. One day while resting in my corner chair, needles in my arms and legs, my nervous system completely relaxed, the thought came to pursue this as a career. Once I decided this was what I wanted to do, doors started opening and here we are!

Working with me

I practice a gentle style of Japanese acupuncture. In each session, I address the primary imbalance in your body at that moment, found through your pulse, your abdomen, and your collection of symptoms. Your body tells a story, my role is to listen, interpret, and guide your body back to its natural rhythm.

My practice also includes moxibustion, a restorative, warming therapy to promote circulation, ease tension, and support the body’s healing process. Adults and kids alike love moxibustion for its restorative nature (and often for it’s aromatic properties).

I incorporate Sotai, a Japanese movement therapy that uses the combination of breath with gentle, guided motions to help ease tension and reset your body’s natural alignment. Sotai is about moving with your body's natural tendencies to release stuck patterns and restore balance.

Who I Love to Work With

I specialize in working with neurodivergent folks who are navigating gut challenges - whether it’s bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea - working to bring the gut and brain back into harmony is my goal.

As a queer provider, I am deeply committed to creating a space where LGBTQ+ folks, and anyone from marginalized communities feel safe and supported. I take a trauma-informed approach to care, holding space for healing that feels collaborative and sacred.

Beyond the Clinic

When I’m not being ruled by eight pounds of purr and fur, you’ll find me lifting heavy things at the gym, watching women's college basketball, or “kitchen witchin’” as my girlfriend likes to call it (aka making a delicious meal out of random ingredients). I also love a good game of telestrations, getting lost in a good romantasy series, and exploring all the nature in the Pacific Northwest.

Trainings and Certifications

Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

Master of Science in Nutrition

Certified Toyohari Practitioner

Collecting mentorship hours to be a Certified Nutrition Specialist