About me - (She/her)
Coming from a background in social justice work, I have a passion for building accessible care in communities. Prior to becoming a licensed acupuncturist I spent many formative years working at the intersections of mental health, housing, harm reduction, at-risk youth, food security/urban farming, restorative justice and land-based therapy programs. It has been this community work that informs the lens of healing justice from which I view health.
I have been practicing acupuncture since 2012 and opened my licensed private practice 2017. In addition to receiving my Diploma of Acupuncture and registering with the CTCMA, I have trained in the teaching hospitals at Liaoning University of TCM in Shenyang, China and completed 5 years of private clinical mentorship. My ongoing education focusses on Kiiko Matsumoto lineage acupuncture, craniosacral work and somatic touch. My practice is informed by trauma aware care, cultural somatics, plant medicine and my many beautiful mentors and teachers who have enriched both my personal and professional life.
As an acupuncturist I have co-faciliated numerous low barrier clinics around town with the Native Friendship Centre, Cool-Aid Society and Daily Dose Society. I believe acupuncture, as a trauma informed somatic practice, has wide spread implications for healing developmental, cultural and personal trauma that manifests as chronic illness, chronic pain, addictions and mental/emotional imbalances.
What I truly love about acupuncture theory is the holistic perspective on health and healing. We acknowledge that our health is in constant relationship with our emotions, our land based environment and sociocultural context, and that illness can arise when any one of these factors is out of balance. My hope is to offer space for people to connect more deeply to themselves and that through our individual healing, we in turn can build resiliency and healing within our families, our communities, our justice movements and our earth.
Outside of my practice my life is enriched by cold water swimming/snorkeling, bee keeping, natural horsemanship and a life long interdisciplinary art practice.
Certifications and Continuing Education:
Certificate in Kiiko Matsumoto Acupuncture (ongoing) - Kiiko Matsumoto and Monika Kobylecka
Craniosacral Therapy - Moving Mountain Institute
Medical Qi Gong (ongoing) - Dr. Aung, Master Wu, Malcolm Clark
Tao of Trauma Somatic Experiencing - Alaine Duncan
Advanced Japanese Moxabustion - Junji Mitzutani, Tomoko Saksaki
Equine Cranial Therapy Level 1- Elise Mikki and Alexa Linton
Movement for Trauma - Jane Clapp
Compassionate Inquiry - Dr. Gabor Mate
Comprehensive Guide to Acupuncture in Pregnancy, Labour and Postpartum - Debrah betts
Acupuncture During Pregnancy: Safe and Ethical Practice - Claudia Citkovitz
Shonishin non-assertive Japanese acupuncture - Brenda Lowe
I acknowledge that I live, work, heal and love on the unceded traditional territories of the Lekwungen speaking peoples; Wsanec, Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. I am grateful. Hailing from Treaty 1 & Treaty 7 territory, I am continually learning what it means to be in right relationship as Treaty people.