Why We Became Acupuncturists

During this annual media blitz of hearts, love, and relationships, we are taking a different approach. 

We’re going to take you to the heart of why we became acupuncturists in our practitioners corner. 

As part of that, we’d love to hear from you this month. Hit reply and tell us what you appreciate about the Village. Leave a little love note to your favourite practitioner or a moment of gratitude to the Village. 

My passion for acupuncture grew out of a dire situation. Back in the early 2000s, when I was living and working in South Korea, I got sick. Really sick. I had a doctor for every part of my body, and they did all the tests and prescribed all the pills. 

But these conventional treatments didn’t help. So, when a dear friend said “why not try acupuncture,” I was desperate enough to do it. Friends, I was totally blown away when two weeks of daily acupuncture (with herbs and a little food revamp thrown in) had me feeling not only recovered, but better than ever. 

I had to know everything about this magic immediately! At first, I thought I wanted to focus my studies on herbs. I loved learning about plants and their healing qualities, and had a degree in environmental studies to prove it. But the universe had other plans. Acupuncture quickly seduced me. The power of these tiny tools had me the moment I first held a needle in my hands. 

And now, serving this neighbourhood and its people has come full circle. My dream has come true with the opening of The Village. It’s an extension of my living room, only here you’ll NEVER step on a piece of Lego. Even better, I get to work side by side with two incredible healers. 

I’ve always been interested in TCM/Acupuncture, even before I experienced it’s magic for myself. About 10 years ago, I had a skin condition that multiple dermatologist visits and creams had NO success treating. Two months of TCM treatments and it has NEVER returned.

When my daughter was around two I started studying naturopathic medicine via distance learning in Australia. Once we decided we were staying here, I worked at fulfilling prerequisites for the ND program. I also went through IVF again and carried our rainbow daughter till she was born at 17 weeks.

After losing her, my world turned and my lens changed. Turns out I didn’t want to spend five intense years studying naturopathy, I just wanted to use ONE of the tools I would learn. I switched gears and went straight into the acupuncture program. Having been a long-time patient at The Village, it was only natural to learn the Balance System of Acupuncture and be practicing this magic medicine.

I came to be an acupuncturist after travelling a long and winding road. I grew up in Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast, left at 18 to study English Lit at UBC, changed paths and went to interior design school at BCIT and had a 10-year career in design. In the midst of that I got married and had two kids, but was feeling a bit lost. I was working way too much overtime and was dissatisfied in my design career.  

It was after a lot of soul searching and trying to figure out how I would weave together my career goals of helping others and making the world a better place with that ever elusive work/life balance. I needed a major change. 

I had been seeing my own TCM doctor for over 10 years and had always appreciated her support, wisdom and results. I’d seen her for stress management, sleep, fertility and some postpartum nerve damage.

The pieces came together and all pointed to Traditional Chinese Medicine. So, I started investigating going back to school. Three years of TCM school with two kids under five? Yikes. But I did it — four years, actually, as I did an extra year to get my herbal licence as well. 

Was it easy? Nope. 

Worth it? YES. 

I love being an acupuncturist, I love connecting with patients and building relationships in my community and so appreciate all the folks that I have been lucky to work with over the years.