“I attended a community acupuncture session with Sarah and it was a really powerful experience, both physically & psychologically. I had only experienced acupuncture individually before, so I wasn’t sure how community acupuncture would feel different and I was a little nervous to share the room with people I didn’t know. Sarah immediately made me feel at ease by introducing everyone to each other, helping us find the seats that felt most comfortable and explaining exactly how the process would go. She invited us to check in with our bodies and really settle into the space, which was so helpful and immediately calming. By the time she came around with needles, I felt totally relaxed and present. Sarah explained that the needles would go in our ears and we could have as many (or as few) needles inserted as we wanted. I especially liked how she helped me through the process by inviting me to breathe in and take a deep breath out whenever a needle was inserted. She also waited between each needle to observe, check in, and make sure I was ready before continuing. It felt really empowering to know I was in charge of the pace of the needling. If you’re nervous about needles, or have never tried acupuncture, I think Sarah is the kind of practitioner that really understands those fears and uses an approach that can help alleviate them so you don’t miss out on this powerful healing.
All through the experience I really felt that Sarah cared about each of us and especially that we all felt safe. I was amazed at how much I felt in my body as I sat quietly with the needles in my ears. I could feel energy coursing through the different channels and because the space was so relaxed, I could also relax, allowing things to flow where they have been stuck. I even felt a deep release in the front of my chronically tight neck, which was a nice surprise! After about 15 minutes, my mind also seemed to open up and I had a vision of a solution to a problem I’d been working with all week, which I was really grateful for. Even though I’d been nervous, it was actually very nice to share the room with other people. There is something quite powerful and sweet about hearing other people breathe and shift in their seats. Sarah’s quiet whispers with other patients was very soothing and I felt her presence with each of us the entire time, even as we all sat in silence. One person wanted their needles removed sooner than the rest of us and again, I thought it was really cool that everyone was in charge of their experience. Sarah came around and removed the needles for the rest of us after about 45 minutes or an hour (I lost track of time!) and I felt incredibly calm. It was as if I’d been in deep meditation. I was also really hungry, which is amazing and pretty rare for me, because I struggle with sluggish digestion. When I got home later that afternoon, I took a restorative 2 hour nap, which I definitely needed. If you’re curious about acupuncture, community acupuncture, or are working within a budget, I highly recommend visiting Sarah for this offering. I could clearly feel the way her training in somatic experiencing and her understanding of trauma showed up in how she led and treated us.”
-K.B.