Allison's Story

How I chose a career as an acupuncturist is a question I'm commonly asked  so, I thought I'd share the answer here, on my website.

From a young age, I was driven to discover a career that would keep me challenged and give me freedom to grow and learn. I had always been fascinated by science, nature, and the human body so, I chose to focus my studies on these subjects in undergraduate college. During and after my years as a Biology major at Northeastern University in Boston, I worked at a pediatric office located within a hospital. 

Here, I witnessed the pros and cons of Western Medicine. Only 15 minutes were scheduled with the doctor when children were sick, the same questions were asked to each patient, and the same types of pharmaceutical medications were offered as medicine. The paper charts I handled were enormous, reflecting the number of doctor visits that had become routine for such a young population of patients. The pediatricians I worked with were phenomenal yet, I became aware of limits and flaws within the system of western medicine.  

It made sense to me that each child should be treated as an individual - by their person, not their symptom - and that more time was needed with patients to discover the true causes of their disease. Over time, I decided I wanted to focus my studies on how to strengthen the health already present within the body, as opposed to, identify and treat disease. Fascinated by what I already knew about Chinese Medicine, I decided to experience it first-hand.

Over 2 months of weekly acupuncture treatments, issues that I had accepted as normal like PMS, digestive discomfort, and anxiety, began to resolve. I was less moody, had more energy, and solid/restful sleep. I thought I was healthy and happy to begin with, and I was astonished by how much healthier and happier I felt! I knew this feeling of renewed wellbeing was what I wanted to share with the world, so I decided to become an acupuncturist.

After spending a few years hiking and snowboarding in Colorado and Wyoming following college, I moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to pursue a four-year master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. There, I studied both Chinese and Japanese styles of acupuncture. Upon graduating in 2015, I practiced acupuncture aboard cruise ships before returning to New Hampshire to be closer to family and start my own clinic, where I could serve my community through this healing medicine.

In my free time, you’ll find me hiking in the White Mountains, snowboarding through powder-filled woods, revisiting the places I once called home in the Rocky Mountains and the Southwest, or exploring new countries with family, friends, or solo. I find peace in my rock garden and joy in continuous learning and new adventures. I maintain my own sense of balance through yoga, massage, acupuncture, and seeking guidance from mentors and like-minded men and women.