More training is needed for practitioners of Chinese medicine to be able to sit with patients and help them on their journey of transformation. In many ways, allopathic medicine is designed for  acute and emergent issues. Traditional and indigenous forms of medicine, like Chinese medicine, are generally better suited for  chronic concerns that involve lifestyle, often with a mental-emotional charge. Because of this, there is a deep need for Chinese Medicine providers to address the underlying psychological and neurobiological components of a patient’s health to be able to fully address their needs. The amount of clinical counseling theory and guided self-reflection that is undergone during the current masters and doctorate level programs is far too limited in this regard. Providers are ‘left to their own devices’ to learn the ability to mindfully listen, sit with, and offer compassionate assistance to patients when more than needles and herbs are required to facilitate true healing and growth.

Calling on Feng Shui theory, Yang Sheng nutrition theory, the work of Dr. Brené Brown (and others) regarding shame and vulnerability, somatic psychotherapy theory, and research into Polyvagal Theory, our goal is to  synthesize  western and eastern thinking to address common blocks that patients and providers encounter. The ultimate goal is to train providers in a talk-therapy inspired dynamic to foster improved and nuanced capability of guiding patients through their mental-emotional, physical, and spiritual health challenges.