Meet Rachel

• Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology, Rutgers University, New  Brunswick
• Master’s of Science in Acupuncture, Tri-State College of Acupuncture, New York, NY
• Lead Acupuncturist, Cleveland Clinic Center for Integrative Medicine, Cleveland, OH
• Owner and Practitioner at Great Spring Acupuncture, Ft. Washington, PA, established 2012

During my 25 years of practice people often ask how I became interested in acupuncture.  My journey to become a healer started when I was an acupuncture patient in the late 90’s (!) In college I started to receive treatment for lifelong environmental allergies.  I was pleased that not only did my symptoms improve, other aspects of my life and health also improved as I came into balance.  

Then came the heart call.  I vividly remember lying on the acupuncture table for my treatment in a very relaxed state and a quiet but strong voice came through with the clear message “this is what you are meant to do”.   Late into my senior year I changed my graduate school plans and enrolled in acupuncture college to earn my Master’s degree.  I knew in my heart changing career paths was what I had to do.  It was one of the best decisions I have made and I truly love what I my work.

Over the years I have worked in many different practice settings and for the last 16 years I have been happy to call Great Spring Acupuncture my own.  This practice is a reflection of my philosophy and how I have evolved as a practitioner.  I am grateful I can practice in the way that reflects my training, my understanding of acupuncture and healing.  I give each patient my undivided time, care and attention.  This allows me to meet the needs of each patient and provide a truly healing experience.

“Truly personalized care…every time”

I am fortunate to have worked in many different practice settings over the years.  I started small, subletting office space from established practitioners, and was later given the opportunity to establish the acupuncture program at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Integrative Medicine.  These experiences provided me with the foundation for the vision of my own acupuncture practice where I give each patient my undivided time, care and attention.  Great Spring Acupuncture is a reflection of my healing philosophy and how I have evolved as a practitioner, incorporating energy work, stone medicine, aromatherapy and guided meditation to offer a truly healing experience.

My training was based on the meridian system and relied heavily on the palpation of areas of the body where qi was not flowing smoothly.  I still rely on those tactile skills today as I palpate points noting areas of fullness or deficiency and correcting the imbalance.  After I graduated with my master’s in 2001 I moved from the east coast to Cleveland, Ohio.  Acupuncture was not as popular as it was in the NJ area but I eventually found practicing acupuncture at the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Integrative Medicine.  Collaborating with Dr. Tanya Edwards and many other skilled practitioners from different fields helped me to see how acupuncture can work beautifully with other modalities including western medicine, psychotherapy, massage, physical therapy and nutritional counseling.  

Life brought me back to the east coast and the Philadelphia region and in 2012 I started my own practice, Great Spring Acupuncture.  In this space I am able to practice in a way that was not possible in a large hospital system.  My office is a comfortable and inviting space where healing occurs and lives are transformed.  I practice in a way that each patient has my full attention and time to receive personalized treatments tailored to their own patterns of disharmony.

One who lives in harmony with oneself lives in harmony with the universe.
— Marcus Aurelius