About

PHILOSOPHY

I offer a sliding scale in order to make my services accessible to folks of more modest income for whom individual, one-on-one Chinese medicine treatment is normally not financially accessible. A sliding scale allows folks to choose the payment option that best suits their income and access to resources.

I do not ask for any form of income verification when choosing a price and only ask that folks keep in mind that choosing a price at the lower end of the scale leaves fewer lower-cost appointments available for everyone else. I am also always open to your questions, concerns, or thoughts on money and pricing.

If you are interested in reading or learning more about sliding scale pricing, Alexis J. Cunningfolk of Worts and Cunning Apothecary has a great blog post and information here


APPROACH

My approach to the body begins with curiosity about your experience in the present and curiosity about everything you've experienced before we begin our work together. Bodies hold our collective and individual histories in many remarkable ways and I am honored to to witness those histories and also hold space for the process of releasing what you no longer need.


BACKGROUND

I come to the practice of Chinese medicine as a queer person with a hope to support other queer people, as someone with a complex personal and familial experience of mental health, and as someone who questions authority and those in power. I also come to Chinese medicine as a white person with great respect for Chinese medical knowledge and tradition and a desire to honor this tradition in my practice.

I prefer she/her pronouns.


BILLING AND INSURANCE

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) can often be used for Acupuncture and Chinese medicine services and I am happy to send you an itemized invoice for any appointment at your request. You can submit the itemized invoice to your HSA or FSA and can often receive a full reimbursement for all appointments and services. Please check with your specific HSA or FSA administrator to confirm your benefits and coverage.

I am “out of network” for all insurance companies which means that fees for appointments are paid out-of-pocket at the time of service. I can sometimes provide super bills (coded receipts) that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement, depending on your insurance coverage. It is your responsibility to check what your insurance covers and I cannot guarantee that your insurance company will reimburse you.


LICENSING, HEALTH and SAFETY

I am a licensed Acupuncturist in the State of California where the profession is regulated by the California Acupuncture Board. California has among the most stringent requirements for licensure of any state requiring over 3,000 classroom hours and 900 clinical hours of study before qualifying to sit for the licensing exam. I completed these studies and earned a Master's of Traditional Chinese Medicine degree at the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences in Oakland, CA.

In addition to having state licensure, I am a NCCAOM National Board-Certified Acupuncturist in both acupuncture and Chinese Herbology. This means that I am certified by the organization governing national standards in the United States for acupuncture and Chinese medicine and underwent additional training and testing to qualify for this certification.

Health and safety is always a top priority for me in my practice. With that in mind, I follow all the recommendations of the most updated version of the CCAOM Clean Needle Technique manual which is the professional standard for safety and best practices for licensed acupuncturists. These best practices include:

  • Changing all sheets and linens between patients to prevent the spread of infectious disease

  • Disinfecting all hard surfaces between patients

  • Using single-use, sterile needles

  • Following best practices for hand-washing

If you have any questions about licensing in the field of acupuncture of any of my health and safety practices, please feel free to reach out by phone or email any time.

Maura in her office

Maura in her office. Photo by Kristin Cofer



CREDENTIALS

  • Licensed Acupuncturist in the State of California (L.Ac, #18483)

  • NCCAOM National Board-Certified Acupuncturist and Herbalist

  • Master's of Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences

  • Bachelor's of Fine Arts from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago


ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

  • Advanced training in Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy and Prolo-Acupuncture

  • Advanced training in Shang Han Lun Physiology and Diagnosis

  • Advanced training in Facial Acupuncture

  • Volunteer HIV Test Counselor at the Berkeley Free Clinic HIV Prevention Services group