08/20/2026
Meet Maddie Foley, our new clinical director! Maddie has been instrumental in helping our clinic transition to a non-profit this year. She's your punk on Mon/Tue/Thurs/Fri mornings.
Q: Why are you a punk? (an acupuncturist who works in community style clinics)
A: I am a Punk because the Community Acupuncture model just works! Nothing cuts through the isolation of stress, pain and illness quite like resting and healing in a room full of other people there for the same reasons. The insurance system in this country is so messed up for patients and providers. It’s very fulfilling to be able to help people without a 3rd party dictating care. I’m a punk because I believe in creative solutions to the world’s problems, and to me there is nothing more radical than delivering care and kindness by the bucketful for as many people as possible.
Q: What can clients expect when they come to see you?
A: When people come to see me, they can expect to meet with someone who is going to hold space for whatever they’re bringing to the table that day. I really care about people and want to see a better world where everyone has less pain and stress and better support for their health. I want folks to leave the treatment room feeling at least a bit better than when they came in. My goal is to make people feel supported when times are tough, and to celebrate the wins as they come too. I employ a gentle and quick needling style so we can mitigate any “ouch” factor and get you into relaxation!
Q: How has acupuncture helped you personally?
A: Acupuncture has helped me with basically everything? Whenever something comes up in my life, acupuncture always seems to help. Physically I feel rested and stronger and have less pain after a treatment. Mentally/spiritually I always get more clarity and a sense of calm. Acupuncture has helped me weather the ups and downs in my life so much, and that’s part of why I want to share it with other people. I’ve found it to be endlessly useful - from headaches to heartaches, back pain to allergies, I’ve used acupuncture for so many things and am still amazed and impressed by all it can do!
Q: In your words, why should someone try community acupuncture?
A: People should try community acupuncture because it allows you to get acupuncture for healthcare more frequently, which yields better results. People healing in a group setting enjoy the benefit of co-regulation, when an exchange of calm therapeutic benefit occurs in a group setting. Conversely, insurance companies usually limit the number of acupuncture visits you can have and require co-pays. If they don’t pay your practitioners full fee then you may be responsible for the remainder of the bill on top of the premium and co-pay you already paid. Insurance-based acupuncture practices have to follow these companies rules, and have to charge accordingly for it to be worth their time to process the administrative burden that comes with that model. But simply put, most people can’t afford those high out-of-pocket rates, even if they really want to it’s just not a financial reality for the average person trying to get the frequency of treatments that would most benefit them. I will say that I think it’s great that insurance covers acupuncture, as everyone should have access to this treatment and it should be normalized! But paying a low sliding-scale fee allows for you to get treatment more on your terms, as there are a limited number of conditions insurance companies will allow acupuncture benefits to cover. Community style acupuncture benefits the practitioners too, as we don’t have to fight with a big company to get paid for our services, we don’t have to check benefits and delegate care according to the insurer’s rules, and you can receive acupuncture treatment for anything you want to work on, at any time!
Q: If your style of acupuncture were a meal, what would it be?
A: It would be an Indian buffet! I like to offer a little something for everyone, and give people the opportunity to have a plate full of old favorites alongside something new. Nourishing and comforting? I got you. Something a little spicy? Let’s go! Something sweet? You’re after my heart. I don’t have a particular style I adhere to, but I draw from several disciplines including TCM, Balance Method, Tung, and Auricular as the primary methods I use often. There are as many styles of acupuncture as stars in the sky, but my goal is to meet you where you’re at in the moment so we can give you something that feeds your soul and feels just right.
