Mentorships

MENTORSHIPS IN ACUPUNCTURE, CHINESE & WESTERN HERBALISM

Traditional Chinese Medicine, Naturopathy, and Herbalism degree programs focus on teaching us facts and basic skills, and before we know it we’re “Certified” or licensed to practice acupuncture or herbal medicine, with very little practical experience under our belt.
The reality of working with patients and formulating treatment strategies or herbal concoctions as a beginner is both exhilarating and daunting. But how do you continue to receive guidance once the schooling has ended and you’re attempting to have success in your own practice?
Until recently, becoming a worthy practitioner of medicine or herbalism required years of observation and practice under the tutelage of someone with many years of experience. Unfortunately, those experiences are rarely offered these days. The fields of acupuncture and herbalism do not require residency programs such as those that medical doctors undergo, but I’ve never known a practitioner worth their salt who didn’t desire the opportunity for apprenticeship.
That gap in formal training is why we offer a comprehensive 6-month mentorship in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbalism, Western Herbalism, and business management. Our program trains you to become an intuitive, observant, creative, and talented healer – one who commands a greater working knowledge of your field and of your potential daily realities as a business owner.
Each mentorships involves a 4-5 hour shift per week during clinic hours (with some variability for study of herbalism in the field). We rotate the focus from week to week to ensure that you develop your skills in a well-rounded fashion, while making the most of the learning opportunities that present themselves in the clinic and field. Some of the topics that we concentrate on include:
ACUPUNCTURE

• Clinical skills
  (palpation, needling, cupping, gua sha, moxa, pulse and tongue diagnosis)
• Establishing diagnoses and acupuncture treatment strategy
• Patient relationships and business management
• Point function, location and usage

CHINESE HERBALISM

• Creating Chinese herbal treatment strategy
• Choosing base formulas and the how’s and why’s of modification
• Individual herb function, usage, dosage
• Growing Chinese herbs

WESTERN HERBALISM

• Harvesting, drying and storage
• Medicine-making, product-shaping
  (tinctures, salves, syrups, creams and other self-care products)
• The art of herb combining
• Herb ID, function and usage

All mentorship programs are customized depending on your background, interests and goals. Each mentoree may choose particular specialties (such as treatment of Lyme disease, fertility, or pediatrics) or skills (such as product formulation or herb formula modification) to help you get the most from the mentorship. At our clinic, we utilize qi gong, dietary therapy, detoxification regimens, vitamin and mineral supplements, and natural hormone therapy in addition to acupuncture and herbal medicine treatment. You will be exposed to and learn about all of these therapies.
The cost of a 6-month apprenticeship is $1200 paid in full, or 6 monthly installments of $210, due at the beginning of each month. Your satisfaction is guaranteed: if you are not completely satisfied with this training, you may receive a full refund anytime within the first month of the program.
Mentorship includes 5 hours per week of:

• In-clinic or in-the-field apprenticeship
• 1 consultation / treatment per month
• 1 case study / project review from your practice per month
• Recommended reading and research
• Time for discussion, Q & A, case review
• Practical tips for business start-up and practice management

If you have questions, please call us at 845-626-1228 or email hillary@accordacupuncture.com to find out more about the application process.