Won Institute of graduate studies Clinics

Student Acupuncture Clinic

Our acupuncture interns devote an extraordinary amount of time researching and discussing your case

About Our Student Clinic

This clinic is staffed by acupuncture interns who are supervised by licensed faculty members. In this setting, the intern devotes an extraordinary amount of time researching and discussing your case. Licensed faculty members will supervise second- or third-year students.

You will receive a level of care rarely experienced in any other setting. The student clinic operates five days a week with discounts available for veterans and students.

Book Appointment

More About Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the main tenants of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Practitioners place thin needles into a recipient’s skin along medians that help Qi balance. TCM practitioners use acupuncture to treat pain and stress to improve overall well-being.

Benefits of Whole-Body Acupuncture

Whole-body acupuncture provides numerous benefits for recipients. It can reduce pain and discomfort related to multiple illnesses and medical conditions, including:

  • Fibromyalgia
  • Dental pain
  • Chemotherapy side effects
  • Labor pains
  • Headaches
  • Low back pains
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Post-operative pain
  • Nausea
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome or tennis elbow

Acupuncture positively influences the nervous, immune, cardiovascular, endocrine and digestive systems. Doing so can help improve sleep, well-being, pain levels and digestion.

Additional benefits include:

Benefits of Whole-Body Acupuncture | Won Institute Student Acupuncture ClinicLess Stress

While acupuncture is known for treating ailments, it has also become popular for stress reduction. Since it helps restore energy balance and stimulates the nervous system, a patient can experience lower stress hormone levels.

Reduced Headaches

Many individuals experience chronic headaches or migraines, and while medicine can be beneficial, acupuncture can also lower the frequency and severity of headaches for many individuals.

Improved Mental Clarity

Acupuncture can be a solution for someone experiencing brain fog or other issues that affect their mental clarity. Acupuncture can put the mind into a calm state, preparing it to focus, learn and recall.

Decrease Severity of Neurological Disorder Symptoms

Alzheimer’s and Parkison’s disease affect a person’s brain, which often leads to other issues. Acupuncture can help with improving motor function and language.

Enhanced Energy Levels

Acupuncture makes many individuals feel increased energy, improving productivity and mood. Beyond balancing energy levels, reducing chronic pain and stress can decrease fatigue.

Treatment Options

Most acupuncture therapy describes fine needles inserted through the skin. However, some treatment options can also include electrical stimulation, heat or pressure to enhance acupuncture’s effects.

Additional treatment options can include:

    • Moxibustion or heat therapy
    • Manual massage
    • Topical herbal medicines
    • Cupping
    • Gua Sha or scraping

These treatments may be used instead of traditional needle acupuncture or alongside it, depending on your needs and the practitioner’s recommendations.

How Do Wellness Acupuncture Clinics Work, and What Should I Expect?

One of our students will conduct your acupuncture session. You can expect a relaxing setting where the student will stimulate acupoints with thin needles.

First, our students will learn some background information about you. We ask about your health history, look at specific body parts and take your pulse. We aim to determine what acupuncture process will work best for the pain or other challenges you want to treat.

You will then lie down on a table, and the practitioner will place needles along meridians that help with your qi. Inserting the needle along these points unblocks the meridians to stimulate energy flow. You will likely experience little to no discomfort from the needles, which we leave inserted for five to 30 minutes before removing them. 

Spring 2024 Term Clinic Hours

DaysTime

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

12:00 pm - 6:00 pm

2:00 pm - 8:00 pm

9:30 am - 3:30 pm

2:00 pm - 8:00 pm 

8:30 am - 2:30 pm

9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Tui Na Manual Therapy Clinic Hours

DaysTime

Tuesday

2:00 pm - 8:00 pm 

Appointment Costs

Fees

General Fee: $45

Students: $25

Veterans: $25

Police, Firefighters & EMTs : $40

Student Herbal consultation added to acupuncture treatment: $50 plus the cost of herbs

Tui Na : $35

Tui Na + Acupuncture : $70

Advanced Acupuncture Clinic Supervisors

Doreen F. Lafferty OTD, MAc, Dipl. Ac., LAc, OTR/L, LMT, Director of Clinical Education and Service

M.Ac., Won Institute of Graduate Studies
NCTMB (NCBTMB)
[email protected]

Doreen Lafferty, the Director of Clinical Education and Services, is a graduate of the Won Institute where she received her Master’s in Acupuncture and Certificate of Chinese Herbal Medicine. She is an Acudetox Specialist (ADS), trained by the National Acudetox Association. She is also a licensed Occupational Therapist and Massage Therapist.

Doren Day, LAc, Dipl. Ac.,

Trained under J.R. Worsley’s daughter, Hilary Skellon, at the Institute of Taoist Education in Colorado, in practice since 2004. After completing Teacher Training with the Worsley Institute I joined the faculty at ITEA for 6 years, teaching in the classroom and supervising in the student clinic. I am a certified Zero Balancer and have also trained in other ancient traditions and modalities including acupuncture, Medical Qi Gong, meditation and energy moving exercises like Tai Chi and Qi Gong. Nationally certified Diplomate in Acupuncture (NCCAOM)and licensed by the States of Pennsylvania and Colorado, also a member of the Association for Professional Acupuncture and the Zero Balancing Association.

Ben Griffith, M.Ac., L.Ac. (PA), Dipl.Ac.(NCCAOM)

Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)
M.Ac., Traditional Acupuncture Institute (TAI Sophia)
B.A., Gettysburg College
[email protected]

Ben Griffith is the Acupuncture Studies Chair and has been in private practice since 1997 in the Five Element lineage as well as other lineages after receiving his Master’s Degree in Acupuncture. He also has been in clinical practice at Crozer Keystone Community Division’s Alternative Medicine and Prevention Program in Chester, PA since 2001. Ben has been a strong advocate for greater public access to acupuncture in the state of Pennsylvania, serving as Director of Legislative Affairs, President, and now Government Liaison for the Association for Professional Acupuncture in Pennsylvania. In those tenures for the past 14 years, Ben has been a major part of three Pennsylvania state bills becoming state law. These changes have affected the day-to-day practice of acupuncture medicine in the state and allowed for schools of acupuncture medicine to open in Pennsylvania.

Rachel Kriger, M.Ac., L.Ac. (PA), Dipl.Ac.

Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)
M.Ac., Maryland University of Integrative Health (TAI Sophia)

Rachel has been in private practice since 2009 treating children and adults with Five Element and other styles of acupuncture. Prior to attending Tai Sophia Acupuncture School, she was an organic farmer. She is highly attuned to the ways in which humans are part of nature’s cycles and seasons. She specializes in treating people who experience anxiety and helps them learn from nature and their body’s wisdom.

Scott R. Smith, L.OM, Dipl.OM

Dipl.OM (NCCAOM)
MSOM, Southwest Acupuncture College
Scott R. Smith, L. OM received a Master of Science in OM from Southwest Acupuncture College, Albuquerque, NM.

Vito Leva M.S.A. , L.Ac.

Vito is a board licensed acupuncturist with an interest in bridging the practices and theories of Eastern and Western beliefs on health and wellbeing. Vito began his course of study at Temple University with a focus on Kinesiology, and received his Masters of Science from the prestigious Tri-State College of Acupuncture in NYC. With an incredibly patient and kind approach to his treatments, Vito is dedicated to helping people improve their health by applying a wide range of techniques such as Tui Na, which is a form of Chinese medical massage, Cupping, Gua-sha and acupuncture.

Ryan Collins, M.Ac., Dipl.Ac., L.Ac.

Diplomate of Acupuncture (NCCAOM)
M.Ac., Won Institute of Graduate Studies

A graduate of the Won Institute, Ryan is nationally certified by the NCCAOM as a diplomate of acupuncture. Utilizing Traditional Chinese Medicine, Five Element Acupuncture, and channel theory, he uses cupping, e-stim, moxibustion, and gua sha to serve clients on their journeys toward wholeness. Ryan practices at Blue Lotus Acupuncture in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, where he has a particular focus on resolving trauma in the body.

Sheila Papa, D.Ac, L.OM, Dipl. OM

Sheila is a NCCAOM certified diplomate in Oriental Medicine, and is licensed in the states of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. She received her Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Certificate from the Won Institute and her Masters of Acupuncture from the Maryland University for Integrative Health located in Laurel, MD. Sheila is a NADA trained Acudetox Specialist (ADS). In addition, she studied at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New
York City where she received her Holistic Health Counselor Certification. Sheila’s clinical experience includes extensive work in various community health settings as well as humanitarian acupuncture mission work abroad.

Charles B Illingworth IV, MA, MAc, LAc, Dipl. Ac

M.Ac., Won Institute of Graduate Studies

Charles B Illingworth IV, obtained his Master of Acupuncture from the Won Institute of Graduate Studies. He then went on to complete the Herbal Program. He is now working toward his doctorate in the Doctor of Acupuncture Program. Charles is the current Vice President of the Association for Professional Acupuncturists, as well as the Chair of the Membership Committee. He has served with the Board of Directors since 2017, when he started as the Student Representative to the Board. Charles has a passion for the profession of acupuncture, how it is taught and subsequently learned, and how it is represented in society as a whole.

Other Chinese Acupuncture Clinic Options

If the student clinic doesn’t work for you, our team is still here to help! We also offer:

Choose the option that works best for your needs and preferences.

Contact Us to Book an Appointment at Our Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Clinic

Are you ready to visit an acupuncture wellness center today? Whether you want to sign up for our student clinic or visit to receive another service, please call 215-884-9340 to book an appointment now!

Won Buddhist Studies Programs Webinar - 3/21 @ 6pm

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