Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Gaskin, L.Ac.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Morgan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started acupuncture school in 2010 without much knowledge of acupuncture, just with a desire to help people and to learn more about holistic medicine. I graduated from the master’s program at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in August of 2014, and have been located at Tribe, A Healing Arts Community, ever since. I share the space with other holistic practitioners of all types, and we support each other and form a community that in turn benefits all those who come to find healing there.
My practice is small but growing. I enjoy working with people who have never had acupuncture before, much as I was six years ago. There are a lot of people out there who are looking for better health and not finding it in the Western world. While I’m not opposed to Western treatments, acupuncture and other holistic practices can help those people gain a better sense of well-being and to take their health into their own hands. It’s really great to work with people who realize through your treatments that they can feel happier and healthier in ways they never imagined.
Has it been a smooth road?
I haven’t had many overt difficulties getting my practice started, but it’s not easy knowing how to get the word out that I’m in business. Ultimately a lot of the success stories I hear are people who have really good word of mouth advertising. You have to get your words in other people’s mouths! And like I said, I enjoy working with people who haven’t tried acupuncture before, so there’s can be a certain amount of talking and answering questions before people even want to book with me because they might be afraid of needles, or not sure if the treatment is right for them.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Working with people who might not have had acupuncture–or any other form of holistic medicine experience–usually involves a lot of questioning. There are a lot of popular myths out there about how much water you’re supposed to drink every day, for example, or what kinds of things are healthy or not healthy to eat, or how you’re “supposed” to feel after a meal. Those kinds of things and more are issues that I like to talk with people about and see if we can agree to try changing a few habits, or look at health differently. A lot of times I’m asking people to pay more attention to their bodies than they ever have before, which can be challenging but really fascinating. I love when a patient comes back to see me and they have all this new information to share with me about things they noticed during the past week. I also give Chinese herbal formulas to some of my patients, and it’s amazing to see what herbs can do to help people feel better emotionally and physically.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
“Success” for me would be a workday where all day long, patients come in who are seeing improvement in their health through Chinese medicine–some of those patients might even feel so much better that we decide they can start booking monthly or seasonal appointments. I want to see my patients realize results that stick with them, so that they can move on from having weekly appointments and enjoy their lives more. I’d love it if those people show their appreciation for my work by sending me their friends and family. I’d like my practice to be full enough that I can enjoy my own life the way I imagine I could.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1821 W. Belmont Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60657 - Website: http://mggaskinlac.wixsite.com/mggacupuncture
- Phone: 773-969-6506
- Email: MGGaskinLAc@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MGGaskinLAc/
Image Credit:
Linda Murray from Tribe: A Healing Arts Community
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