About
Approach & Aim
I practice acupuncture and Chinese medicine with a strong clinical foundation and a deeply human approach.
My work centers on helping women feel more steady, supported, and at home in their bodies—especially during times of stress, transition, or physical discomfort—with the larger goal of helping them feel strong, clear, and vibrantly alive.
About Teresa
I came to this medicine through my own experience. In my early twenties, I first sought out acupuncture for cystic acne, and later for anxiety. But it was during pregnancy and postpartum that acupuncture became something more.
During that time, acupuncture offered a sense of steadiness and relief when I needed it most. I became deeply curious about the medicine: how my acupuncturist could read the body, the significance of different points, the use of herbs, and the role of nourishment in supporting healing. I wanted to know what she knew.
Around that same time, my job was unexpectedly terminated during my third trimester. It was destabilizing, and I spent a period of time figuring out how to move forward in a way that would support both my child and myself.
Losing my job pushed me to take a closer look at what I wanted my life and work to be. I needed something that felt engaging, meaningful, and aligned with how I actually want to live while also offering real value to others.
Acupuncture offered that. For those who know me well, it makes sense that I ended up here. I love what I do—using my head, heart, and hands to support the wellbeing of others in a way that feels both meaningful and tangible.
My clinical training is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, with advanced study in women’s health (OB/GYN) and orthopedic acupuncture. I continue to deepen my work through ongoing study, mentorship, and hands-on experience.
I believe how care is offered matters just as much as the techniques used. Presence, listening, and thoughtful attention are not extras; they are foundational to effective treatment.
Many of the women I work with are capable, caring, and accustomed to holding a great deal — for their families, their work, and their communities. This can lead to depletion, dysregulation, and pain.
I aim to create a space that feels warm, grounded, and nonjudgmental, where you can exhale fully and begin to rebuild from a place of support, rather than pressure.
When women feel supported and steady in their bodies, they regain the clarity, resilience, and vitality needed to engage fully in their lives — to love, create, lead, and contribute from a place of strength.
Why Terra
I chose the name Terra because it reflects the kind of care I want to offer.
Terra means earth—something that can hold, nourish, and support growth. It speaks to the idea of fertile ground: a foundation where healing can take root, where the body can restore, and where something new can begin to grow.
This work is, in many ways, about cultivating that kind of internal environment—one that supports vitality, resilience, and a sense of abundance in both body and life.
Where vitality returns.
Education & Training
Doctor of Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine (DACM) —
Oregon College of Oriental Medicine
Advanced clinical training in OB/GYN and Orthopedic Acupuncture
Bachelor of Arts, Theater Performance — Columbia College Chicago
200-hour Yoga Teacher Training — Jill Knouse
200-hour Yoga Teacher Training — Shiva Rea
Creator of Untame Movement
If you’re seeking care that is professional, thoughtful, and genuinely supportive, I’d be honored to work with you.