It's Really Not About Us

Katy (she/her) is a licensed acupuncturist who believes in empowering others to find their healthiest self through a holistic approach to healthcare. She is passionate about providing a safe empathetic space that allows for people of all different backgrounds and health histories to feel heard.  

Katy specializes in working with complex chronic illness and autoimmune disease, digestive disorders, gender inclusive sexual and reproductive health care, women’s health, pain and injury, substance use disorder, supporting emotional well-being and mental health through trauma-informed care. Katy knows that trauma is often expressed somatically in the body and believes in the power of acupuncture, along with therapy, to help ease that expression. She has experience working with diverse populations and ages including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and persons with disabilities. Her approach uses gentle needling, palpation, herbal therapy and patient education along with her knowledge of Western medicine to provide collaborative care. She strongly supports the right to quality, inclusive healthcare.  

Katy graduated with a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) of CIIS in San Francisco. She started her private practice in San Francisco at Ume Acupuncture learning Kiiko Matsumoto style acupuncture, a style that focuses on the root cause of disease. Katy started Root and Stem Integrative Chinese Medicine’s Sliding Scale acupuncture practice in Oakland, California doing private and community treatments. She has worked in private internships, at DeHaro auricular clinic, and Glide community acupuncture clinic. She studied Western herbalism with herbalist Matthew Woods, Erica Fargione and Cynthia Thomas. She is also a certified yoga instructor and loves to incorporate her knowledge of these systems into her practice.   

Katy’s own discoveries of healing and learning through holistic modalities led her to the study of Chinese medicine. Katy loves yoga, biking, traveling with friends and family, learning French and exploring everything city life has to offer. 

I am a Clinical Social Worker with over 10 years of experience working with adults with a broad range of mental health difficulties, including posttraumatic stress, loss and grief, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties and more. My area of research and practice expertise has broadly focused on the field of trauma, which often entails working through associated grief, anxiety, mood, identity, and relationship difficulties concurrently.

I bring a down-to-earth, warm, and genuine approach to therapy. My style is open and supportive, committed to providing individuals with a safe space that honors their unique goals and expectations. Through a relationship built on trust, we’ll work together in a space where you feel comfortable to be who you are, helping you find ways to better understand, manage, or move forward from what challenges brought you to therapy. My hope is to make a difference in the life of every individual I work with, and I believe that therapy should not be a one-size-fits-all approach.

I use techniques from cognitive-behavioral, narrative, and relational models of intervention, including mindfulness, and while always incorporating a trauma-informed lens as I tailor the work to meet your unique needs. My clinical style is not to give advice but to support and empower individuals towards their goals with honesty and transparency. This can include developing healthy coping skills, processing grief or trauma from the past or present, exploring what you want in life both professionally and in relationships, and ultimately supporting you to reclaim your power and self-worth.

Dawnmarie is a true believer in living as your authentic self. She is passionate about empowering people to become fully connected with who they are and who they can become. Dawnmarie advocates for you to use your voice and your talents to take steps forward. Dawnmarie utilizes her unique personality to create a secure connection with those she works with. She describes herself as positive, compassionate, empathetic, fun, creative, strong, intuitive, and passionate.

Dawnmarie is positive about life and encourages you to embrace a new perspective. She advocates for a “glass half full” mentality. Dawnmarie works with clients who want to embrace life, make changes, be heard, and find peace. Together you can achieve many things, develop a plan, and gain the tools to be successful. Whether it be your Professional or Personal life, together, we can master love, happiness, and a sense of SELF.