1070 William St., Iowa City, IA 52240
Biography
Laura Christensen is a graduate of Oberlin College, earning BA in Biology and premedical studies, and earned her 1984 Master’s in Acupuncture (M.Ac.) at the New England School of Acupuncture in Boston, and has over 3500 hours of training in acupuncture and professional Chinese herbology. She is a Nationally Board Certified Acupuncturist, Diplomate of Acupuncture (NCCAOM), and Iowa Licensed Acupuncturist (current).
She also has a 1986 Masters in Holistic Counseling Psychology from Lesley University in Cambridge Massachusetts. Certified in Japanese Acupuncture by Miki Shima, OMD, certified in Chinese Herbology by Ken Morris, L.Ac, she has studied with Susan Johnson LAc (Master Tong’s Acupuncture), Sharon Weizenbaum LAp (4 yrs Graduate Mentorship in Chinese Herbology), and presently studies with Kiiko Matsumoto LAp and her colleagues Monika Kobylecka LAc, and David Euler LAp (Kiiko Matsumoto Style [KMS]Japanese Acupuncture).
KMS Acupuncture: Laura specializes in the practice of Kiiko Matsumoto Style acupuncture. She has found it to be the most gentle, effective, and fast method of acupuncture for most patients. Using this style, patients have seen results far beyond what any other method of acupuncture has produced in our clinic. She has been studying this approach consistently since 2007 and is presently enrolled in a 150-hour certification course in the style, which she expects to complete in 2015.
To learn more, go to http://www.kiikomatsumoto.com/kiiko-style-acupuncture.html
As a newly appointed adjunct lecturer at the University of Iowa Global Health Studies program, she presents a course titled: Studies in Complementary and Alternative Medicine. In this course, students are introduced to a variety of complementary medicine modalities and are asked to do their own inquiries in the field.
Since 2010 Laura has been on the faculty of the East-West School of Massage and Integrative Studies. There she presents a 14 contact hour course called Eastern Theory, which introduces and develops the basic ideas and theoretical structures of Oriental Medicine, as well as teaching a number of assessment techniques appropriate for massage therapists who might be applying shiatsu or other oriental modalities in their clinical practice. Two other courses she teaches are Eastern Nutrition, a one-day introduction to the application of Oriental medicine concepts in nutritional therapy, and Cupping and Gua Sha for massage therapists, also a one day course. These courses are taken as electives or CEUs at the school.
Laura is a long time member of the American Association of Oriental Medicine and is a member of the Iowa Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Association. She receives ongoing training in acupuncture, herbal medicine, and dietary therapies. Laura has also been trained in a variety of other holistic approaches including Functional Medicine, deep tissue massage, Aromatherapy, Upledger Craniosacral therapy, Applied Kinesiology, Reiki II, Ericksonian hypnotherapy, guided imagery, Hakomi therapy, Bodytalk, Healing Touch, and Reconnective healing, as well as Yuen Chinese Energetic Healing with Mary Fox, Matrix Energetics, and dowsing with Raymon Grace. She weaves these techniques into her acupuncture sessions when appropriate.
She also has ten years of experience in medical research, 6 years of experience as a mental health counselor, and over twenty years of experience in private practice in oriental medicine and acupuncture in Iowa City. Laura is an Iowa City native and comes from a family background of doctors, scientists, gardeners, and classical musicians. She was also trained as a musician and her non-work activities include photography, gardening, dog activities, family gatherings, singing, meditation and spiritual study, healthy cooking, and home improvement. She has three grown step-children and one charming toddler grandchild.
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