Below are a few of my patients testimonials. These are their words, their opinions, and their experiences. They are in their raw, unchanged form.
”I absolutely was skeptical going into acupuncture, my mother even had to bribe me to go for the first treatment, I’ll admit. After having back pain for 9 months, and severe pain at that, I was desperate. I gave up so many things and everyday life was challenging; I felt like an elderly person. As my last option, I tried acupuncture, and it definitely took several visits before I really noticed a difference in my pain. Slowly but surely, I could see I had less and less back pain, Katie treated my jaw issues, and after every treatment I have felt relaxed and refreshed. I don’t know how I’d be making it through everyday now if I didn’t have Katie or her clinic!” Kayleigh Alegria, Morristown, VT
“Katie is the perfect blend of smarts and intuition. I’ve been receiving acupuncture for a long time and I’ve never worked with anyone better. You’re lucky she’s in your area now! We want her back in AZ!!” Kelley Boyt, Tucson, AZ
“I spent the first 48 yrs of my life being Super Woman. Strong, energetic, full of endurance, full of enjoying life. I was never bored, never depressed. Then in a blink of an eye it seemed like the next 5 yrs were nothing but agony. I developed bone aches, night sweats, and eventually head to toe muscle aches. I successfully lost 40lbs but nothing seemed to help. I began a medical roller coaster during these 5yrs. that left me confused, discouraged, and crying on a daily basis from fatigue and pain. Nobody seemed to understand or care that I hurt from head to toe every minute in a 24 hr. day. This was not “normal” for ME! I was offered plenty of drugs for my “condition” which nobody seemed to think was anything but a minor beginning of osteoarthritis, including the final straw,….perhaps I needed Prozac. I was not 80 when this health deterioration began, I was 48 yrs old and had previously taken nothing stronger than an occasional aspirin for headache relief. I was not crazy, I was miserable and in chronic pain and discomfort, not to mention sleep deprived. There are no coincidences…..I met Katie, she told me she was an acupuncturist and I became curious as to the possibilities of what she could aid my own body to do to start the healing process. At our first meeting I noticed a difference….she listened, she was tuned into the whole person I was and what I was exposed to, and she said “Of course you’re not crazy and of course you don’t need to be like this.” She suggested a simple diet change if I wouldn’t mind as she thought perhaps I had some food intolerances and only an eighth of a tsp. could be affecting me. I had to laugh at this, I have a cast iron stomach but I said I was committed to doing whatever it took to help the process. I also realized as I lay on the table, I HATE NEEDLES, what was I doing here? I came with no expectations of an outcome but have come away with a whole new appreciation as I get better and better. I survived that first adventure easily and was amazed how great I felt. After 3 months of once a week treatments I was doing things I hadn’t done in nearly 5 yrs. I did discover quite innocently after eating a huge piece of chocolate cake after 3 months of being on my simple diet that I did in fact have a food intolerance. I spent a night of sheer torture after consuming this decadent desert to realize again, Katie had been right. I am sensitive to the treatments and it has been a journey of ups with a few downs. It took 7 years of excessive hard work, periods of grief, and trying to do it all before my body finally let me know I was not being kind to it before I listened. I know there is no magic bullet or pill that will return my good health to me instantly. I do know though, that by being more aware, changing the eating patterns I had developed and with the help of Katie and her knowledge and skills I can slowly rebuild a better me. I went from being debilitated to being able to do old tasks much more easily and unassisted. Katie gave me hope, understanding, knowledge of what may be possible, but most of all she gave me back my ability to physically enjoy life once again. Thank you so very much Katie!!!!” J. Jones, Wolcott, Vermont
“After having shoulder surgery my arm was in a sling for 6 weeks. The day i got to take it off was such a relief, just to have the ability to put a pair of socks on again with 2 hands. Then i noticed the bicep wasn’t working. It just sagged to the side and would not fire. The emotional roller coaster started to set in; I went from the high and sense of relief to have it off, to a scared, ‘why doesn’t my arm work?’. I called the surgeon and he sent me to a neurologist. He did all his tests and sent me on my way with no answers. I went back to the surgeon and he seemed very unconcerned with all his answers and told me it may work in 6 months to a year or it may never work again. “It is what it is” was the answer he gave me. I followed that up with a physical therapy appointment and after doing 3 pound curls ( thats all i could lift) they were trying to get the bicep to move with their eclectic pads and it didn’t even wiggle. At that point i was getting pretty low and frustrated. So not wanting to accept the surgeons “it is what it is approach”, I put my thinking cap on and thought id look in to some alternative medicine. Acupuncture popped in to my head and I contacted Katie at Four Corners Acupuncture Clinic. She was so helpful and confident that acupuncture would help. I keep an open mind and ready to do what ever I had to do. “It may never work again” is a good motivating factor. I told the physical therapist i started acupuncture and he dismissed it and was skeptical as he was putting the electric pads on. After not getting the muscle to move again, he asked me if she had it moving (being sarcastic). I had acupuncture the next day and Katie put the needles in with the E-Stim, and it was barley moving, just a little twitch. Talk about a great feeling to see your muscle move for the first time. I was so relived that it wasn’t dead. I would of paid her a 1000 dollars a session just to make it move again. I would go home and make it twitch while watching tv, driving down the road ect..until the next session. She would put the needles in and make it move, I saw improvement everytime. I am not saying you can get acupuncture once and your all done. I went home did the work, took the herbs and kept going for more Acupuncture. Katie is awesome, so easy to talk to, keeps a nice clean shop and her confidence that acupuncture would help was so reasuring. I recommend Her to everybody, She was such a big help and Thank you so much.” -Hyde Park, Vermont
“For Katie I started seeing Katie for acupuncture about fourteen months ago, in the middle of August. Usually my favorite month during my favorite season of the year, I came into her clinic headed in a downward spiral, struggling with many health problems, most significantly a deepening and prolonged depression, worsening hypertension, persistent anxiety, unpleasant digestive symptoms, and growing drug dependency. The clear light that had always kept me hopeful and given my life direction was seemingly dimming, and I was in a horribly unfamiliar and scary situation, one I think anyone struggling with health problems confronts; I needed help. I couldn’t fix my problems alone; I was losing my way in the world. Whether fair or not, and for reasons beyond my own understanding, I looked to Katie to cure me, and she seemed willing to try. I continued to see numerous other psychiatrists and doctors, but none seemed nearly so capable as a healer, so open minded, so willing to explore the depths of my issues and so relentless in pursuit of my good health. With each successive acupuncture treatment,each needle carefully inserted and each word of advice she granted me, Katie merely reminded me of what I think I always have known, but had simply forgot; everything I have been through, every single moment in my life, every cell in my body, is ultimately intertwined, and treating one without the other would never be sufficient. And so, from the beginning, from treatment number one, our work was focused on the roots of me, the roots of my tree, my digestive system. Each treatment, each time Katie has inserted needles into my body, the goal has been to stimulate my digestive system, to reawaken my gut, and thus my life. The very first words that I heard Katie speak were, “Do you take probiotics?” And I can say today thatyes, I do take probiotics, and I truly believe that combined with my weekly acupuncture treetments, probiotics and the appropriate diet have gradually, but surely begun to breath life into me again. Katie always has told me that her passion is the human digestive system. She never really sold me on it, honestly. I listened to her explain the many ways the gut is a dictator of overall health, and had a hard time believing it, since it flies so blatantly in the face of traditional medical thought, in which all organs are treated as separate entities. You may believe this too. But I’m sitting here today telling you that, quite honestly, she really has convinced me. There is a higher form of medicine, a more profound way of life, thatmany of us fail to see. Katie is working on the cutting edge of modern medicine, as she combines digestive healing and acupuncture. Much of her advice is controversial, but trustme, she is only interested in healing her patients, not to appease them and satisfy the status quo. In my experience, regardless of traditional qualifications, this is a rare quality to find in a doctor. Katie is the only true doctor I have ever encountered, and I think people with her character and vision only come along once in a while. Thanks to her, I am beginning to see the world again.”
“Dear Katie, I wanted to write to thank you for this wonderful experience with Acupuncture. As you know I have been suffering with this horrible numbing of my hands and arms for quite some time. Coupled with that is a terrible itching especially on my palms but extending out to my entire hand. After the very first treatment I had tremendous relief with no recurring numbness for almost a week. That is a record for me. I have tried everything from Massage to Physical Therapy without the relief that we obtained with your Acupuncture treatment (s). I had no prior knowledge of Acupuncture or what to expect – having called you because you were recommended to me by another of your patients. I have been pleasantly surprised by both the process and how kind and caring you are as an individual. I look forward to my next session and introducing other family members to your practice as well. Most sincerely, Julie, Vermont”
“When I went to see Katie I was desperate. I had been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2000 but I am sure that I had it way before the actual diagnosis. I had done the whole drug gamut including antidepressants, sleep medicine, painkillers. I was taking so many painkillers that I had to be weaned off them about 3 years ago. I was in so much pain that it was hard to live a normal life. I had to quit my job and work at home. I had a hard time playing with my grandchildren. I had to hire someone to do my housework. I hated to travel because I felt so rotten. I had even thought of taking my own life because I was in so much pain and felt totally worthless to my family and friends. All of that changed when I met Katie. From my first visit she told me that I was malnourished and that my digestive system was all messed up. With proper testing I discovered that I had Celiac Disease. Katie helped me with my diet and continued with the accupunture. That was in June of 2012. Since then I have lost 40 pounds and feel like a new person. It did not happen overnight and it was a roller coaster ride all the way BUT I feel better now then I have in 20 years. Thank you Katie for saving my life! Gloria Paine Morrisville, VT”
“This letter pertains to Katie Chivington in her professional capacity as an acupuncturist. I have known Katie during her three year tenure as a student enrolled in the program at the Arizona School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. In my role as instructor and clinical supervisor at this college during the past six years, I have been responsable for the instruction and training of scores of students in a rigorous 3000 hour academic and clinical program. Among the many students whom I have taught, Katie stands out as an exceptional individual. She has dedicated herself wholeheartedly, with diligence, intelligence and a positive attitude to learning the art and science of acupuncture and has achieved a high level of competency. In her professional conduct and relationships with her patients, Katie has always shown an empathic and professional rapport. She has demonstrated a poised command of treatment situations, and has been able to apply her knowledge in all areas of oriental medical practice skillfully. Her relationships and interactions with teachers, school administrators and fellow students have always been respectful and positive. I also consider Katie Chivington to be a person of high integrity and solid character, and I can say with sincerity that I hold no reservations in recommending her to you. Sincerely, Susan Pistawka, M.Ac.O.M., L.Ac. ”
To Whom it may concern, “I have had the pleasure of Katie Chivington’s presence in my classes and on my clinic supervision shifts for the past two years. Her assimilation of the curriculum’s course material is almost exhaustive and comes readily to her on demand. When necessary, Katie is very creative in her diagnostic process. And she is always creative in designing treatment. Her rate of efficacy with even the most complex patients is about 90 percent. I attribute this to her strong persistence in furthering her understanding of the patient’s condition when the desired results are not occurring. At the end of Fall term of Katie’s last year she was a fully developed practitioner in all ways. She develops rapport with virtually all of her patients, utilizes patient education, gives outstanding care in all facets. In the evaluation for that term I wrote that if ASAOM were a conventional western medicine program I would unhesitatingly appoint her chief resident. She already is an excellent practitioner. Sincerely, Joseph Balensi MS LA”
