We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dr. Arielle Caruso. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dr. Arielle below.

Dr. Arielle, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Most people who know me now don’t know that I was once an art dealer in New York City. I finished my undergrad degree in art history and helped open and run a high profile gallery in New York. I loved finding talent and helping bring an artist’s career alive, but the day to day running of a luxury sales business wore on me. While I was an art dealer I worked a side job leading outdoor excursions outside of the city. This was the way I found inner balance. All week grinding in the city with the weekends filled with trees and the fresh smell of nature. It was the kind of job you do for the love of the experience, not the money. Part of that job was taking a wilderness first responder course and it was at that time that I discovered my love for medicine.

I developed many health issues while living and working in New York, and after 10 years of grinding, I decided to take a year off in Asia. I knew leaving the art world was a huge risk because it was all I knew, but at my core, I knew I felt complete with that chapter. I wanted to be of service to people and had a feeling practicing medicine was my deeper calling.

When I got back from my travels, nothing about New York fit anymore so I packed a bag and headed west. I landed in San Diego on a whim and decided to enroll in The Pacific College of Health and Sciences’ acupuncture program. Acupuncture had made a significant impact on my health in New York, and I felt confident it was a subject I would never tire of learning. The practice is just as much medical as it is spiritual, and the well of knowledge is endless. It is also a service that has people leaving your office feeling better than when they came in. When I think about my work, this has to be the biggest gift I receive every day. Witnessing transformation in real time is not only humbling but so incredibly profound.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

When I reflect on how I ended up where I am, I’m reminded of one thing. The universe gave me sickness, but it also gave me all the tools I needed to heal. I wasn’t meant to be sick for the entirety of my life. I was meant to learn the path, so I could walk others through it. The amount of health issues I have had in my life is an exhaustive list and I wouldn’t change a single moment of my journey.

I specialize in working with people who traditional medicine has failed. The people who are searching for answers but can’t seem to put all the pieces together. The things I treat most frequently are digestive issues, mental/emotional imbalances and reproductive medicine, because if Im honest, those are the things that I have personally gone through and feel so passionate about treating. I use a combination of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, nutraceuticals, lab testing, diet therapy, and lifestyle modifications to achieve lasting results.

I also offer cosmetic acupuncture and microneedling because I believe so deeply that how we feel about ourselves is vital to our happiness. I know what it feels like to be sick and not like this or that about your appearance, and I love offering people an all natural, minimally invasive option to looking and feeling their best. The cherry on top, is that while working on the aesthetics, we also treat the underlying imbalances of the body, getting to the deeper stuff that I love.

I strive to form a true connection with each patient, offering a safe space for them to do profound healing. I find that many people have never had anyone hold space for them like this before, and it feels like a true honor.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I decided to start my own practice in the very early days of covid. I had already had the plan to do it and while everyone was in lock down I was slowly moving into my new office. I’m a primary health care provider in the state of California so while I was allowed to be open, there was a lot of fear around doing so. My main concern was how to keep the public safe, which I identified was in direct correlation to keeping myself safe, so that I didn’t become a carrier. While it was a challenging time to start my own practice, it was without a doubt, the best decision I could have made. People needed care more than ever during that time and I’m grateful I was there to provide it.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

I think what you don’t learn in school is just how hard it is to start and then run your own business. You graduate with skills to provide a specific service, not a masters in marketing, finance, customer service, tech, web design, and seo. Plus most people are completely exhausted from a four year program and licensing exams.

My biggest piece of advice would be to first work for someone and learn while recovering from school and then when you’re ready to go all in, hire a coach. I work with a team called Practice Owners, and I honestly would not be where I am without their guidance and support. When I invested in my growth, it came back to me 10 fold.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.arise-acupuncture.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arise.acupuncture
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ariseacupuncture
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arise-acupuncture/

Image Credits
Sara Lands