We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dawn Pivec a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dawn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you recount a time when the advice you provided to a client was really spot on? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever given to a patient was this: don’t search for a practitioner who promises to “fix” you. Search for someone who truly listens to you. In today’s world, many people have been dismissed, rushed through appointments, or made to feel like their symptoms are “all in their head.” I’ve encouraged patients to trust their intuition when choosing a healthcare provider. For instance, the right acupuncturist is not only properly trained and experienced, but someone who helps you feel safe, heard, and respected as a whole person. Healing often begins the moment someone finally feels seen.

I’ve watched this advice change people’s lives. Patients who once bounced from provider to provider feeling discouraged eventually found practitioners they deeply connected with, and their healing journey shifted dramatically. Sometimes their physical symptoms improved more quickly, but just as importantly, their nervous systems softened. They became more hopeful, empowered, and engaged in their own care. The therapeutic relationship matters more than people realize. When trust and compassion are present, healing has room to happen in a much deeper way. Give yourself permission to find someone whose approach aligns not only with your health goals, but also with your values, personality, and sense of comfort.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I began her career in the mental health field after earning her first Master’s degree from Hazelden Graduate School. I spent seven years working with men, women, and youth struggling with addiction and mental health issues at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Pride Institute, and Lino Lakes Prison. During that time, I witnessed firsthand how deeply emotional, physical, and spiritual health are connected. While the work was incredibly meaningful, I found myself yearning for a medical system that incorporated more natural and holistic healing approaches. That calling ultimately led me to pursue a second Master’s degree in Chinese Medicine from Northwestern Health Sciences University, graduating in 2016.

Today, I combine my background in mental health with a decade of experience in Chinese Medicine and acupuncture to help patients facing complex and often chronic health conditions. I have worked with thousands of patients dealing with pain, stress-related disorders, hormonal imbalances, autoimmune conditions, digestive issues, anxiety, depression, and nervous system dysregulation. What sets me apart is not only my clinical training, but the way I approach healing as a partnership. Patients are not treated like a diagnosis or a number — they are treated as whole human beings with unique stories, emotions, and experiences that matter.

What I’m most proud of is creating a space where people feel deeply cared for, especially those who have struggled for years without answers. I wants potential patients to know that healing is rarely about chasing a quick fix. It is about restoring balance, supporting the nervous system, and helping the body remember its capacity to heal. My work is rooted in compassion, curiosity, and the belief that true healing happens when people are treated with both clinical skill and genuine human connection.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

Absolutely. If I could go back, I would choose this profession again without hesitation. I truly feel that I have one of the greatest jobs in the world because I have the privilege of helping people heal — not just physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. After working for years in addiction and mental health treatment, I saw how deeply people were suffering and how disconnected many felt within the traditional healthcare system. Discovering Chinese Medicine and acupuncture felt like finding the missing piece I had been searching for all along.

What I love most about this work is that it fuels me rather than depletes me. Watching someone finally sleep after years of insomnia, experience relief from chronic pain, regulate their nervous system, or simply feel hopeful again is incredibly meaningful. I never take for granted the trust patients place in me. Healing work is deeply human work, and I feel grateful every day that I get to walk alongside people during some of the most vulnerable and transformative moments of their lives.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Ultimately, I believe the strongest “business strategy” is staying deeply committed to helping people heal with compassion, integrity, and presence. When patients feel genuinely cared for, they remember it and tell their family and friends. Word of mouth has been one of the most impactful and effective ways I’ve built my practice because trust is everything in healthcare.

At the same time, building a successful practice also takes a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes. It’s important to consistently educate and connect with people through social media, community involvement, and creating trustworthy online content that helps establish you as an expert in your field. It’s also important building visibility through SEO and educational resources so people searching for answers can find reliable, compassionate information. I’m also involved in my local community, which has helped create authentic relationships and connections over time. In the end, I think people are looking for both expertise and humanity, they want to know you are knowledgeable, but they also want to know you genuinely care.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.loonholistichealth.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loon_holistic_health/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551491006606

Image Credits

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