Happy Pride! And Welcome Melisa!
Happy Pride!!!
Please welcome Melisa to the stage!!!
Melisa Mitchell is an incredible Reiki practitioner who has been with us for a little while now as a renter, and has made the plunge to be an official team member/employee of Woodberry Wellness! We couldn’t be more excited!!! Melisa is passionate about the importance of self-care and about empowering her clients to heal through Reiki. Reiki energy can be offered in support of conventional medical treatments for a variety of physical, mental, and emotional illnesses and conditions. Melisa has supported her clients in managing chronic pain, the side-effects of chemotherapy, migraines, grief, anxiety, insomnia, depression, effects of trauma and abuse, and addiction.
You can book your appointments with her this summer on Wednesday evenings, Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings!
Get to know our beloved Acupuncturist:
Jackson Miller M.Ac. L.Ac.
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What do you specialize in? I specialize in LGBTQ+ health care, specifically fertility and transgender health.
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How did you get into this specialization? After transitioning a decade ago, and starting a family with my wife, I realized that this community is under served. Too often, people in the LGBTQ community do not feel comfortable entering health care spaces for fear of shame and discrimination. I wanted to bring healing to this community, as well as create an affirming, safe space, in which people can come as they are. I am choosing to come out and be more visible as a practitioner so that the people who need my services the most can easily find me.
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What are some of the ways that acupuncture and Chinese medicine support issues specific to LGB/Trans* health?Acupuncture is a holistic modality that incorporates body, mind, and spirit. Our mental and spiritual health is just as important as our body health. Often our aches and pains can be exacerbated by our mental health. From this holistic lens, Chinese medicine can be supportive in treating a wide variety of imbalances that often affect people in the LGBTQ community. Some symptoms that acupuncture has success in treating include, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Acupuncture specifically for transgender, genderfluid, gender queer, or non-binary people can be beneficial in supporting hormone replacement therapy, pain management after gender reassignment surgery, top surgery, hysterectomy, etc. Scar treatments can help in reducing the visibility of scarring as well as reducing the buildup of scar tissue post-surgery.
Acupuncture is also beneficial in treating menstrual disorders, fertility including PCOS and endometriosis. -
What do you love most about it? I honestly love everything about treating this community. It is an honor being able to partner with patients on their journey of healing and self-discovery.
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What other issues do you enjoy treating? I enjoy treating a wide variety of issues including chronic and acute pain (back, knee, shoulder etc), Trauma, substance abuse, and eating disorders.
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Does someone have to be a part of the LGB/Trans* community to come see you? Absolutely not! Anyone can come see me for acupuncture! It is important to note that when a person comes out as LGBTQ+, often family and friends are experiencing a process of acceptance and healing. Acupuncture can be very beneficial as a family medicine.
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Do you accept insurance? Yes, I am currently in network with Cigna and BCBS and soon to be with Aetna, United and EHP. Please contact our office manager Jocelyn at hello@woodberrywellness.com directly to confirm if your insurance is accepted for treatment. You may even have out of network benefits!
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Do you have any favorite resources for folks accessing information about LGB/Trans* health?
YES!
The National Center for Transgender Equality is the nation’s leading social justice advocacy organization winning life-saving change for transgender people.
PFLAG is working to make sure that all people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer are not only valued by society, but take pride in and value themselves. We do this through providing peer-to-peer support, educating people on the issues that are important to the community, and advocating for inclusive policies and laws.
https://www.pflag.org/search?keys=transgender&type=resource
Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, TLC employs a variety of community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation.
https://transgenderlawcenter.org
GLCCB-To be a catalyst for uniting and empowering sexual and gender minorities in Baltimore and Central Maryland and advocate for a better quality of life for the entire community.
Founded in 2003, Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to end discrimination and achieve equality for transgender people, particularly those in our most vulnerable communities.
http://www.transgenderlegal.org
The Trans Youth Equality Foundation provides education, advocacy, and support for transgender children, youth, and their families.
