About Us – Matthew Peterson

he/him/his

I believe that each of us has an innate capacity for wholeness, belonging, and deep fulfillment.  However, for much of my life, this was very hard to believe.  My journey to this realization was full of dramatic twists and turns, mostly beginning in my early years at university.  I was really struggling at the time and unsure of who I was and what I was here to do.

Through an unexpected whirlwind of music, mentors, meditation, and spiritual exploration, I began to have glimpses of what life was offering me.  My heart opened a bit, and I saw the world differently.  It became clear that healing was possible and, from that point on, the only thing that made sense to me was to try and help others do the same.

While contemplating a way I could be of service, I eventually came across acupuncture, and something just clicked.  I knew it was the right choice.  Oddly enough, I actually signed up for my educational program before ever having tried acupuncture myself.

Since graduating from the American Institute of Alternative Medicine in 2014, I’ve had experience working in hospitals, addiction treatment centers, private offices, and community clinics, but I’ve spent most of my career treating people in low-cost group settings, and providing medicine in this way will always be dear to me.  In a society where accessing alternative options to the standard medical model is difficult and expensive, community acupuncture takes a stand for our humanity and basic human needs.

As modern people, we have become estranged from the natural rhythms of life and who we really are.  We have been moving against the current and are seeing the effects inside ourselves and all around us.   Acupuncture is one among many powerful tools that can help us reconnect with those rhythms physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Community acupuncture in particular is a beautiful container that provides us an opportunity to be seen, heard, and accompanied in our unique expression.  It’s a place where we can rest and connect with ourselves, where we can heal alongside each other.   I’m grateful to be practicing a form of medicine that empowers people and works with our bodies’ natural ability to heal.  I appreciate the opportunity to show up and make a positive impact in a time when we truly need to come together.

Alongside acupuncture, I have studied and continue to practice an eastern martial art called Baguazhang.  It has provided within me a solid foundation that has informed every other aspect of my life.  I also have an ongoing relationship with shamanic medicine and sound healing, which have both called to me in more recent years.

Outside of work, I love to spend time in the wilderness, listening, connecting, and receiving what nature has to share.  Music has always been one of my most trusted allies.  I love playing instruments, singing, live performances, and just dancing my heart out.

Eastern philosophy, medicine, and martial arts, along with nature, music, and community, have been the most profound healing forces in my life.  It is my greatest passion to live and share these ways of being.