“Shortly after starting acupuncture sessions, everything just started coming together. I felt more peaceful, more functional, and more motivated… I just had to learn how to do it myself.”
What drew you to acupuncture?
I randomly found myself in an acupuncture office, and shortly after starting acupuncture sessions everything just started coming together. I felt more peaceful, more functional, and more motivated. I was pretty amazed at how that happened, and since I’m a pretty logical person, I think I just had to learn how to do it myself. Within about three months, I was enrolled in school.
Why did you choose MUIH?
I chose MUIH because it was close by and at the time I didn’t want to move anywhere else. I hadn’t heard of any other acupuncture programs so it was kind of amazing that it was close by. I went to an open house and as soon as I walked in the door I knew I was where I was supposed to be.
What has your path been since graduation?
My path after graduating has been pretty straightforward. A lot of my classmates were exploring different ideas doing community acupuncture, acupuncture programs, and different kind of setups like working part-time and doing acupuncture on the side. For me, the only thing important to me for the last six years has been acupuncture and I just want to put my whole self into it.
What have been the most fulfilling moments in your career?
From a practitioner standpoint, I’d say just being able to see all the different ways acupuncture is able to help people. There’s not just one way, and it happens all the time. I’m always surprised by just how drastically acupuncture is able to help people.
What advice would you give recent graduates?
I’ve noticed that my practice builds and dwindles based on my level of cultivation of my own practices. Yes, going out and advertising is important—and I’m learning that, that’s not my strong point business wise. But what I really notice is that if I start to eat more unhealthily, or stay up late, or get out of my own rhythm of things, people stop calling. People will cancel appointments. And then, pretty much as soon as I get myself back on track, the phone will start to ring and people will call who haven’t done anything but search the web for acupuncture and found my name. I have to keep remembering that because I get stressed out about trying to promote myself and the best thing I can do for myself is to live life well.
Clark Mollenhoff completed his Master of Acupuncture in 2012.
