Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathleen Ketola.
Hi Kathleen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Health has always been a fascination and passion for me. I have very clear memories of teaching myself the bones and organs using GeoSafari (an electronic memory game) in kindergarten, and my mom photocopied images from her medical texts and put them in a Lisa Frank binder for me to use as a coloring book. During my childhood, I spent time at surgery centers with my mom but also attended health fairs and open houses at healing centers like Hippocrates Health Institute in Florida.
My family started using Young Living essential oils when I was nine. In high school, I started studying exercise physiology as I became more involved with yoga, weight training, and sports. In college, I was pre-med, graduating from the University of Florida with degrees in Biology and Nutrition while continuing to learn about holistic wellness. My Master’s degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and additional Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences brought me full circle as I integrate Eastern, clinical, and holistic nutrition in my practice and view my patients’ issues from all of the perspectives that I’ve gained from my experiences.
After moving from Florida, I spent three years in private practice around greater Dallas, and during that time, I had patients who really needed to be coming in a few times a week but could only afford to see me once a month. I would have loved to refer them to a community clinic for more regular treatments…but there weren’t any around!
I saw the need for one and was inspired to start Beachside Community Acupuncture to provide affordable acupuncture to those who might not otherwise be able to experience the ancient medicine’s healing effects.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Business ownership has ups and downs, and the ability to adapt is absolutely necessary to survive as a small business. Our clinic has had a few evolutions on the back-end – updating phone systems, scheduling systems, etc. – but the two biggest challenges were managing the adjustments needed to stay open during the pandemic and relocating from Addison to McKinney. Knowing that our patients rely on us for accessible holistic healthcare gives us the “why” to persevere through anything that pops up!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Most acupuncture in America is in the form of private practice, meaning each patient is treated in a private room. Traditional Chinese Medicine is historically practiced in a group setting, though, so members of the community can heal together. Both styles have their merits, but the biggest draws for community acupuncture are usually the cost, the lack of time constraints, and the experience of healing together.
Beachside Community Acupuncture offers acupuncture treatments on a sliding scale, so patients can choose how much they’d like to pay based on their personal health budgets. We suggest patients stay a full hour to really get the most out of their treatments, and because we have one big treatment area, people can book back-to-back appointments with their parents, siblings, friends, or co-workers so that they can enjoy their hour of relaxation together.
Outside of the benefits of community acupuncture, our clinic also stands out because of its atmosphere. From the tropical decor to the ocean waves playing on repeat, everything about Beachside Community Acupuncture is designed to simulate a beach oasis.
We’ve had patients wake up after their treatments – many are so relaxed that they fall asleep! – saying they thought they were in their favorite vacation spot, which can be a nice change in landlocked Dallas.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Attitude is everything! Stress is always going to be a part of business ownership (and a part of life), but being flexible and remaining optimistic will alleviate its impact.
Pricing:
- New Patients: $65-$95
- Follow-ups: $50-$80
Contact Info:
- Website: https://BeachsideAcupuncture.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/beachcomacu
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/beachcomacu
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/beachcomacu
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@beachsideacupuncture
- Yelp: https://yelp.com/biz/beachside-community-acupuncture-mckinney
- Other: https://pinterest.com/beachcomacu
