Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Williams.
Hi Kristen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up, I was involved in sports all year round. In my junior year during volleyball district, I dove for a ball and suddenly had sharp pain in my low back and down my legs. Immediately went to urgent care where they informed my mom that I was being dramatic and it was just a muscle spasm. They gave me some muscle relaxers and sent me home. The medication barely touched the pain I was experiencing. I would wake up every 3 hours in excruciating pain as soon as the medication wore off. After getting an MRI complete, the surgeon let me know that he had never seen such severe disc herniation for a 17-year-old in his career. The surgeon wanted to perform surgery to relieve the pain, but I was hesitant as there was a chance of becoming paralyzed.
To moderate the pain in the meantime, I was prescribed over 28 pills a day. Even with this medication, the pain could spike in severity without a moment’s notice. I was not able to attend high school for almost a full month due to the severity of pain.
Some family friends had recommended trying acupuncture since nothing else was working. After the first treatment, I was able to get up for the first time in a month without any pain. I continued with acupuncture for several more weeks as it helped regulate my pain and improve my sleep quality. For my case, acupuncture was the only treatment to resolve pain without having extreme side effects. I later went on to graduate from a 4 year’s master’s program in Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine from Bastyr University. My main focus has been in pain management and sports injuries.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Prior to 2020, I had built a full-time acupuncture practice seeing over 55 patients per week. However, once COVID-19 hit, everything came to a screeching halt.
I decided to turn this negative into a positive by taking an opportunity in NYC, where I worked as a Data Manager, which made me responsible for staffing hospitals and clinics with travel healthcare workers. This opportunity allowed me to take a respite from direct patient care, which I had not realized, until that moment, how necessary the respite was. It was necessary because I had realized that I had been pouring into my work and my patients from an empty cup which was neither benefiting me nor my patients.
Therefore, I took the time to learn how to care for others through taking care of my needs first. Fast forward to today, stepping back into patient care full-time has been refreshing; I love knowing that I have gained more skills for balancing work with a healthier lifestyle.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I currently own an acupuncture practice in Denton with a focus in sports injuries and pain management. Whether you are a professional athlete or someone who enjoys staying active, I can help prevent injuries and progress the healing process for when injuries do occur.
I have worked with several professional athletes, such as the Brooks Beast Running Team, University of Washington Volleyball Tournaments (for 3 years), & the U.S. Rugby Tournament, and several other sporting events such as the Seattle Marathon (for 4 years),
I would like to believe that the community would say I am known for my trigger points/dry needling in addition to my craniosacral therapy. Something I am proud of is how many patients have expressed their gratitude for my providing them with a safe and welcoming environment that allows for emotional expression, whether it be the grieving of a loved one or physical/emotional traumas of the past.
What I believe sets me apart from the rest, and I also pride myself in is bringing a holistic approach to my patient’s care plan where I consider and address their physical, psychological, emotional, nutritional wellness along with providing lifestyle advice and herbal remedies. I also have the humility to understand when to refer a patient out to another professional healthcare provider who may be better suited for the patient’s needs. Lastly, I invest in my continual education of my craft by traveling to learn from the best so that I can bring the best to Dallas.
Something I would want Voyage Dallas readers to know is that if you are wondering about acupuncture and its potential health benefits for you, please feel free to contact me to schedule a free virtual consultation! I would love to hear from you and any questions you may have about acupuncture and East Asian medicine!
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Being from the Pacific Northwest, I am so grateful for days when the sun is out, so I would say that what I LOVE most about this city is the sunshine. I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, roller skating, swimming, biking, and other physical activities.
Something that I am still getting acclimated to is the city driving which can be intimidating for someone who did not grow up in a city.
Pricing:
- Initial Acupuncture Treatment: $130 (normally $150) (90min)
- Follow- Up Acupuncture: $85 (normally $95) (60min)
- Cupping/Guasha: $65 (30min)
- Virtual Consultation: FREE (20 minutes)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.capriacu.com/
- Instagram: capri.acu
