What We Stand For
At Harmonizing Healthcare, we believe in treating the whole person, not just the symptoms. Our holistic health approach considers the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of health to promote overall well-being.
Your health and comfort are our top priorities. We take the time to listen to your concerns, understand your unique needs, and tailor our treatments to best suit you.
We are dedicated to providing the highest quality of care possible. Our experienced practitioners stay up-to-date with the latest research and techniques to ensure you receive the best possible outcomes.
Master’s of Science in Oriental Medicine (Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs). Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Board Member, National Association of Nutrition Professionals
Ask Us Anything
This depends on the severity, duration, and nature of your complaint. Many patients experience a certain amount of relief after just one or two treatments if the problem is acute. A series of five to ten treatments can resolve many chronic problems. Some degenerative conditions may require many treatments over time. Each patient is unique.
Yes. This medicine has been used effectively for over 5000 years and has helped billions of people. Practitioners are licensed professionally and regulated by the state to insure regulatory compliancy. All licensed acupuncturists today use sterile, disposable, individually packaged needles and have a Clean Needle Certificate.
The tiny, fine, flexible needles used in acupuncture are nothing like the hypodermic needles used in western medicine for injections. In fact, you can fit about 10 acupuncture needles inside one hypodermic needle. Once the needles are inserted, you may experience a fullness, tingling, or a light dull ache along with a sense of relaxation.
US trained practitioners require a Bachelor’s degree before being accepted into a four year master’s program for the study of Oriental Medicine, which includes acupuncture and Chinese herbs. There is a national certification available and additionally, each state has different acupuncture regulations. In Arizona, the State of Arizona Acupuncture Board of Examiners issues and monitors all licenses that are renewed yearly and require Continuing Education Hours.
Treatments are most effective when you are able to relax. Discuss any concerns and voice any individual needs so that your practitioner is able to give you the best treatment possible. Also, do not make position changes without the assistance of your practitioner.
Lots of research is available, and more is being done all the time. Please let us know if you would like specific information on a condition or area.
Here are a few studies you may find interesting:
Acupuncture is associated with lower back surgery rates
Acupuncture best for spinal stenosis
Acupuncture effective for osteoporosis
Acupuncture more effective than drugs for sciatica
Acupuncture relieves neck pain
Herbal formula beneficial for fatty liver
Herbal extract effective against Candida
Ginger relieves muscle soreness
Gu Syndrome is the idea that there is a hidden “pathogen” stuck inside the body. This pathogen can be a virus, bacteria, mold, fungi, or parasite. Yes, we do treat this at our clinic through a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy. To read more in depth about Gu Syndrome, click here.
At Harmonizing Healthcare, we believe in treating the root cause of illness, not just the symptoms.
Brittany is the owner of Harmonizing Healthcare and is a licensed acupuncturist and practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine with the State of Arizona Acupuncture Board of Examiners and nationally certified by NCCAOM in Oriental Medicine, which includes both acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Brittany received her Master’s of Science in Oriental Medicine degree from Southwest Acupuncture College in Boulder Colorado, one of the top schools in the United States for the study of herbs. She studied and trained in both Japanese and Chinese styles of acupuncture, including Shonishin, the needle free treatment modality for babies and children.
Her background and foundation in medical studies includes 16 years in the western medical system, including graduating from the University of Colorado Health Science Center with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing in 2008. She worked as a Registered Nurse for 9 years and realized that we need more focus on preventative care and treating health concerns from the very root to truly make an impact in each individual.
Brittany has studied and done internships with various Japanese and Chinese masters, learning the tradition of Oriental Medicine. She has had the opportunity to not only treat as a general practitioner the wide variety of adult complaints from respiratory illnesses to support during cancer treatment, but has had specialty training in OB-GYN and pediatrics, including studying with pediatric expert Soma Glick, DOM, L.Ac, CHOM. Her passion and focus in this world is to guide people toward a higher quality of life.
Milissa Gillen L.Ac., MAOM holds a Master’s of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree from the New England School of Acupuncture and is certified by NCCAOM (2003). Milissa’s studies at NESA included both Chinese and Japanese styles of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. She worked as an assistant instructor at NESA for four years post-graduation, while continuing to study with three different Acupuncture Masters, focusing on Meridian Style Acupuncture. Milissa holds post graduate Certifications in Advanced Japanese Acupuncture, Shaku Ju Therapy, Auricular Acupuncture and Balance Method Acupuncture. After seven years in the Boston area, Milissa returned to her home state of California in 2007 and became a California Board Certified Acupuncturist. Milissa is now very happy to receive her Arizona Board Certification and join the growing team at Harmonizing Healthcare!
Since 2003, Milissa has poured her focus into learning and practicing Balance Method Acupuncture with the late grandmaster Dr. Richard Teh-fu Tan OMD. Today, Milissa’s treatment modality primarily focus on Balance Method Acupuncture which is known around the world for its clinical efficacy, especially when it comes to pain management. Her treatment approach also includes Japanese Meridian Style Acupuncture and Japanese Style moxibustion therapy, also known as Okyu. Milissa’s goal as a practitioner of Oriental Medicine is to assist and support people in their journey to optimize their health in mind, body and spirit, achieving their best quality of life and best self.
Milissa is an avid outdoorswoman and has a deep passion and respect for our Mother Earth. She firmly believes in the restorative healing power of nature and wilderness. When you don’t see her at Harmonizing Healthcare, you can be sure she is somewhere out in the back country with her backpack or her trail running shoes. Milissa is also a 2nd Dan Kukkiwon Certified Black Belt in Taekwondo and a Certified Wilderness First Responder.
Lindsey Watson passed away on 10/10/2023, but will forever be a part of the Harmonizing Healthcare Acpuncture Team. She was an amazing acupuncturist, healer, mom, wife, and human. She continues to be missed by us all, however her impact continues to be alive and ongoing. She continues to inspire and bring the community together. She had a huge heart and was constantly giving her time, knowledge, Qi, and heart away. Besides working at Harmonizing Healthcare as an acupuncturist, she also started the non-profit Threaded Together, which continues to thrive and enrich our community. We think of Lindsey and her husband Greg Cox often and vow to continue on her mission on this planet. Thanks for all you have given us Lindsey- you will forever have a special place in our hearts.
Tally Thomas, L.Ac is a licensed acupuncturist and practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She completed her undergraduate degree at Northern Arizona University including one year abroad at Er Wei (Second Foreign Language Institute) in Beijing, China. After an exciting year of travel and language immersion she was ready to pursue her Chinese medical degree at Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in Portland, Oregon. She graduated in 2012 and has been in private practice ever since.
She is one of the co-founders of a local practice, Flagstaff Birth Collective, offering perinatal services and family health. Although her recent clinical focus has been in women’s health, Tally is a trained general health practitioner and treats a variety of health conditions including: pain management, digestive disorders, mental/emotional support, allergies, insomnia, and more.
With over 20 years of experience in bodywork, massage therapy, and yoga she has an incessant dedication to the ancient healing arts and traditional practices of medicine. She is a busy Mama of three, loves being in nature, dancing, singing, and building community.
Clayton Wooley, L.Ac., MSTCM obtained his acupuncture license from the State of California in 1995 and in Arizona in 2019. He is also certified with the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). He went to the Academy of Chinese Culture & Health Sciences (ACCHS) medical school in Berkeley CA in 1995 to obtain his Masters of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine (MSTCM). He has devoted his life and career to acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 25 years. With the experience of over 60,000 patient visits, he is one of the most experienced and highly skilled practitioners in our area and we are so grateful to have him on our team.
Mr. Woolley’s specialties include pain management, sports injuries, immune system problems, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and women’s health: hormonal imbalance, menopause, menstrual problems, infertility and pregnancy. Clayton has garnered a special reputation in sport’s medicine, working with amateur and professional athletes, sport’s teams, and ballet companies. His philosophy and focus is delivering the best acupuncture available by treating and curing many diverse medical conditions. By using advanced techniques, he is able to minimize the number of needles and overall treatments required to remedy health situations. Needless to say, he has fallen in love with the power and effectiveness of this science.
Dr. Sarica Cernohous is a practitioner of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, using Japanese-style methods, LED light therapy and herbal medicine in her private practice, and is an active board member for the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP).
She is the author of the importance and practical application of traditional food preparation techniques, The Funky Kitchen, and its accompanying online course, “Fresh, Fun, and Flavorful in The Funky Kitchen”, and is a coach for Metabolic Balance of Germany, for which she has crafted a personalized weight-optimization and lifestyle program, The LAPIS Method. Since 2011 she has been sharing recipes and health articles on her website, NaturallyLivingToday.com.
In 2020, she joined the team at Harmonizing Healthcare, where she works diligently with other healthcare professionals to inform and guide deeper work around cellular health. Dr. Cernohous is also an instructor of Nutrition for the Health and Human Performance master’s program at Pacific College of Health and Science. She is a chapter leader for the Weston A. Price Foundation, and lives with her husband and children in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Cori is a licensed massage therapist in Arizona. She’s been practicing massage since 2012 graduating from ASIS massage school in Prescott, Arizona. After working in a few spas she moved on to a clinical setting and has spent the last 6 years working on many clients suffering from chronic pain, injuries, athletes and non athletes. Helping clients live with less pain has become the focus of her practice. She specializes in fascia focused therapies, neuromuscular therapy, sport massage, and is a certified fascial stretching instructor.
Her other passion is fitness. She has studied and taught in the fitness industry for the last 17 years with a love for functional movement and martial arts. With almost two decades of practical and formal education with the human body, Cori brings a unique set of skills to her practice.
Margaux has been at Harmonizing Healthcare since 2018. Her passion is customer service and making all feel at home. She loves being with people and helping them with their needs. She has been in hospitality, care giving, and has dedicated her live towards exploring the deeper spiritual journey, exploring in greater detail a holistic way of living and healing. When she isn’t at the clinic, she is found spending time with her beautiful daughter Mariah, her son-in-law, and her granddaughter here in Flagstaff. There is nothing more important to her than the connection of mind, body, and spirit as we face the challenges that occur in our lives.
Katie King is a mother, writer, receptionist and tutor. She is happy to be the newest addition at Harmonizing Healthcare. When she is not at the front desk you can find her at CCC tutoring English, or playing tennis with her 4th grader. She moved to Flagstaff in 1996 and looks forward to getting to know the Harmonizing community.