Stayton’s new acupuncturist has always wanted a career that involves helping others.
“I love working one-on-one with patients and to help people with their various health and wellbeing troubles,” said Patrick Allen, owner of Stayton Acupuncture and Wellness. “I really chose acupuncture by chance, and I really love my job.”
Since part of the scope of his practice includes lifestyle counseling, Allen also gets to do a little therapy, he said.
“I love doing a job where people leave my office feeling better!” said Allen, a licensed acupuncturist and currently a doctoral candidate working on his degree in acupuncture and Chinese medicine with Pacific University of Health Sciences. He anticipates receiving his Ph. D in December of this year.
Allen grew up in a small town in Michigan, and attended Central Michigan University, earning a degree in public relations. In 2009, he moved to Portland to attend Oregon College of Oriental Medicine and participate in a four-year master’s training program. Allen then completed extended study at the Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China.
“While in Nanjing, we worked in the hospital to learn advanced techniques,” Allen said. “Chinese medicine is very interesting, and there are so many different approaches to treatment. Acupuncture is just one part of a whole system.”
According to Chinese medicine, Allen can treat the body not only through acupuncture but through herbal medicine, diet therapy, lifestyle counseling, tai qi/qi gong, body work, meditation, manual therapies such as cupping, as well as specific stretching techniques.
“Every patient is different, so I like to come up with a customized treatment plan based on their specific complaints,” said Allen, who opened a Portland practice in 2013.
“Due to the pandemic, I closed my office and decided to start a new practice. A series of events led me to Stayton. I decided I wanted to work in a town that didn’t have direct access to Chinese medicine. It’s been a great experience so far. The community has been really supportive. I currently still work in Tualatin at a naturopathic medical clinic.”
“Acupuncture is known for pain management, so this is probably what I treat the most,” he said. “Low back pain, neck pain, headaches/migraines.”
Patients have told Allen that his acupuncture treatments are less painful than other practitioners, he said.
“So even if you had acupuncture in the past, you will have a different experience at my treatment,” he added, inviting people to call for a free consultation to discuss their complaints.
Stayton Acupuncture follows universal precautions when working with patients, which works well in keeping within COVID-19 guidelines set by the state. Masks are required, and Allen limits the number of people in the building at any given time; patients wait in different rooms.
To make an appointment or for more information, call or text 503-404-4044, email [email protected], or visit www.staytonacupuncture.com.
