welcome to your place of refuge
Acupuncture and somatic therapy for all ages
We are
Neuro-inclusive
Welcoming neurodiverse and neurotypical folks to receive care that honors your needs.
Trauma-Informed
We understand trauma dynamics, intersectionality, and work at the pace of trust.
LGBTQIA+ Celebrating
As a Queer-owned practice, we revel in treating our extended alphabet community.
Body Positive
Every body is a good body. Period.
“Come As You Are” Acupuncture and Somatic Therapy in Bristol and Burlington, VT
You may be caught between the cracks of our fragmented healthcare system. Searching for something more than half-solutions that mask your symptoms only to see them pop-up again. You might be on long waitlists and tired of the inadequate care available to you or your child. You’re looking for an approach that is relational, effective, and knows that the body and the mind are inseparable.
So glad you’re here. Refuge Acupuncture and Somatics is rooted in the 5,000 year old lineage of Chinese Medicine which treats the range of human ailments – from physical to mental-emotional and spiritual. Here, we offer somatic therapy and acupuncture for the sensitive, the spicy, and everyone in-between in our Burlington, VT and Bristol, VT locations.
Health is just as much about your pain/sleep/mental health as it is about knowing you belong.
We work with a lot of acupuncture and somatic therapy first-timers! Leading with gentleness, patience, and consent makes these modalities accessible for both kids and adults.
Our Offerings
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Inclusive Acupuncture
Here at Refuge, we lead with consent, practice at the pace of trust, are informed about neurodiversity, and offer treatment methods that range from very low to very deep sensation and everything in-between.
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Plant Medicine
With 5,000 years of experience using plants to heal, Chinese herbal medicine offers profound healing from anxiety to pain, fertility, autoimmune conditions, and beyond.
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Body-positive food + movement
Every body is a good body. Refuge Acupuncture is a trauma-informed, Health-At-Every-Size (HAES) healthcare provider. Our table can support 1,500 lbs and is wider than standard tables at 32”.
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Somatic Therapy
Healing trauma at the root, somatic therapies can be used from a young age into adulthood. Our therapists integrate the body into sessions to restore ease, heal trauma, and build your sense of home in the body.
Love from real refuge patients in Bristol and Burlington, VT
“Today my 7-year-old asked me, "Did you just put an acupuncture patch on me? Cause I feel so calm." Rebecca has introduced Chinese Medicine to my kiddo in such a gentle and supportive way. It has helped M in her work of connecting her emotions to her body sensations and naming the type of support she needs.”
— Parent to a 7 year old, first-time in acupuncture
“Rebecca has been a beacon of support and nourishment throughout my pregnancy and postpartum time and I feel amazing in my body and relationships with my new baby and family. As a bonus, my severe chronic back pain disappeared after our first four sessions together, which is a miracle since I had spent 15 years and thousands of dollars to relieve this pain. I would recommend Rebecca to literally everyone.”
— I, new queer mama
“Rebecca is amazing at what they do. They are gentle, kind, caring and opened a safe space for me like no one I've ever met. I got tangible and very apparent results from my first session with Rebecca. My treatments were the best I've ever had.”
— H, neurodivergent young adult
“Rebecca is caring, professional, judgment-free, and incredibly helpful. This was my first time trying acupuncture and I worried about the pain of the pins. They worked at a pace that was supportive and with a growth mindset-- always with explicit consent-- and I credit my healing to that approach. I highly recommend Refuge Acupuncture especially if you are new and nervous about Chinese medicine, if you are queer, or if you need a trauma informed practitioner who can work at your own pace. They’re the best!”
— K, adult, first-time in acupuncture
Health for me used to mean a bandage here and there to keep me afloat. After receiving the kind, comprehensive, and competent care of Rebecca I began to witness a depth of healing and health I didn’t know possible. With Rebecca’s knowledgeable guidance, skillful practice, and gentle sessions I gained new understanding of how to access my own wellbeing in sustainable ways. With no exaggeration, I am in a completely new realm of health which has opened up my life for the living!”
— K, parent, first-time in acupuncture
“Rebecca is truly amazing with her work. They really connected well with my son and respected him and his needs and wants. They really listened to him. They have helped him to have more confidence and independence. The treatment process is really not hard, Rebecca has worked with us and my son to do what is easiest and what we are all most comfortable with. It hasn’t felt like too much pressure for us parents. I have noticed my son choosing to be better for himself, such as, what he eats, what he spends his time doing, taking care of his body, doing his own laundry… all by his choice, on his terms, which is really cool to see after struggling for so many years to even get him to take a shower. Which showering as well was a trigger for my son and now he does it on his own without me having to tell him to do it. He is really excelling in ways I did not even think were going to be possible after the trauma he’s endured and it’s really amazing to see. Thank you Rebecca for your help, dedication, and your guidance through this process!”
— L, first time in acupuncture, mother to a pre-teen
How to establish care
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First, book a Curiosity Call to ask your questions and see if we’re a good fit for you or your kiddo.
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Next, it’s time for your intake. We start with an 40 minute telehealth conversation followed by your first in-office treatment. Click here for an in-depth look at your first in-person visit.
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Then, you come in for weekly treatments. During the rest of the 167 hours of the week, you take your herbs, and try-on your body-positive food and movement care plan. We adjust as we go. Once you’ve seen significant improvement, we meet every other week and then once a month for preventive care.