A Healing Touch in Brookfield

Her search for self-healing is what inspired Alise Beccaria, owner of Lotus Flower Acupuncture Center in Brookfield, to pursue a career as an acupuncturist. Beccaria decided to see an acupuncturist in New York City as a last resort to treat on-going health problems related to infertility and endometriosis. "My first acupuncture treatment was in 2004," Beccaria explained, "I was so inspired by my treatments and my doctor, that by the fall of 2005, I was enrolled in school." In 2009, Beccaria graduated with her Masters in Science in Acupuncture from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in New York City.

Wasting no time, Beccaria opened her first office inside Carlson Physical Therapy at the Brookfield Medical Center in December of 2009.  Originally from Nanuet, NY, Beccaria moved to Brookfield with her husband in 2003.

"We love it here," said Beccaria, "The people are so open-minded and friendly. Before living here, I moved every two years, so I must like it to have stayed for so long." And it seems Brookfield has taken to Beccaria as much as she's taken to the town, since, according to her, "word of mouth" is the main component to her growing practice. "A patient referring a friend is the best referral," she said proudly. 

While interviewing Beccaria, she worked on first-time patient Kayla Plummer, of Brookfield. While she steadily and lightly tapped skinny needles into Plummer's back, Beccaria talked poetically about the benefits of acupuncture, explaining how the needles allow the qi (pronounced chee) energy to flow to areas of the body that are blocked.

"Where there is pain is where energy is not flowing," she explained, "Acupuncture un-blocks this energy." The World Health Organization agrees, recognizing acupuncture's ability to treat over 43 common disorders, including arthritis, insomnia and migraines. Most of Beccaria's patients come to her for stress and anxiety related issues. With a BA in psychology and plans to obtain her Masters, Beccaria is the acupuncturist to see in order to treat both the emotional and physical aspects of the body.

"I love the back story," said Beccaria, "We are all an accumulation of our every experience to-date."  She believes that negative emotions, such as unresolved grief or depression, need to be addressed alongside physical pain. Beccaria tackles the emotional struggles of her patients with a positive outlook. "We are all worthy of happiness," she said emphatically, "Life can be good — sometimes people just need to get out of their own way." Not only does Beccaria approach each patient holistically, but also puts her whole self into her practice, reflecting on her own personal struggles with much depth and optimism.

After surgery to remove two ovaries, Beccaria puts this experience in perspective, saying quite profoundly, "If I can't have children, then I can help other's to have children." Beccaria also volunteers much of her time to the community, most recently offering veterans a free treatment at No Place Like Om in Danbury. Beccaria also checks in with her patients after a treatment, to see how they're feeling and how they slept the night before. Being a licensed acupuncturist, Beccaria stressed the importance of knowing the difference between seeing someone who is certified as opposed to licensed.

While a certified acupuncturist completes much of their instruction via home-study and video training, the standards to becoming licensed are much more rigorous. A licensed acupuncturist is required to complete 2,700 hours of training in addition to treating 250 patients. They're also required to complete 60 continuing education credits each year.

Depending on the ailment, Beccaria says a patient should expect four treatments before reassessment. The first treatment takes one-and-one-half to two hours, and each treatment thereafter will take 45 minutes to one hour. The first visit is $95, and follow ups are $75. Some, but not all, insurance companies may cover the cost. Beccaria offers a super bill to be submitted to insurance companies.

As our interview wraps up, Beccaria removes the needles from Plummer's back, explaining how the back in a good place to begin someone's first treatment. The effect can be relaxing, with many patients falling asleep during the procedure. Beccaria creates a calming atmosphere for her patients, with soft music playing and a lavender pillow for their head. But it appears that Beccaria's own energy, of embracing the many layers of her patient, with optimism and hope, is the most important stress reliever of all.

Beccaria's practice, Lotus Flower Acupuncture Center, is located at 31 Old Route 7, inside Carlson Physical Therapy at the Brookfield Medical Center. Her hours are Monday and Thursday, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., or by appointment. To find out more, call 203-947-3542, or go to LotusFlowerAcupunctureCenter.com.

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