MONA CHOPRA, MA, MS
Licensed Acupuncturist & Hypnotherapist
…May the frightened cease to be afraid
And those bound be freed;
May the powerless find power
And may people think of benefiting each other.
— Shantideva
A roots & branches approach to healing
People Tree Wellness is a holistic health and healing practice founded upon the healing traditions of classical Chinese medicine, Buddhist meditation, yoga, and the practice of therapeutic hypnosis. Acupuncture, gua sha, cupping, hypnotherapy, EFT tapping, guidance in meditation, breathwork, yoga, qigong, lifestyle counseling, and "coaching the unconscious mind," are among the tools I use as part of the therapeutic process.
In my practice, I work on two levels - one is providing immediate relief, and the other is working to uncover and heal the underlying root causes of any imbalances that may exist. In Chinese medicine we call this treating the “branches” as well as the “roots.”
People Tree Wellness is built upon the understanding that while suffering is part of life, our capacity to heal is boundless — even in the midst of profound challenges, pain, illness, loss, injury, trauma; and no matter how stuck, how troubled, how distressed we may feel.
This belief is the water that nourishes the soil and deepens the roots of this practice, with each exchange, each needle, each word, each smile, each tear, each touch, each metaphor, each story, each session - by each person who walks through the door.
Treatments & Methods
I see people with a wide variety of concerns, and treat using different modalities according to what is most appropriate for the patient. In Chinese Medicine we don't treat the disease - we treat the person. While I work with people struggling with all kinds of conditions, here are the areas in which I specialize:
Acute and chronic pain
musculoskeletal - such as neck pain, back pain, knee pain, hip pain, shoulder, wrist, elbows, ankles, foot pain; joint pain due to arthritis; headaches; joint pain due to arthritis
pain due to autoimmune diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), cancer, visceral problems
Women’s health
irregular menses, painful periods, pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), pelvic pain, fertility challenges, support throughout pregnancy, labor preparation, post-partum care, hormonal imbalances, insomnia, peri-menopausal and menopausal symptoms, hot flashes
Emotional/mental health
anxiety, depression, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic stress, nervousness, feeling stuck, feeling creatively blocked, seeking greater confidence, seeking greater sense of vitality, phobias, addictions
Sexual health
low sex drive, painful sexual intercourse, vaginismus, vulvodynia, persistent sexual arousal, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation
Other areas of care …
Digestive health
constipation, diarrhea, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, acid reflux, gastritis
Respiratory / Immune health
allergies, asthma, bronchitis, cough, sinusitis, autoimmune conditions
Supportive care for cancer patients
symptoms associated with chemotherapy treatment, such as nausea, neuropathies; energy and mood imbalances, pre- and post- surgical care, scar treatments
Neurological
post-stroke; Parkinson's disease; Bell’s Palsy
Post-COVID ("long haulers”)
low energy, shortness of breath, difficulty exercising, brain fog, body aches, mood disturbances, digestive upset, blood circulation abnormalities, POTS, PTSD.
Preventative medicine
i.e. stay well treatments
treatments focus on balancing the Qi in order to optimize a person's energy (physical and mental-emotional) enhance immunity and feelings of well-being
Acupuncture
There are hundreds of acupuncture points on the body, each with specific functions and effects, and every particular combination of points has its own unique effects as well.
Hypnotherapy
In hypnotherapy, a person is guided into inner states of being that allow for access to deeper parts of themselves - parts that in our conscious, waking state, are often kept underground.
Gua sha & Cupping
Gua sha and cupping are traditional healing methods to improve circulation, promote the flow of qi (vital energy) and blood, stretch fascia, relax muscles, and relieve pain.
EFT
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), also known as the tapping technique, works to clear blockages, alleviate emotional distress and reduce physical pain.
Listen to your patient and you will hear the diagnosis.
- Hippocrates
A word from Mona…
In my practice, I strive to see, understand, and treat each person as a unique individual, whose body-mind-spirit are all integral to the healing process.
If I were to sum up what I aspire to do in all my therapeutic work, I would say that first and foremost, I listen. I listen with my heart, with my mind, I listen with my hands. I listen to the words you are saying, the story you are sharing, the symptoms you are reporting, and, I listen for how you are saying it - the energy that is present and what the body is saying - which can reveal so much.
I am listening for where there may be imbalances or blockages in the system (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual), and, I am listening for where there are strengths and where your deepest resources reside. I am sensing into what is present and what is needed to best support you in moving out of difficult places, into healing and into your deepest well-being.
I love and am passionate about this work that I do! The tools I use in my practice - acupuncture, hypnotherapy, meditation, yoga, EFT tapping - have been fundamental to my own healing process. In my early 20s, when the specter of neurosurgery loomed over me, I received my first acupuncture treatment, and without realizing it at this time, the course of my life began to change.… Through acupuncture and other natural methods, I was able to avoid neck surgery and the possibility of a lifetime of medications.
One of the great blessings in my life has been finding this path that enables me to support others along their healing journeys. To learn more about me and the work I do, please explore my site and feel free to email or call me if you have any questions.
We have only begun
to imagine the fullness of life…
So much is unfolding that must
complete its gesture,
so much is in the bud.
- Denise Levertov