Being both a patient and a volunteer at Heart & Hands has been an enriching and pivotal experience for me
I first started coming to Heart & Hands in 2014 when I was experiencing chronic adrenal fatigue and the accessible model made it possible to receive treatment on a more consistent basis.
I remained a regular client over the years, and in 2018, after leaving a chapter of my life that left me feeling burnt out, Heart & Hands’ importance in my life grew considerably. At that time I felt called to return to an environment that better supported my values as well as a positive outlet for giving back to our community. It was at this time that I was finally ready to join the Heart & Hands volunteer team.
The accessible community model provides a special setting to share space with others, and despite each person going through their own experiences and their own stories, I feel there is a profound collective energy that would otherwise not exist in a private clinic setting.
I feel that over time, receiving weekly community acupuncture sessions has allowed me to access a deeper level of healing. Not only on a physical level, but on emotional and spiritual levels too. The opportunity to regularly access the meditative, internal, restful space is so very important to me as it has allowed me to build a deeper sense of body awareness, a place to practice self-compassion, and an hour out of my day to rest and to dream.
I feel deeply grateful to be apart of a community that practices care and compassion, on a personal level as well towards others around us. Being both a patient and a volunteer at Heart & Hands has been an enriching and pivotal experience for me.
B.D.