Claire Pallandre, L.Ac. has been delivering warm and compassionate community acupuncture for many years now. So of course we are thrilled to see that she is back in the community room for the winter season! In this Q+A, we sat down with Claire and learned about her love for community acupuncture, group healing, and more.

You’ve been offering Community Acupuncture with Mend since 2015. What is it about community acu that you love?

Simply, I love the community aspect. I love observing the trends in symptoms that show up. It feels like reading the pulse of Baltimore sometimes. A warm day in January will often bring about more anxious symptoms while a blustery day will often bring neck and shoulder stiffness.

Community acupuncture differs from One on One in that the treatment is shared in the same space with others. What are your thoughts on this kind of group healing?

I think healing in a group setting is a powerful thing. Healing doesn’t always need to occur separate from others. I find the value and need of community healing has only magnified since the pandemic has impacted our levels of depression, stress and anxiety.

Outside of Mend, I lead meditations and I’ve often observed that there is a collective sink – a way in which many are able to meditate more deeply in the company of others. I find this to be true in the community acupuncture room, as well. In this way, it’s not just my acupuncture but the actual group participating in a collective healing. And to be a witness to that is a beautiful thing.

Why did you become an acupuncturist? What drew you to the profession?

I became an acupuncturist because I love the way one can touch pain and nudge profound healing. I also love how creative and flexible one can design their practice of acupuncture to be. I currently offer meditations at Kolmac Outpatient Recovery Center, I offer community acupuncture at Mend, see private clients and in the process of designing meditation & movement classes.

In my mid 20’s, I was working at the Living Classrooms Foundation and I had the most amazing boss. On her 50th birthday she generously treated all 5 of her staff to a massage. I chanced on acupuncture instead and fell in love. At the time I was definitely going through an awkward emotional growth spurt and I was amazed at how deeply touched, how powerful yet simultaneously how simple the treatment was. After that experience, it felt like a magnetic pull towards acupuncture. Everything seemed to just line up and the decision to start acupuncture school in 2007 seemed to be one of the easiest and most clear choices I’ve ever made. I then mentored under Bob Duggan, a very wise and kind man and the founder of the school. He has a TED talk I highly recommend.

What are you passionate about these days?

What a great question. I’m just going to shotgun this answer.

  • I’m passionate about the environment.
  • I’m passionate about breathwork and movement healing practices.
  • I’m passionate about farming and gardening, both in my own garden and observing what’s happening globally.
  • I’m passionate about eating food that was cooked with love and is alive.
  • I’m passionate about finding and creating ways to creatively and authentically connect with others.