Business Details
40 Years
experience
Your Trusted Acupuncture & Holistic Health Partner in Santa Cruz
I am a licensed acupuncturist and somatic experiencing practitioner with over 40 years of experience in integrative healthcare. Since establishing my practice in Santa Cruz in 1986, I have combined traditional acupuncture, Chinese medicine, and functional medicine with mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and trauma-informed approaches to address chronic health conditions. My expertise lies in treating autoimmune thyroid disorders like Hashimoto's thyroiditis, recognizing the profound connection between long-term stress, trauma, and chronic disease states. As someone living with Hashimoto's myself, I bring both professional insight and personal understanding to my practice. I emphasize patient education through resources like my websites, which provide self-care strategies developed over 28 years of clinical practice.My approach integrates somatic experiencing techniques to address developmental trauma, clinical hypnotherapy, and nutritional counseling to support the body's natural healing processes. I collaborate with other healthcare professionals to create comprehensive treatment plans for complex health challenges. My practice philosophy centers on empowering individuals to reclaim their health through a holistic understanding of mind-body connections. I maintain active participation in continuing education, including specialized training in trauma treatment from pioneers like Peter Levine. Ultimately, my practice aims to help patients navigate the intersection of chronic illness, stress management, and trauma recovery through personalized, compassionate care.
Services
Acupuncture
Functional Medicine
Somatic Experiencing
Thyroid Treatment
Autoimmune Support
Stress Management
Herbal Therapy
Nutritional Counseling
Trauma Support
Chronic Disease Management
Details
- Year established: 1986
Highlights and features
- We offer 40+ years of experience in integrative healthcare and acupuncture
- Our practice specializes in autoimmune thyroid condition treatment
- We combine multiple modalities including somatic experiencing and functional medicine
- Our practitioner has personal experience with Hashimoto's thyroiditis
- We provide comprehensive patient resources including assessment forms and self-care guides
Services
Acupuncture
Acupuncture treatments integrate traditional Chinese medicine with modern functional medicine approaches to address chronic health conditions. This therapy works by stimulating specific points on the body to improve energy flow, reduce inflammation, and support the body's natural healing processes. Particularly effective for stress-related disorders and chronic pain management, our acupuncture sessions are tailored to each patient's unique health profile and treatment goals.
Functional Medicine
Functional medicine addresses root causes of chronic illness through personalized treatment plans combining nutritional therapy, herbal medicine, and lifestyle modifications. This approach examines how factors like gut health, food sensitivities, and hormonal imbalances contribute to autoimmune conditions and chronic disease. By integrating laboratory testing with patient history, we develop comprehensive strategies to restore physiological balance and improve overall wellness.
Somatic Experiencing
Somatic Experiencing is a body-awareness approach to trauma recovery developed by Dr. Peter Levine. This therapy helps regulate the nervous system by addressing developmental trauma and chronic stress patterns stored in the body. Through gentle exploration of physical sensations and subtle movements, patients learn to release trauma-induced tension and develop greater resilience to stress triggers.
Thyroid Treatment
Specialized thyroid treatment focuses on autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto's thyroiditis using integrative approaches. Combining conventional diagnostics with functional medicine strategies, we address underlying factors contributing to thyroid dysfunction including gut health, nutritional deficiencies, and chronic stress. Treatment plans incorporate dietary modifications, targeted supplementation, and stress management techniques to support optimal thyroid function.
Autoimmune Support
Autoimmune support programs address chronic inflammation and immune system dysregulation through comprehensive, individualized care. Our approach combines dietary interventions, stress reduction techniques, and targeted nutritional support to modulate immune responses. By addressing gut health, food sensitivities, and trauma-related stress patterns, we help patients manage symptoms and improve quality of life while working toward long-term immune system balance.
People
Lela C Carney, LAc
Licensed Acupuncturist and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner
Licensed since 1983 with over 40 years of clinical experience, Lela C. Carney integrates acupuncture, functional medicine, and trauma-informed therapies. Specializing in autoimmune conditions and stress-related illnesses, she brings personal insight as someone living with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Her practice emphasizes mind-body connections and patient empowerment through education.
Questions
What services do you offer for chronic health conditions?
We offer acupuncture, functional medicine, and somatic experiencing therapies to address chronic conditions like autoimmune diseases, thyroid disorders, and stress-related illnesses.
How do you approach thyroid health treatment?
Our thyroid treatment combines functional medicine diagnostics with personalized nutrition plans, stress management techniques, and acupuncture to address autoimmune thyroid conditions like Hashimoto's.
What experience do you have with trauma-informed care?
We specialize in somatic experiencing therapy developed by Peter Levine, with advanced training in addressing developmental trauma and its impact on chronic health conditions.
How can I prepare for my first appointment?
Download and complete patient forms from our website, prepare a list of current medications, and be ready to discuss your health history and treatment goals.
Do you accept insurance for acupuncture treatments?
We recommend contacting your insurance provider directly to verify acupuncture coverage, as policies vary widely regarding alternative medicine services.
