Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Williams.
Hi Elizabeth, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My first career was as a music teacher. It was a very stressful job, and after a few years, I began suffering from digestive issues, fatigue, and depression. My doctor just wanted to give me pills to cover up the symptoms, but I knew intuitively that all my symptoms were related, and that there had to be a better way to treat them. This is what led me to try acupuncture for the first time.
I was so blown away by the results, and so fed up with my career at the time, that I decided to change course and go back to school to become an acupuncturist. After three years of school, and three board exams, I moved from New York City to Greenville to start my practice.
Between moving across the country, starting a new career in my 30s, and being a business owner, I had a lot on my plate. I had to figure out how to integrate into this new community, and how to reach people who were suffering to let them know how acupuncture could help them as it had helped me. In those first few years, it was definitely a 24/7 job. Figuring out how to run a wellness clinic, learning how to market in an authentic way, and taking advanced courses to learn more information that could better help my patients all kept me very busy.
A few months into my move, I met Kie, who is now my husband. He felt early on that there was something special about what I had created, and wanted to be a part of it. So, he went to school to become a massage therapist and joined me as co-owner of our practice, which we named Dragonfly Acupuncture & Massage, after the dragonflies that visited us on our 3rd date.
We’ve now built a thriving practice that supports us not only financially, but also soulfully. We both spent our lives managing anxiety, depression, overwhelm, stress and trauma, and have found acupuncture, massage, and other natural therapies to support us in finding some peace. Our intention every day is to create a nurturing, therapeutic, and non-judgmental space where people can let go of their stressors and find peace for themselves.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being a small business owner is never easy. A few months into my practice, I had a legit anxiety attack when I realized that what I had been doing wasn’t working, and I was at a crossroads. I could either put myself out there, stepping far outside my comfort zone as an introvert who deals with social anxiety, or go bankrupt and move back in with my parents with my tail between my legs.
So. I dove in headfirst. I took multiple courses and learned everything I could about how to market a wellness clinic. I signed up for events, networked, and handed out business cards – in my own awkward, introverted way. I studied online marketing as well, which ended up being a much better fit for me.
Over time, I figured out what works for me, and have come to actually enjoy building my business. It’s given me the opportunity to write and talk more about the things that I’m most passionate about. This helps like-minded people to find us, and it’s there that I make connections one-on-one with patients.
Running your own business is a labor of love, the challenges never end. But the rewards are well worth the effort.
As you know, we’re big fans of Dragonfly Acupuncture & Massage. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My husband, Kie, and I have been the owners of Dragonfly since 2015. I am an acupuncturist and Doctor of Chinese medicine, and Kie practices Esalen massage.
Esalen is a unique style of massage that hails from the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. It is a slow, mindful approach to bodywork, one that grounds and nourishes the client. Instead of forcing muscles to release with painful trigger point manipulation, this work uses long, smooth motions to calm the nervous system. Once you’re in “rest and repair” mode, the entire body releases on its own.
I have also gravitated towards more calming techniques in my acupuncture practice. I have training in several styles of Japanese acupuncture, which are more gentle and precise than the Chinese styles. This involves palpating the arms and legs, back and abdomen, and taking the pulse, all of which give me clues as to where my patient’s imbalances lie. I then use very gentle acupuncture techniques, as well as other modalities like cupping and moxibustion, to rebalance the body. I often prescribe personalized herbs, supplements, or exercises to patients as well, which gives them daily support in between treatments.
Our specialization, and our true passion, lies in treating stress, anxiety, trauma, and overwhelm – and all the emotional and physical symptoms that arise when we can’t relax. We have observed that more and more of our patients are coming in with symptoms of long-standing stress and overwhelm due to the pandemic. These symptoms can be as varied as headaches, neck and shoulder tension, digestive issues, infertility, back pain, or flare-ups of chronic health conditions, as well as more classic anxiety and mental health issues.
The most rewarding part of our practice is when patients and clients comment on how calm they feel just walking into our space, and the way they leave in a completely different headspace than they were in when they arrived.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
As a child, I was a music nerd and a bookworm. Being a shy introvert I often kept to myself, reading a book in the branches of our olive tree or practicing the flute in my room. I’ve always loved learning, whether it be about music, plants, or how the body works.
Not a year went by that I didn’t come down with some kind of infection and needed antibiotics. I remember my mom taking me to the doctor because I had been complaining about being tired. He couldn’t find anything wrong with me but prescribed a round of antibiotics – just in case. I took the first dose, and actually felt worse. That was the beginning of a curiosity about health and illness, and a lifelong journey for alternatives.
Pricing:
- Initial Acupuncture – $120
- Follow Up Acupuncture – $80
- 90 Minute Esalen Massage – $100
Contact Info:
- Email: wellness@carolinadragonfly.com
- Website: https://acupuncturecarolina.com
- Instagram: @dragonflyacupuncturemassage
Cecilia Kay Toms
November 4, 2021 at 3:24 pm
What a beautifully written article about a deservedly successful practice. Dragonfly visits brought me positive results in such a peaceful manner. Migraine headaches became fewer and far less
severe without aid of medication. I found Elizabeth a kind, patient and very knowledgeable professional. I always left after visiting Dragonfly with such a sense of peace!