Meet Joan Strawson

I am a licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac) with a special interest in treating chronic pain, acute sports injuries, and performance anxiety in competitive athletes. I graduated from the Maryland University of Integrative Health in 2016 with a Masters in Acupuncture and currently practice in both West Virginia and Maryland.

Prior to starting my career in acupuncture, I had a long career in biomedical/environmental science and law, earning Master’s Degrees in Toxicology and Scientific Communication as well as a Juris Doctor degree. My career in the sciences started as a technician in a National Institutes of Health laboratory. I worked as a Writer/Editor at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and as a Toxicologist for the Environmental Protection Agency. I eventually moved to an environmental non-profit organization where I continued to support the U.S. EPA as well as numerous State environmental agencies with scientific and legal analyses. However, I came to realize that I wanted to help people on a deeper level and chose acupuncture as the way to do this.

I have always been fascinated by the energetic side of life. In 1995, I began my studies of energy healing with several different people. I became certified in Healing Touch and spent some time volunteering to do Healing Touch in the outpatient surgery center of a local hospital. It was through exposure to the Chinese Martial Arts that I first started learning about qi and Chinese Medicine theory. I earned a black belt in a Chinese style called Shaolin-do and a 2nd degree black belt in the internal arts of tai chi, hsing I, and ba qua. I also trained in external qi gong with a master to learn to emit my qi from my body. Acupuncture was the natural next step in my training.

My mission is to bring relief to people suffering from chronic pain and anxiety. Through my personal experiences, I have learned that the body is wise and will move toward healing if given a chance. However, the body needs help to get the energy moving again. That’s where I come in! With the needles, I’ll start your energy moving while I hold a heart space for you to learn how to love and forgive yourself during healing the process. And even if the physical pain never completely disappears, I can promise that your relationship to the remaining pain will always change and you will be in a better place.

These days you can find me on the ballroom dance floor, where I love to compete in Pro-Am competitions with my professional dance partner. Or, on the back of a horse refreshing my dressage skills and planning my return to dressage competitions. At home, I love spending time snuggling with my dogs and cat and reading trashy romantic fiction (oh well, we all need a break now and
​then).
Would you like to meet with me to see if I can help you?
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Just request your free consultation so we can meet to discuss your case. It’s an honest, down-to-earth, no-pressure conversation in the office where I will listen to your story and review some basics about your medical history.

Once we’ve talked, if I truly feel confident that I can help you, you’ll have the opportunity to move forward and work with me to tackle your health challenges.

So, if you’re ready to explore YOUR possibilities for healing, request your free consultation now.

Your Initial Consultation is Free. Come meet us in person to learn more.

Or call us at 910-528-9768​ and we'll be happy to answer your questions.

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Joan Portrait Photo credit to: Judy Rosenfeld
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