Tara YG Welty, licensed and nationally certified acupuncturist in Parkersburg, West Virginia
 
 

Hello!
I’m often asked how I became an acupuncturist. It’s a story I call “spy doctor chef”. As a naive 17 year old entering college, my dream was to become a spy. I spent four years studying diplomacy, history and military strategy and loved every minute of it.

I then spent the next period of my life working in the upper end of the wine and restaurant business, learning what Anthony Bourdain calls “the soft skills recruiters talk about on LinkedIn- discipline, promptness, the ability to absorb criticism, and, most important, how to read people like a book.” A co-worker saw something in me that I couldn’t see myself and suggested medicine as a path- I immediately threw myself back into school for 2 1/2 years of pre-med science.

Once I had convinced myself that I could not only enjoy, but even excel at microbiology and organic chemistry, I had to make a choice. Would I pursue a conventional medical degree or strike out for the path less taken? All roads to becoming a practitioner of any stripe are difficult and demanding. I honor my Western medical colleagues for the path they chose and am grateful that I chose acupuncture. I often tell patients that we need to use both- they have different but complementary strengths and together they can effect great change and healing.

Spy doctor chef- being an acupuncturist takes all these paths and winds them together….gathering information, seeing patterns in seemingly disparate systems, and then choosing points carefully to craft a harmonious (palatable) treatment to address them. The ability of the human body to heal is wondrous, scientific and at times, even magical.

Acupuncture Education
I received my diploma in acupuncture from Ongiara College of Acupuncture in Ontario, Canada in September of 2012. Prior to attending acupuncture school, I logged over 1400 hours of postgraduate acupuncture education (long story) and completed a four year apprenticeship. I am also a NADA Acudetox specialist and trained at the Lincoln Recovery Center in the Bronx in June of 2009.

Other Education

  • B.S.F.S. in Diplomacy and International Security, Georgetown University, 1990

  • Plant Spirit Medicine practitioner training, 1999

  • Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner training, 2001

  • Jin Shin Jyutsu Self Help Instructor training, 2008

Professional Affiliations

  • Certified Practitioner Member, AOBTA (American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia), 9/08 to present

  • Licensed acupuncture practitioner, West Virginia Board of Acupuncture, 6/13 to present

  • Licensed acupuncture practitioner, Ohio Medical Board, 1/16 to present

  • Diploma of Acupuncture NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine), 1/15 to present

  • Board member, West Virginia Board of Acupuncture 3/16 to present

Teaching Experience

  • Adjunct faculty, Ongiara College of Acupuncture 2009-2012

  • Workshop facilitator, Healthy Living through the Seasons

  • Herbal Beer Brewing teacher and maven