Meet Ellis Sprecher (M.Ac.C.H.M., L.Ac., M.Ed.)(he/they)

For nearly 15 years, I lived with chronic illness and chronic pain. Navigating disability and trying to find care that respected me as a trans person led me to acupuncture and East Asian medicine. This medicine has helped me to come home to my body and recover in profound ways, and I am honored to support others on their own healing paths. 

Before attending acupuncture school, I trained in ear acupuncture with the NADA 5-Needle Protocol, supporting people in detox and nervous system regulation. In 2023, I completed my Master’s in Acupuncture at ASAOM in Tucson. I specialize in Japanese Meridian Therapy, a gentle style that uses fewer and thinner needles, and non-insertive tools to bring your body into balance, achieve symptom relief, and clear the way for deep healing. I feel especially drawn to treating pain, digestive issues, and complex chronic health issues like Lyme, Fibromyalgia, CFS, and Long COVID, as well as supporting patients in emotional processing and embodiment. I am excited to hold space for patients at Threshold and to work in an environment where we can all be our authentic selves.

Prior to training as an acupuncturist, I worked as a high school teacher and on organic vegetable farms. When I’m not working, I enjoy sewing, knitting, drawing, gardening, and being in nature. I grew up in Wisconsin and lived in Minneapolis until moving out west in 2015, and am happy to return and re-root! 

What first drew you to acupuncture?

I was drawn to acupuncture out of desperation because nothing else was helping me with my disabling chronic illness. I grew up in a family very averse to anything “alternative medicine” so it took some time and a lot of bad medical experiences to accept that I needed to find a different way forward. Acupuncture, herbs, food therapy, qi gong, and the process of becoming embodied have facilitated healing that I never thought would be possible for myself.

How would you describe your style as an acupuncturist?

My style is gentle, precise, and intuitive. I respond to exactly what your body is showing me in the present moment.

What does “trauma-informed” mean to you?

Communicating effectively about what to expect from treatment, asking for each person's boundaries and needs to feel as safe as possible during treatment. Communicating what I am doing and why, and inviting feedback and participation throughout the treatment process.

What are your goals when working with clients? 

I aim to create a collaborative relationship of care - helping patients find more bodily awareness and autonomy, giving them tools for self care that work for their lives, so that they have the power to shift long standing patterns that are contributing to cycles of illness and pain.

What do you wish more people understood about healing? 

This is something I have had to learn for myself and something I resisted for a long time: Healing is not about going to a healer and getting them to fix you. Healing is about getting support to facilitate what your body innately knows how to do. It’s important to have support, and at the same time we all need to find ownership over our own healing processes. 

Are there teachers, lineages, or traditions that inform your work? What do you hope to explore or deepen in your practice next year?  

I was very fortunate to learn Japanese Meridian Therapy in acupuncture school from my teacher Chilán Mustain. He trained in the Hari lineage of Japanese Meridian Therapy with  T. Koei Kuwahara. I am looking forward to further training in Japanese Meridian Therapy this year with the Hari Society to deepen my acupuncture practice. I also study Chinese Classical herbal medicine, with specific interest in Gu Syndrome formulas that treat complex chronic illness and parasites. 

What do you love about being an acupuncturist? 

Studying and practicing acupuncture and herbalism has shifted the way that I relate to my body and my world. It’s given me skills to take care of myself and others, increased my bodily autonomy, and decreased my reliance on a dysfunctional healthcare system that doesn’t have much to offer in the way of healing. I love inviting patients to tune into their bodies and start to develop a more loving relationship with themselves. I also just love acupuncture because it’s so effective!