About acupuncture

Acupuncture is a widely practiced therapeutic modality with a long history of use throughout the world in many cultures. Licensed acupuncturists use very fine, sterile, single-use needles that are inserted superficially at specific points on the body. The goal of treatment is to support the body’s natural regulatory processes and overall balance. Acupuncture is generally considered low-risk when performed by a properly trained and licensed practitioner. It is commonly used alongside conventional medical care.

Over the past several decades in the United States, acupuncture has become increasingly integrated into a variety of healthcare settings. A growing body of peer-reviewed research has examined its use for a range of conditions, particularly pain-related concerns and stress-related symptoms. As with many healthcare interventions, researchers continue to study how it works and for whom it may be most helpful.

People seek acupuncture care for many reasons, including support with pain, stress management, sleep, mood, digestion, menstrual concerns, and general well-being. Acupuncture is typically delivered as a series of treatments, and frequency can be an important part of a care plan. Many practitioners observe that effects may build gradually over time, particularly for long-standing or chronic concerns.

During treatment, it is common to feel deeply relaxed. Some people describe sensations of heaviness, warmth, tingling, or sleepiness. In our clinic’s community setting, you may find neighbors, coworkers, friends, and strangers resting quietly together. The shared space creates a calm, collective atmosphere where people can take time to pause, reset, and care for themselves.

What is community acupuncture?

Community acupuncture is a model of acupuncture care designed to make treatment accessible and affordable. It differs from the traditional private practice model primarily in its setting, cost structure, and priority of remaining equitable.

In a conventional private practice, treatments are typically provided one-on-one in a private room. Community acupuncture clinics, by contrast, provide treatments in a shared, group setting. Patients relax in comfortable reclining chairs rather than private treatment tables. This approach reduces overhead expenses and allows practitioners to treat several people at the same time, which helps keep costs lower per treatment. Although treatments take place in a shared space, each session is individually tailored. Patients remain fully clothed—usually just removing shoes and socks and rolling up sleeves or pant legs. Acupuncture points on the hands, feet, legs, arms, abdomen, and head are commonly used in this setting.

Community acupuncture is rooted in principles of accessibility, social equity, trauma-informed care, and community-based public health. By lowering the cost per visit, community acupuncture makes it more feasible for people to come as often as they feel is helpful for their individual goals and circumstances. This approach supports a practical, down-to-earth culture of care- one in which acupuncture is not viewed as a luxury experience, but as something that can be woven into everyday life. When treatments are costly, they can become occasional or “special-occasion” visits for people on tighter budgets. That kind of spacing may make it difficult to establish a steady rhythm of care. Acupuncture is traditionally delivered as a series of treatments, and many practitioners observe that changes often unfold gradually over time. Regular visits can allow the body space and consistency to adjust, rather than relying on a single session here and there.

While we love community acupuncture and are therefore biased to it, some people may want or need a private setting.

We do not offer private room treatments at this time, sorry!
In the future we may have semi-private treatments available outside of regular clinic hours. Why? Because it would greatly increase the price to provide 1:1 care, because we love seeing a full room of people resting together, and because the quality of care is not dependent on the amount of time we have together!

Private room treatments could be considered an accessibility accommodation - there is certainly a population of people that don't feel safe resting with a group of strangers. And that is OK! Community acupuncture works to be as accessible to as many people as possible, with specific boundaries and guidelines to make that possible. This will not be the right place for every person, and we acknowledge that you may desire or require care beyond our capacity; beyond the container of our community acupuncture practice. Here are some of the most notable differences between the two, for you to make a more educated decision for yourself.

Community Acupuncture Norms

• Prices range nationally from $25-$80 per treatment

• Clinics are often street-level and publicly visible

• Patients stay clothed

• Use of recliners and zero gravity chairs for treatment, massage tables on occasion

• Needles are applied quickly, with minimal additional stimulation.

• Often less focus on limiting your resting time in the clinic

• Group setting, seated together in open rooms

• Often needle-only treatment rather than incorporate other modalities

• Sometimes sell herbal formulas (depends on clinic)

• Traditionally do not make lifestyle or diet recommendations

• No heat lamps

• Treatments are based in Trauma Informed Care

• Short, to-the-point health intake

• Ease of same-day appointment often availability

• Usually don't use back points at all

• Collaborative: Patient and acupunk-turist work together

• Clinic is usually furnished in a simple and cozy style - down to earth, living room type atmosphere

Private Room Norms

• Prices that average from $120-$300 per treatment

• Offices are often private and hidden away out of public eye

• Allow, suggest, or require full undressing

• Standard use of massage tables for treatment

• Practitioner has more time to manipulate and stimulate the needles.

• Alone in private room, or diving curtains

• More commonly use other Traditional Chinese Medicine

  modalities: wet and dry cupping, moxa, gua sha

• Sell and recommend herbal formulas more often

• May recommend lifestyle, diet, or other health recommendations

• Sometimes use heat lamps

• May or may not practice Trauma Informed Care

• Lengthy and in-depth health intake

• Can be difficult or unable to book day-of

• Utilize points on the back often

• Often top-down, practitioner makes a "diagnosis" and dictates the terms

• Office/Clinic setting can range from upscale setting, to spa atmosphere, to clinical/medical feel

Community Setting VS Private Room

This community clinic is a labor of love and expression of hope for our collective future. CGA wants to model what equitable everyday care can look like, and inspire other wellness practitioners (especially acupuncturists) to consider following suit-- however they are able to create more accessible, equitable treatments within their practices.

Ari began this project in 2020- visioning, studying, researching, writing, making, saving, shopping, filling out paperwork, memorizing points on the body as if it was a subway map of NYC, and endlessly scheming plans. She has put her whole heart and even some blood sweat and tears into creating this clinic- a place to experience the healing power of community acupuncture.

Common Good Acupuncture is a PLLC. It does not receive state, national, public or private funding. CGA does not have shareholders or investors. The clinic operates solely off of payments from treating patients, occasional workshops, and a small selection of wellness items for sale.
CGA welcomes windfalls of money in the form of grants and gifts. With excess funds, we'd like to initiate community acupuncture pop-ups, frequent free treatment days, individual free treatment passes, and special community events.
More than anything else we would love your attendance at the clinic, so that you can offer a genuine recommendation to everyone you know!

We are interested in connecting with local health care providers, medical clinics, corporate wellness programs, community efforts & establishments, support groups, and mutual aid groups. We gladly accept referrals -- If you would like to offer our business card to your patrons, please stop by in person to grab some, or contact us if you would like more than 20 cards.

We currently have limited availability for off-site private pop-up group acupuncture offerings and private wellness events from 4-30 people. Read more here to book your own group acupuncture event.

CGA is proudly modeled after the Working Class Acupuncture clinic in Portland, Oregon. We are a member of the POCA Co-Op, which supports and furthers the cause of affordable acupuncture and loosely affiliates us with other community acupuncture clinics across the country.

Resident AcuPunk & Clinic Owner

Arielle
Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac) in the State of New York

About
Arielle loves acupuncture because of its enormous range of applications, while remaining a poetic, simple, cheap health intervention. Leading with curiosity and a nonjudgmental agenda for collaboration, she is a technique nerd and enjoys trying different approaches to acupuncture. She believes affordable acupuncture has wide-scale potential to change many lives, for the better.

Ari proudly comes from a lineage of women whose primary work tools feature scissors and needles. Previous to acupuncture, she spent 10 years as a creative freelancer in NYC and remains to be a life-long artist of many mediums: Textiles, costume & apparel, ceramics, jewelry, painting, graphic design, organization, and sculpture. Her favorite things are learning, the ocean, Italian pastry, humor, time with friends in the sun, tale sales, and clothing swaps.

Education
Oregon College of Community Acupuncture, Master's Certificate July 2025

Rhode Island School of Design, BFA Printmaking 2010