KRISTA OBENLOCK LAc
background, approach & training
From an early age, I have been deeply curious about the true essence of health
and the meaning of genuine healing.
This curiosity sparked my journey into studying the human mind and behavior, leading me to explore what I consider the most holistic framework of health: Chinese medicine.
Throughout my life, I have served as a bridge different forces, captivated by the relationships that exist among them. This fascination aligns with the Chinese medical approach, which acknowledges the interconnectedness of all things. Observations of natural world over centuries have resulted in a profound understanding of the human body and effective techniques that help restore our alignment with ourselves and our environment. My medical approach also emphasizes intersection and relationship, believing that and illness can coexist, depending on the balance between yin and yang form and function, body and mind, individual and community, and humanity and nature.
Central to my treatment philosophy is the empowerment the patient.
Chinese medicine encourages the body to heal itself without merely suppressing symptoms, fostering a sense of freedom from the cellular level all the way to interpersonal relationships. In Chinese medicine, we focus on treating individuals, not just their illnesses. This perspective allows me to interpret symptoms as messages the body communicates about its needs, and understand them within a larger pattern.
​
As a trauma-informed practitioner, I view my patients as the experts of their own experience.
​
I find joy in the diagnostic and discovery processes that unfolds within the therapeutic relationship. My doctoral work focused on the application of Chinese medicine to the treatment of psychoemotional states. The understanding that mind and body inseparable underpins the clinical efficacy of Chinese medicine in promoting mental wellness, serving as a primary lens through which I engage with my patients.
​
​
Endless Opportunities Await
Chinese medicine offers a holistic approach, making it capable of treating a wide range of conditions simultaneously. While we often concentrate on addressing specific symptoms, such as pain, one of its remarkable advantages lies in enhancing underlying physiological health, leading to systemic improvements that help us feel healthy, happy and whole.
That said, I have a special interest in treating certain conditions, including:
mental and emotional wellness
major life transitions
sleep / insomnia
chronic illness and mysterious symptoms
autoimmunity
postpartum healing
fertility and reproductive health
digestive health
chronic respiratory illnesses
acute physical injuries
post-surgical support
​
​​
Doctor of Science in Oriental Medicine
National University of Natural Medicine, Portland, Oregon
​
Doctoral-level education at NUNM includes a rigorous program in Classical Chinese translation and a clinical capstone project. Mine was titled "Rethinking Reality: Salutogenesis and the Depathologizing of Mental Variance in Classical Chinese Medicine".
Master of Science in Oriental Medicine
National University of Natural Medicine, Portland, Oregon
One of the distinguishing elements of NUNM's curriculum is its focus on "classical", as opposed to "traditional" Chinese medicine (TCM). The subject this distinction is most clearly seen is in the approach to herbal medicine. My teachers in this realm include Dr. Heiner Freuhauf, Joon Hee Lee L.Ac. and Michael Givens L.Ac., all of whom have a firm orientation toward Shanghan Lun theory and practice with varying degrees of modification.
​
As part of my master's education I traveled to China with Dr. Heiner Freuhauf, founder of NUNM's College of Classical Chinese Medicine and lineage holder of the Jin Jing Gong form of Qigong taught at NUNM. The trip's focus was on studying Paozhi - the art of fine-tuning medicinal qualities of herbs with specific cooking preparations - with China's leading expert in the subject, Dr. Hu.
​
Bachelor of Arts, Honours Psychology
Trinity Western University, Langley, British Columbia, Canada
​
Shen Hammer Pulse Diagnosis
I began studying the Shen Hammer system of contemporary pulse diagnosis under Brandt Stickley L.Ac. in 2013.
​
Holistic Pelvic Care™
I trained with Portland's own Tami Kent in her unique lineage of pelvic floor therapy known as Holistic Pelvic Care™ in 2017.
​
Bodywork Modalities
I learned craniosacral therapy and myofascial release under Michael McMahon, L.Ac. LMT, and sotai (a gentle Japanese form of somatic re-education) under Dr. Bob Quinn. More than just another skill set to offer patients, my training in these modalities has shifted the way I approach bodies in general, from diagnosis to treatment.
​
Oregon Medical Board | License #197250
National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Diplomate of Acupuncture | Certificate #171844
​
Oregon Association of Acupuncturists
Member of Oregon's state association