The most important relationship I seek to nurture in the treatment room is the one a patient has with their own body. We live in a culture that teaches us to override pain, defer to outside authority, and push through discomfort. Patients often arrive hoping I can “fix” them, but the truth is, we can’t do the work for them. We can offer guidance, insight and support, but healing requires their full participation.
Tanya L. Carleton, LAc
Tanya Carleton is an assistant clinical supervisor and the academic dean at the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She also practices at the Wisdom of the Ancients Clinic in Denver.