Meet Gail Cole of Acupuncture For All Decatur

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gail Cole.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Gail. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am the accidental owner of Acupuncture For All Decatur.

I am a Massage Therapist and love my work. I have practiced in Atlanta and Decatur for over 15 years. Rita Mathis, LCSW (clinical social worker), and I share a vision of a healing and wellness space that would include Massage Therapy and Mental Health Services, as well as acupuncture, chiropractic, naturopathic and allopathic medicine, yoga, art and music. Our vision is for a community of health where different companies and individuals join together in a loose coalition of support and healing. We call our vision “We Envision Wholeness”. In 2014, we found an office suite to share in downtown Decatur. We had the Mental Health Counseling Services and the Massage Therapy. We were creating our vision.

I became a believer in acupuncture in 2003. I was in my early 40s and in relatively good health. I took thyroid medicine, wore glasses to drive, and wore hearing aids in both ears. My acupuncturist, Dr. Li Liu, explained that the weakness in my thyroid was not the problem, but a symptom of an imbalance in my kidney chi. After one particular treatment, I placed my hearing aids in my ears and put on my glasses. The world was very loud and my eyesight was blurry. I took out my left hearing aid and I could hear very well. I took off my glasses, and I could see clearly. Dr. Liu said that the eyes, ears, and thyroid were all on the same meridian. I was amazed. I have not worn a hearing aid in my left ear since 2003.

I received acupuncture treatments over the years from several different acupuncturists. My body responded well. I felt that I could benefit more from regular and frequent treatments but found the cost prohibitive. Then I heard about Community Acupuncture from Leena Cook in Lawrenceville, GA. In Leena’s acupuncture clinic, she not only has private rooms, but also a shared space where several people can receive treatment at the same time. The shared space keeps the treatments affordable. Although Community Acupuncture is popular all around the country, Leena was the first to offer it in Georgia.

Community Acupuncture seemed like the perfect addition to our We Envision Wholeness community. I asked, begged, and pleaded for Leena Cook to open an office in Decatur. As it turns out, Decatur is not convenient for Leena. I spoke with several other acupuncturists to see if they would like to bring Community Acupuncture to Decatur. For a variety of reasons, it was not the right time for anyone to embark on this vision.

In December, 2014, I woke up one morning and knew I was supposed to open a Community Acupuncture Clinic. I hit the ground running and opened Acupuncture For All Decatur on March 1, 2015. The We Envision Wholeness community was growing.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been a few bumps in the road.

I had really not planned on opening a second business, but just knew it was the right thing to do. I figured if it was the right thing, then everything would work out.

In 2012, I had returned to school to complete my long-delayed bachelor’s degree. I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Agnes Scott College in May, 2014, just eight months before I decided to open Acupuncture For All Decatur. Needless to say, my savings account was not prepared for a new business. I shared my vision with others and was able to raise the modest start-up costs through Indiegogo crowd funding. Having already committed to the office space, it was a great leap of faith.

I also knew nothing about running an acupuncture clinic. I found the acupuncture community to be very generous with sharing knowledge. Leena Cook sat down with me and helped me create a list of everything we would need. Her advice was invaluable, and reinforced my belief that those of us in the healing professions are not in competition but rather in collaboration with each other.

Finding the right acupuncturists was also a huge learning curve. In my previous experience in the corporate world. I had interviewed potential staff but was never the final word. I received several applications for part-time acupuncturist. Each interview went well and I thought I had found the right person until I sat with it for a day and felt more uncomfortable about each applicant. I was frustrated and thought I would not be able to open at the scheduled time.

Just when I thought I would just pick a name out of a hat, I got an inquiry and resume from Dr. Yiming Lin. When I read his resume, my hands began to shake. I could hardly breathe. He was the one. We met and I hired him on the spot. Several days later, I received the resume from Dr. Judy Yu. I had a similar response and again hired her at our first meeting. The two acupuncturists brought over 40 years of acupuncture and medical experience.

With each leap of faith, the landing was gentle.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Acupuncture For All Decatur – what should we know?
Acupuncture For All Decatur is a community acupuncture practice, which is a group setting. All sessions are in a spacious room shared by up to four patients. Our acupuncturists use Traditional Chinese Medicine, which includes acupuncture, herbs, and cupping. Both of our acupuncturists are trained in China and have combined experience of over 45 years.

We specialize in offering comprehensive treatments at an affordable price. Each patient receives a treatment specific to their needs. Our prices for each session are $35-$55 sliding scale. The amount paid is determined by the patient. We are so proud to make acupuncture available to people who otherwise would not be able to afford this incredible healing option.

We really feel like we are creating a community. We received help from the community to raise funds for the start-up costs of the clinic and we are giving help every day with our affordable treatments. Part of our vision is to make Alternative Healing modalities available to ALL people.

As part of the We Envision Wholeness community, Acupuncture For All Decatur is joined with Rita Mathis, LCSW, who offers sliding scale mental health services, All Shall Be Well which offers Cranio-Sacral therapy at a reduced sliding scale, and my own massage therapy practice. In my 16 years of experience, I have never turned anyone away who could not afford my regular or discounted rates. We believe Alternative Medicine is not an alternative if it is not affordable.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The characteristic that is most important to our success is our devotion to serve. We are honored when patients come to us for their health needs. We are committed to listening to each patient and offering our experience and knowledge.

We believe that our primary purpose is to assist patients with their health. Sometimes we will be able to work directly with them for their goals. Other times, Acupuncture For All Decatur may not be the best place for treatment. We have a list of referrals on our website to empower people to find the best fit for their healthcare.

Pricing:

• Single Acupuncture Treatments: $35 – $55 sliding scale (You pick the amount that is right for you)
• Package of four Treatments to be used within 30 days: $120
• Cupping (as a stand-alone treatment or combined with a paid acupuncture treatment): $30
• Payment is by cash/check in the office. Credit Cards may be used online at our website.

Contact Info:

• Address: 235 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 314, Decatur, GA, 30030
• Website: www.acupunctureforalldecatur.com
• Phone: 404-800-5422
• Email: info@acupunctureforalldecatur.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcupunctureForAllDecatur/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/acupuncture-for-all-decatur-decatur?osq=acupuncture
• Other: www.weenvisionwholeness.com

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.