Think about visiting an area where the tension of your day fades away. You settle into a comfortable chair, relax, and feel as if you’re on a beachside retreat.
Now imagine this not on vacation, but in McKinney, Texas. Changing lives since 2016 is Beachside Community Acupuncture. Beachside isn’t just a clinic; it’s a movement, founded by licensed acupuncturist Kathleen (Ellerie) Ketola.
A space where healing becomes affordable, approachable, and deeply personal.
This is the story of a clinic that set out to heal not just bodies, but also communities. And it’s an invitation to you to consider that health, vitality, and peace of mind may be closer and more accessible than you think.
The Vision: Health for Everyone
Beachside Community Acupuncture was founded on five powerful tenets that reflect both its mission and its heart:
1. Every individual should be their own health advocate.
2. The path to health shouldn’t be a secret.
3. Everyone should have access to affordable holistic medicine.
4. The beach can heal aches of the body, mind, and soul.
5. It is our duty to preserve beaches for future generations.
Each one of these principles carries a depth that resonates. Think about it: how often does the modern health system leave people feeling powerless, like passengers on a journey they don’t fully understand?
Kathleen wanted to change that narrative. She wanted people not only to receive treatment but also to understand their bodies, their choices, and their healing potential.
And affordability? That’s not just a welcome bonus; it’s essential. Many people skip acupuncture and other holistic therapies because of cost, resigning themselves to chronic discomfort or stress.
Beachside flips that idea on its head with a sliding-scale payment system, ensuring that treatments are available to all, regardless of income. At Beachside, the amount you pay never affects the quality or length of your care.
It’s healing without barriers.
Meet the Healer: Kathleen (Ellerie) Ketola
Kathleen’s journey is an inspiring one. With degrees in Nutritional Sciences and Biology from the University of Florida, followed by a Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and a Bachelor of Health Science from the Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine, she has both the academic rigor and the lived passion for holistic health.
She’s licensed in both Florida and Texas, a Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, and a NADA-trained Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist. But beyond the certifications, what stands out most about Kathleen is her mission-driven heart.
She saw firsthand how many people were priced out of wellness and knew she had to create a different kind of space.
Her philosophy extends beyond needles and meridians. She’s a wellness educator, an author, and a speaker. Her book, “Healing Beachside: Making Natural Health as Easy as a Beach Vacation,” offers practical, everyday ways to weave wellness into daily life.
And her blog, consistently ranked among the Top 50 Traditional Chinese Medicine Blogs worldwide, continues to spread knowledge about acupuncture, herbal medicine, diet therapy, and holistic living.
In short, Kathleen is a voice of calm and empowerment in a noisy, confusing health world.
The Beachside Difference
If you’ve ever visited a traditional acupuncture clinic, you might expect a private treatment room, a clinical setting, and a hefty bill at the end. Beachside breaks that mold entirely.
Here, treatment is community-based. Patients receive acupuncture in a shared, open space. This is not just a cost-saving measure; it’s also deeply rooted in the history of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In China, acupuncture has long been practiced in groups so that patients can share in the energy of collective healing. At Beachside, this spirit is alive and well.
The environment is tropical, a mini-vacation for body and mind. Patients often stay for an hour, sometimes falling asleep as their bodies recalibrate.
Stress melts away, replaced with the kind of peace that lingers long after the session ends.
And then there’s accessibility. With the sliding scale model, patients choose what they can pay, usually between $25 and $50.
The result? Acupuncture is not only effective but also consistent, since people can afford to return for the number of sessions they need.
It’s not surprising that Beachside has been repeatedly recognized, winning Top Rated Local’s “Best Acupuncture in Texas” in 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
The Healing Power of Acupuncture
If you’ve never tried acupuncture, you might wonder what all the fuss is about. Tiny, hair-thin needles? How could that possibly make a difference?
The truth is, acupuncture works on multiple levels. Acupuncture can relieve chronic pain and improve digestion and metabolism by stimulating specific points along the body’s energy pathways.
* Relieve chronic pain (back, neck, migraines, arthritis).
* Improve digestion and metabolism.
* Reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
* Support fertility and reproductive health.
* Enhance sleep quality.
* Boost the immune system.
* Encourage deep relaxation and balance.
Modern research has validated much of what practitioners have known for thousands of years: acupuncture taps into the nervous system, releases endorphins, reduces inflammation, and improves circulation.
Perhaps the most profound effect is the shift in perspective it offers. Patients often describe leaving Beachside feeling not just physically better, but emotionally lighter, more grounded, and more present.
More Than Needles: A Full Spectrum of Healing
Beachside doesn’t stop at acupuncture. Kathleen’s passion for holistic living extends into multiple avenues:
* Herbal Medicine: Custom blends based on TCM principles support the body’s natural healing processes.
* Nutritional Guidance: Drawing on her background in Nutritional Sciences, Kathleen helps patients connect the dots between diet and wellness.
* Essential Oils & Lifestyle Practices: Simple, everyday rituals that encourage balance and calm.
* Educational Resources: From her book to her blog, Kathleen empowers patients to become their health advocates.
This multi-dimensional approach means patients aren’t just treated; they’re taught. They leave with practical tools to continue their healing outside the clinic.
The Beachside Ripple Effect
The beauty of Beachside is that its impact stretches far beyond McKinney. Every treatment contributes to a bigger mission. Ten percent of profits are donated to marine conservation.
In other words, while patients are healing their bodies, they’re also helping to heal the planet’s oceans.
Your health, your community’s health, and the planet’s health are all interconnected.
That ripple effect shows up in other ways, too. Beachside patients often leave not only healthier but also inspired to live fuller, more intentional lives.
They share their energy with loved ones, workplaces, and communities. One person’s healing becomes a catalyst for many.
Wellness Waves: Simple Tips for Everyday Balance
Beachside’s philosophy is that wellness should feel as natural and refreshing as a beach vacation. That means simplicity matters.
Here are three “beach-inspired” wellness tips Kathleen often shares:
1. Breathe like the ocean. Deep, rhythmic breathing can regulate your nervous system in minutes. Imagine waves rolling in and out; inhale deeply, exhale fully.
2. Ground yourself daily. Walking barefoot on grass, soil, or sand has been shown to reduce inflammation and improve mood. It’s a free and powerful way to reconnect with your body.
3. Hydrate wisely. Water is life. Staying hydrated improves circulation, supports digestion, and keeps skin glowing. Add a squeeze of lemon for an alkaline boost.
Small steps, big changes, that’s the Beachside way.
The Right Time to Heal? It’s Always Now
The truth is, wellness doesn’t wait. Stress, pain, and imbalance have a way of building quietly until they spill over into every area of life. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Acupuncture and holistic medicine offer a path back to balance, energy, and peace of mind.
Beachside Community Acupuncture isn’t promising a magic wand; it’s offering something better. A safe, affordable, and proven way to support your body’s innate ability to heal.
And perhaps most importantly, it’s offering an experience. A chance to slow down, breathe deeply, and feel like you’ve just taken a beach vacation without leaving Texas.
The Beachside Takeaway
Beachside Community Acupuncture is more than a clinic. It’s a sanctuary, a teacher, a ripple-maker, and a force for positive change. Founded on principles of accessibility, empowerment, and environmental stewardship, it continues to transform lives, one needle, one breath, and one wave of healing energy at a time.
If you’ve been searching for a fresh approach to wellness, maybe it’s time to dip your toes in. Your body has the wisdom to heal. Beachside is here to show you how to achieve wellness.
