May 15, 2017

Meet Dalit Waller of Harvard Square Community Acupuncture

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dalit Waller.

Dalit, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have been working in Health care since 1989, and as an Acupuncturist since 2009. When I was in acupuncture school I started reading about ‘community acupuncture’ as a way to make acupuncture affordable for many people. I got very excited about this idea. I started doing community acupuncture in 2010 to learn the ropes.

In 2013 I started looking for space and then gave up, so I continued working in another local clinic. Last year, I was in Harvard Sq., getting glasses from my favorite eyeglass shop, 241 optical. We were chatting and I asked if there was anything available in the building and they said something had just become available. Two months later, on May 14, 2016, I was opening the doors to my very own clinic.

Harvard square Community Acupuncture or HSQCA is a POCA (People’s Organization of Community Acupuncture) member clinic. There are over 200 of these clinics in the country now. People often ask how I got interested in acupuncture. I started receiving acupuncture about 25 years ago. It made me feel really good. What really got my attention was that something that I hadn’t asked for help with got better-that got my attention. I started reading to learn more. I went to Shiatsu school first. Acupuncture school is a big commitment of time, money and energy, so I had to really want it. I finally started my formal studies in 2005.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I have never owned a business before, so the learning curve has been pretty steep at times. I have gotten lots of help from friends and professionals. Lots of people pitched in to help me get ready to open, hanging blinds, creating the website, putting together furniture, hemming curtains. All of the things that had to be done and that were too much for me to do alone. I felt so lucky to have my community gather around me.

There was a big problem with my phone and internet service. I had set everything up with Verizon and picked a phone number. The phone number was printed on my sign and cards. When it was time for Verizon to set up the service they were on strike, but they were holding the phone number hostage. It was very challenging and took the better part of a few days, including being in T-Mobile for 6 hours one day trying to straighten it all out. But, I got to keep the phone number after many tears and probably some crazy blood pressure numbers!

Three weeks after I signed the lease I opened for business- a real whirlwind!

Overall things have gone pretty smoothly. Toward the end of 2016, I was getting too busy, which is a great problem to have. Two other acupuncturists Mira Stanchak, and Nate Langford started working at the clinic a couple of days a week. The addition of Mira and Nate has been great. I love the opportunity to collaborate and it is nice for patients to be able to experience different personalities and styles of treatment. Some of our frequent flyers like to see all of us.

I love being able to offer affordable acupuncture. I have such lovely patients and it is so rewarding being a part of people taking care of themselves. It’s a pleasure coming to work!

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Harvard Square Community Acupuncture story. Tell us more about the business.
At HSQCA we do Community Acupuncture. Community Acupuncture is acupuncture offered in a group setting, with payment on a sliding scale of $20-$40, with an additional $10 for the first visit. There is no proof of income required. We schedule 4 people per hour. You come in, get yourself settled in a recliner or on a table, roll up your sleeves and your pant legs, we check in with you, put your needles in, and then you take a nap. Its nap time for grownups! This enables people to get enough acupuncture to get well, frequent treatment is very important at the beginning. Harvard square Community Acupuncture (or HSQCA) is a POCA member clinic (People’s Organization of Community Acupuncture). There are over 128 POCA member clinics in the country now.

We treat lots of people who are in physical pain. Acupuncture is great at treating pain. Some of the other things that we treat are; stress, anxiety, insomnia, headaches, allergies, digestive complaints, IBS, menstrual difficulties and problems with male or female fertility.

We are also a teaching clinic. We have students from the New England School of Acupuncture assisting with us.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I feel like the stars aligned for me to find the space that we are in in Harvard Square. It is such a great old building with nice light and wood floors. The first day I opened I treated 6 people. Friends and former patients came to help me launch. I have had at least one person walk through the door every day since I opened-that is truly lucky.

I feel like I have had a lot of luck in my life. Not always smooth, or easy, but lucky for sure.

Pricing:

First acupuncture treatment is $30-$50, sliding scale, no proof of income required
Follow up acupuncture treatments are $20-$40, sliding scale, no proof of income required

Contact Info: