How I work

I’m Chase Desso, L.Ac., and I run True Nature Wellness in Sebastopol, California. I’m a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, and bodyworker. My work is rooted in traditional East Asian medicine, hands-on somatic care, and a deep respect for the body’s innate intelligence.

I hold a Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College in Berkeley, and I’ve been in clinical practice for over a decade. Alongside formal training in acupuncture and herbal medicine, I’ve pursued advanced study in orthopedic and musculoskeletal treatment, as well as continued education in bodywork and nervous system–informed care. Over time, I’ve found that technical skill and relational presence matter equally.

Clinically, I practice Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). I diagnose and treat using pattern differentiation, channel theory, and time-tested acupuncture principles. But the way I listen — to bodies, symptoms, and stories — is informed by a more Classical understanding of health: that healing happens when the whole system regains coherence, not just when a symptom disappears.

In my experience, pain, stress, and chronic conditions rarely exist in isolation. They emerge when the body is overworked, under-resourced, or pulled out of alignment with its natural rhythms. My role is not to “fix” people, but to help their system remember how to organize itself again — physically and emotionally.

I pay close attention to timing, pacing, and the nervous system. I’m especially interested in how stress, burnout, and long-term holding patterns show up in the jaw, neck and shoulders, low back, gut, and sleep. Many people come in feeling wired but tired, stuck, or disconnected from themselves. Together, we create conditions where settling, movement, and clarity can emerge naturally.

My treatment room is intentionally warm, low-key, and welcoming. This is a queer-friendly, body-positive, trauma-informed space where you don’t have to perform wellness or explain yourself perfectly.

Healing isn’t linear, and it isn’t about constant self-improvement. It’s about restoring relationship — within the body, and between who you are and how you live. My work is to walk alongside you in that process, with skill, care, and respect for your timing.

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Get unstuck,

live embodied

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I have gathered a wealth of knowledge and skills through years of dedicated study, hands-on practice, and continual professional development. By immersing myself in both classical and modern approaches to healing, I’ve built a diverse toolkit that allows me to address each patient’s unique needs with care and precision. My experiences treating a wide range of conditions have deepened my intuition and clinical insight, empowering me to support my patients’ journeys toward lasting health and well-being.

Acupuncture

I am trained in a diverse range of acupuncture techniques that skillfully treat the body on multiple levels, from relieving pain to restoring overall harmony.

Chinese & Western Herbs

I thoughtfully integrate Chinese and Western herbs into my practice to support and enhance my patients’ healing, addressing their needs from multiple therapeutic angles.

CranioSacral Therapy

I incorporate CranioSacral Therapy as a gentle yet powerful adjunct to my practice, helping to release tension and support the body’s innate ability to heal.

Trigger Point Acupuncture

I use trigger point acupuncture as an adjunct to my treatments to precisely release muscle knots, alleviate pain and restore healthier movement patterns

Cupping & Gua Sha

I use cupping and gua sha to stimulate circulation, release stagnation, and ease tension, supporting my patients’ healing.

Medical Qigong

I use Medical Qigong to regulate, balance and strengthen the body’s vital energy (qi) helping to clear blockages, support organ function, calm the mind, and enhance the body’s natural ability to heal.

Patient Experience

“Chase Desso is, without question, the best acupuncturist and integrative healer I’ve ever worked with. When I first came to him, I was dealing with chronic body tension that had built up over years and felt impossible to release. Through his skilled and intuitive approach to acupuncture and bodywork, I experienced profound and lasting relief.

Chase has also supported me through emotional challenges and helped resolve a persistent gastrointestinal issue that hadn’t responded to other treatments. His rare combination of technical knowledge, intuition, and genuine care makes every session feel intentional and transformative. I cannot recommend him highly enough.”

Jason