Friendly Acupuncture Clinic: Acupuncture & East Asian Bodywork in Ballard, Seattle WA

Preventative medicine is your superpower.

Providing acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and East Asian bodywork for the whole family since 2018.

Client-centered support and solutions for…

  • Pain

    Nothing is quite so dispiriting as pain. Simply put, when we are in pain we are not ourselves. Chinese medicine can be immensely helpful when recovering from acute pain due to a musculoskeletal injury as well as chronic pain syndromes like fibromyalgia, menstrual cramps, migraines, TMJ and chronic tension in the neck, back and shoulders.

  • Chronic Illness

    For people dealing with hormonal imbalances, dermatological issues, digestive complaints, chronic fatigue and/or frequent infections, conventional treatment options are limited. The tools of Chinese medicine are uniquely suited to diagnose and safely address these difficult-to-treat cases.

  • Mental Health

    When we experience anxiety, grief, depression, insomnia or chronic stress, we lose our ability to connect, to find joy, even to function. These emotional experiences often manifest physically as chest tightness, poor memory, fatigue or muscle tension. Chinese medicine offers practical, lasting solutions for the physical symptoms of these common mental health complaints.

Services & Rates

Meet Dr. Catherine Vasco

Friendly Acupuncture Clinic: Acupuncture & East Asian Bodywork in Ballard, Seattle WA
Friendly Acupuncture Clinic: Acupuncture & East Asian Bodywork in Ballard, Seattle WA

Catherine seeks to understand each client and the story their bodies carry from a holistic perspective. She sees pain—both physical and emotional—as an invitation to heal. Her role as a clinician is to listen, support, empower, and work in partnership with clients to facilitate meaningful change on their terms. Her practice is trauma-informed and solution-focused.

Friendly Neighborhood Acupuncture is open to all communities.

Gentle & Compassionate Care

  • Friendly Acupuncture Clinic: Acupuncture & East Asian Bodywork in Ballard, Seattle WA

    Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine

    Acupuncture is the insertion of thin, sterile pins at specific locations on the body for therapeutic effect. Your customized herbal formula will allow you to continue your treatment at home.

  • Friendly Acupuncture Clinic: Acupuncture & East Asian Bodywork in Ballard, Seattle WA

    Cupping

    Cupping is an ancient therapeutic technique in which glass or plastic cups are placed on areas of muscular tension, typically on the back, neck and shoulder regions.

  • Friendly Acupuncture Clinic: Acupuncture & East Asian Bodywork in Ballard, Seattle WA

    Gua Sha

    Gua sha (“scraping”) is when pressure is applied to the skin using a smooth edge, usually a jade tool or a Chinese soup spoon. The friction increases circulation and stimulates an immune response.

  • Friendly Acupuncture Clinic: Acupuncture & East Asian Bodywork in Ballard, Seattle WA

    Microbleeding

    Microbleeding is the controlled release of metabolic waste products that congest the tissue and cause pain and fatigue. Microbleeding is considered an important preventative medicine practice in many Eastern countries.

  • Friendly Acupuncture Clinic: Acupuncture & East Asian Bodywork in Ballard, Seattle WA

    Tuina

    Tuina is a form of East Asian bodywork that involves acupressure, gentle percussion, passive rocking, and broad, sweeping movements. Catherine incorporates tuina at the beginning and end of treatment.

Services & Rates

Testimonials

  • "Catherine deftly combines intuitive guidance with technical expertise in administering acupuncture, cupping, herbs & other treatments. By far the best TCM practitioner I have worked with! She helped me reach my health goals through constructive dialogue & follow ups at the beginning of each session, aligning office treatments with my general wellness objectives. Can't recommend her enough for anyone looking to work with TCM to find a greater sense of healing, balance & well being."

    Noah S.

  • "Catherine is a professional, caring and knowledgeable practitioner. As a longtime Acupuncture-goer and seeing Catherine for more than a year, I feel that I’m in good hands and was always able to share my Chinese heritage in relation to her practice. In addition, she is able to treat anything from a common cold, endometriosis to a sprain in my muscles! I highly recommend Catherine to anyone who is looking for a wonderful, kind and compassionate acupuncturist!"

    Roxane C.

  • "As an avid walker, my consistent hip pain was limiting my long walks and pain in my everyday walking around. Since it had been a chronic problem for a few years, it took several visits but my hip pain is gone! Catherine spends a lot of time asking questions and that combined with her warm and caring approach is truly a winning formula that produces results!"

    Mary B.

  • "I have loved working with Catherine and am so glad that we had the opportunity to meet. I do not say this lightly when I say that knowing her and the work we did enabled me to push through this post-stroke mire of my life, in a way that may not have been possible otherwise. I have treasured the work that she does as a healer and confidante. It has been of incredible value to me."

    Ian S.

  • "Highly recommend. My doctor was prescribing Prednisone for my allergies which was not sustainable. Years of struggle with chronic sinusitis cleared up in a few weeks thanks to Catherine. She was a Godsend. Kind, compassionate and caring. I cannot say enough good things about her. She has made a huge difference in the quality of my life. All those little nagging issues that I thought were unrelated fatigue, constant chills, hip pain-GONE!!!"

    Celia L.

  • "Catherine is an amazing acupuncturist— her practice is thoughtful and her energy is warm and kind. From day one she was very thorough. I had been battling alopecia for five years and after consistent sessions with Catherine I am finally alopecia free!"

    Laura H.

  • "I have worked with Catherine for over a year and she has been an absolute delight! Taking time to explain her process and answer all my questions. When other issues came up with my foot and ankle, Catherine was able to listen and offer treatments that gave me some pretty significant results. She has such a lovely energy, which is very important for someone who is helping you in your body’s healing process. Catherine is warm and welcoming and I highly recommend working with her!"

    Natasha B.

  • "Catherine is compassionate and knowledgeable. Not only did she sincerely listen to me and take my concerns seriously, but she also helped me resolve some troubling health issues that were having a very negative effect on my quality of life. I originally went to acupuncture as a last resort, but Catherine made me a true believer and I'm not sure I can recommend her highly enough."

    Stephanie G.

  • "I saw Catherine as a patient for two years as she helped me to resolve menstrual issues, grief & more. She is gentle, caring & compassionate. She is precise in her work & seems to treat incredible intentionally & effectively. I especially appreciate her honesty & her ability to share information with me as a patient. Catherine helped me better understand & observe my body & improved my ability & confidence to take care of myself. I have complete trust in Catherine as a healer & deep, deep appreciation for her work."

    Hanna Z.

  • "Catherine is a knowledgeable and compassionate practitioner who helped me to overcome my anxiety while helping me with night sweats and sleep issues. I can't recommend her enough!"

    Linda S.

  • "I went to Catherine for acupuncture treatment for a recurring neurological condition I’ve had for over 20 years. Over those 20 years, I’ve gone to many practitioners - both mainstream and alternative – and Catherine was the first to have made a significant positive impact on it. I have a deep respect and appreciation for the way she is able to combine breadth of knowledge with an astute intuitive capacity."

    Jan M.

  • "Catherine is amazing; every session with her was a treat. Not only do her competence and professionalism exceed her peers, but she has the rare ability to be warm and compassionate while also maintaining strong interpersonal boundaries. I always felt safe during treatments with her, and appreciated her deep understanding of Chinese medicine as a modality not just for the physical body, but also for the emotional and spiritual bodies. I couldn’t recommend her more; see her if you get the chance!"

    Sarah E.

Let’s problem solve.

Friendly Acupuncture Clinic: Acupuncture & East Asian Bodywork in Ballard, Seattle WA

New to acupuncture? Book a free, 20-minute virtual consultation to discuss your treatment goals and how Chinese medicine can help.

Friendly Acupuncture Clinic: Acupuncture & East Asian Bodywork in Ballard, Seattle WA
Friendly Acupuncture Clinic: Acupuncture & East Asian Bodywork in Ballard, Seattle WA
Friendly Acupuncture Clinic: Acupuncture & East Asian Bodywork in Ballard, Seattle WA
Friendly Acupuncture Clinic: Acupuncture & East Asian Bodywork in Ballard, Seattle WA

“May I be the tiniest nail in the house of the universe.
Tiny, but useful.”

Mary Oliver