Hi, I’m Carissa Hill. I’m a practitioner of Chinese Medicine with extensive training in acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine.
I am also a massage therapist, a writer, and an outdoor explorer, among many other things…
However, I really like to think of myself as purveyor of the human condition—someone who sees each person in my life for the unique and complex individuals that they are. My own life experience has taught me that we are all comprised of countless diverse pieces, and I believe we all ought to be acknowledged as such.
Here are a few of the pieces that make me who I am:
I grew up with the spark of creativity surrounding me. My mother is an artist, and both my parents were entrepreneurs. I played the piano and the clarinet during my childhood.
My undergrad education, from the University of Montana – Missoula, took me in two other directions: a B.A. in print journalism, and a minor in Wilderness Studies. I still love the journalistic process of researching, compiling information, and putting it all together in my own words. I also have a deep appreciation for nature and I spend time there every chance I get.
Yet it wasn’t until I came across Chinese Medicine that I felt like I’d found a path that brought it all together for me.
I’ve always had a leaning towards the spiritual, intuitive side of life. My exploration of the healing arts started when I was maybe 11 or 12 years old: one day I made the bold decision to hop on the bus with a friend, head to little downtown Racine, WI, and research “out of body experiences”! By the time I was in my late teens, I was making my own herbal teas and mixing essential oil blends. After college, I moved on to massage school in San Diego (I am still certified and bodywork continues to be an important part of my practice), and then found myself called to train more deeply in acupuncture and the Asian approach.
I was – and still am – deeply inspired by the simplicity of the theories and the foundations on which Asian approaches to health are based. I’m also inspired by the way that these approaches encompass the entirety of a human being: from diet to lifestyle to mindset to the innate physical condition with which a person is born, I’ve found that Chinese Medicine is an ideal tool for supporting well-being on all levels.
Additionally, like most people I know, I’ve been through my share of challenging times. The practices and perspectives I teach are ones that I’ve used personally to pick up the pieces of an exhausted body, mind, and spirit. I know their power as both regenerative and preventative measures.
I’ve realized over the years that healing is something that happens from the ground up. There are no magic pills, but there are lifestyle and attitude changes that can be made to create a more solid foundation of health in both the body and mind. I hold this belief close to my heart, and apply it to my clients and to my own life.
I currently live and practice in Bozeman, MT. To learn more about working with me, click here.
Carissa Hill is a practitioner of Chinese Medicine with a diverse background including extensive training in acupuncture and herbal medicine, as well as education in massage/bodywork, print journalism, and wilderness studies.
She’s been helping clients through Chinese Medicinal practices for over 10 years in Bozeman and formerly in Big Sky, MT, and has more than 10 years of experience practicing massage.
Carissa received her Master’s of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego. In addition, she is also board-certified as an Oriental Medicine Practitioner by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), which includes acupuncture and herbal medicine practice. The schooling to become an acupuncturist is more extensive than most people know, requiring over 1,900 classroom hours and an additional 720 hours to become an herbalist. About a third of these hours are spent treating patients in a clinical setting. Students also complete coursework in biomedicine, chemistry, anatomy, physiology and pathology, and sit for rigorous board exams. The entire process requires about 4 years of year-round schooling. In addition, Carissa is also licensed by the state of Montana in both acupuncture and massage therapy.
Carissa studied under many talented practitioners and teachers throughout her education, but drew the most inspiration from her training in Japanese Meridian Therapy at Pacific College. Since beginning her practice, she has studied with the late Dr. Richard Tan and his remarkably effective Balance Method approach and expands on that knowledge with Cole Magbanua’s BodyMapping Acupuncture techniques. These practices guide all of her treatments today and she has tremendous gratitude for the contribution these teachers have made to her practice. When she’s not in the office, you can find her skiing, camping, on the river or enjoying the mountain views with friends and family.