February 2023
Let's get to know Kim Wright! Kim is a Physical Therapist and NCCAOM Certified Acupuncturist who has worked at GCR Therapy Group, part of Gonzaga Health, for five years.
Q: What kind of services do you provide?
A: I complete all our physical therapy evaluations, progress reports, and do treatments. I am also NCCAOM Board-Certified in acupuncture. I enjoy performing Dr. Tan’s Balance Method, a gentle technique for moving stuck qi and relieving pain. Another popular service I offer is Gua Sha — a deep scraping massage technique from traditional Chinese medicine that moves the blood and qi.
Q: What can someone expect for their first acupuncture appointment?
A: For a new patient, the appointment is one hour. We sit down and talk about their concerns and what they want to get from acupuncture. I ask about sleep, digestion, and water intake — all of that is relevant information. If they have a specific area of concern such as neck pain, I will look at their posture and range of motion. I check pulses on both wrists because each pulse corresponds to an organ system. Finally, I take a quick look at the patient’s tongue because that gives me an indication of the state of the blood. I then do a treatment as part of that first visit. If someone is going to try acupuncture, ideally, weekly visits are best, but I work with whatever works for my patients. I do ask that they try it for at least six visits. That gives us enough time to determine if this is their proper treatment.
Q: What do you like most about the work you do?
A: I help make a positive change in a person’s life, either with physical therapy or acupuncture. I want my patients to live a better, easier life and have a balanced body, mind, and spirit. It’s all about healing and balance.
Q: What makes GCR Therapy Group unique?
A: We spend time with each patient and conduct very comprehensive exams and treatments. For instance, if you come in with ankle pain, we look at you more globally to get the ‘whole picture’ of what is happening. We work with a team approach that is effective and beneficial for our patients.
Q: How do you spend your free time?
A: I walk my dog — a yellow Lab — and spend time with friends. I grew up in Westernport, moved to Baltimore for PT school, and worked there for 30 years. I returned to Western Maryland in 2017 to be closer to my family. I enjoy having my friends from out-of-town visit me here when they can.
Q: What are you most proud of in your career so far?
A: I have two things! I am proud of my dry-needling certification. It is a lot of coursework and a challenging practical exam, but it’s a technique that is very effective, and I use it all the time in both physical therapy and acupuncture. Second, I’m proud that I could make room in my life to attend the Maryland University of Integrative Health for acupuncture while working full-time in physical therapy.
Q: What is one piece of advice you would give to your patients about something that they can do at home to improve their health?
A: Many people don’t allow themselves to be still. With that comes having awareness of their breath and doing deep breathing exercises. Also, spending time in nature is so important. Both help you relax, lower stress levels, and can even alleviate pain.
Q: If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?
A: FBI agent or Airline Pilot!
To schedule an appointment with Kim, please call (240) 362-7718.
Related Reading:
The Benefits of Acupuncture
The Benefits of Physical Therapy
What is Dry Needling?