About CASoBu
Our Mission
CASoBu reduces barriers and increases access to community acupuncture by providing sliding-scale and donation-based group acupuncture to South Burlington and surrounding towns and promoting and sponsoring training and education of auricular acupuncture technicians and community acupuncturists while providing a living wage to our staff.
We all do better when we all do better. Our motto is shorthand for saying that it hurts everyone when anyone is left out, marginalized, or persecuted for simply existing. Humans need each other and we all have something to offer.
Education: We make ongoing efforts to educate ourselves regarding healthcare for everyone and welcome feedback on how we can improve our services.
Sliding Scale: We keep rates as low as we can to improve people's ability to come as often as they need. This is partially achieved by treating in a group setting. If you're having difficulty meeting our sliding scale - talk to your practitioner at your next appointment and we will try and find a payment & treatment plan to meet you where you are.
Appointment days/times: We strive to be open a variety of days and times to accomodate different schedules. As a new clinic we currently have limited days and times. We are working to expand to include weekend and evening and early morning hours. Thanks for your patience while we grow!
We recognize the widespread impact of trauma in our culture and approach every interaction with respect and humility. We strive to be transparent in our clinical, business, and social practices. We respect your innate internal self-knowledge - you are in charge of your care. If you don't want acupuncture in a particular place (for instance ears or hands) we won't do it. If you only want to rest for 20 minutes, fine! We may make recommendations about how frequently to come based on our experience but we know there are lots of reasons why that may not work for folks. We will meet you where you're at. We welcome feedback on how we can improve our services.
We have a plan for when we mess up. We welcome feedback on how we can improve our services to you, our community. We know we have a lot to learn and are happy when community members take the time to inform and educate us. If you want to leave feedback anonymously, click on the button below ("Virtual Feedback Box"). Currently "we" are Sierra (acupuncturist) and Tereska (admin and board member) but we want that "we" to grow.
We don't treat folks in crisis.If you are having an acute physical or psychiatric episode, please contact your primary care provider or call 911 or 988 (see below)
Crisis Resources: - Suicide & Crisis Hotline: 988 (call or text)- Veterans Crisis Line: 988 - press 1- The Trevor Project: for LGBTQIA2S+ youth: follow this link. You can talk on the phone, facetime, or text. - Vermont Network: https://vtnetwork.org/- Crisis Text Line: text HOME or HOLA to 741741 to reach a live volunteer Crisis Counselor. Click here for more.
- We don't offer primary care medicine. If you need help finding medical care, let us know at your next appointment.
- We don't bill insurance. You have a right to your medical records and statement of services which we will provide on written request (fee applies).
- We can't transfer folks from wheelchairs We can't transfer folks to zero gravity chairs from their wheelchair or help people in and out of our chairs. We are happy to treat you in your wheelchair if that is comfortable for you. We will research and purchase (when within our budget and clinic parameters/limitations) other seating options upon request.
- We don't currently have translation services. We welcome non-english speakers to bring someone to help translate and/or use phone translation apps.
What Can Acupuncture Help?
Acupuncture is used to safely and successfully improve a wide variety of acute and chronic conditions.
Acupuncture isn't magic or a miracle. It's just like any medicine - some people find that acupuncture works when nothing else has helped and some people may find it's not for them OR it helps with some of their symptoms but not others. The best way to find out for yourself is to give it a try. Everyone is different but we usually recommend starting with 6-10 treatments.
Below are some of the issues we can help you with...
Mental Health and Mood Support:
Pain and Tension:
Immunity:
Digestive Health:
Gyno:
Lots more!
What is community acupuncture?
Community acupuncture is done in a group setting in order to improve accessibility and affordability. Recipients sit in reclining chairs in loose clothing (rolled up to the knees and elbows) and receive acupuncture only on the legs, arms, and head.
For centuries these so-called ‘distal’ points (acu-points on the head, arms and legs) have been used to treat all the same ailments as points located on the torso. For instance, we can treat back pain with acupoints on the hands, or neck pain with acupoints on the feet. We believe (and have seen with our own eyes) that there is a group healing effect that happens when we receive treatment in this kind of setting.
Community Acupuncture is the practice of providing acupuncture in a group setting, at a low cost, while seeking to lower all other barriers to treatment. Privacy is maintained by placing needles on the arms, legs and head and keeping clothes on during the treatment.
Community Acupuncture brings people together to heal, breaks down hierarchies, and let patients define their health goals. It's about being a resource in the community as well as a comforting "third space".
Community Acupuncture is also a movement of patients and providers working together to increase access to community acupuncture by way of resource and skill sharing. Community Acupuncture is a form of health care reform - making healthcare widely available in practical and beautiful ways.
CASoBu Founders
Sierra Tarinelli (acupuncturist), Tereska Buko (administrator)
We are a mom/daughter duo who love each other, the Green Mountains, and community acupuncture!
CASoBu is a 501(c)(3) organization. Our mission is to provide sliding scale and free, group acupuncture to South Burlington and surrounding towns while paying staff a livable wage. We also sponsor a scholarship for community acupuncture or 5NP training (also known as ‘ear acupuncture’, 'detox acupuncture’, and ‘NADA’) to qualified applicants.
100 Dorset St. Suite 5
Located inside Kula Yoga, Fitness, Social Lounge
We are on the ground level, located inside Kula Yoga. There is plenty of parking and we are on the busline. There are posts for locking bikes.
If you use a wheelchair or need help entering, let us know in the notes section when booking your appointment and we will be sure to meet you at the front door.
When you arrive leave your shoes in the front and come back to the blue room (you'll see your fellow nappers!), silence your phone, and settle into a chair. Your practitioner will come to you there.
We are delighted to share space with Kula Vermont - a yoga, fitness, and social lounge dedicated to creating community.
