It’s November — we are almost there!! This is my first trimester being an intern. I absolutely love seeing patients, it’s a dream come true. So far, I have gotten all the jitters out, but my needling is still a bit slow. I really want to make sure I have the point location exact. The area I struggle in is diagnosing.

The intake with the 10 TCM questions along with the tongue and pulse should lead me to a working diagnosis. Now if I am in class and we do a case study I can clearly tell what the diagnosis should be. Maybe it is the pressure or connecting the dots in real time but unless it’s obvious I struggle. The Clinicians are very patient and helpful, which I truly appreciate. Senior interns are encouraging as well and say, “everything will come together.” At times I am not so sure.

In my Advanced Diagnosis class, we are learning how to determine and select the necessary points to treat patients. This is another layer that I am trying to include in my acupuncturist’s toolkit. This is one of the many reasons why I love AOM. There are so many possibilities to treat disharmony in the body. BUT YOU MUST HAVE A CORRECT DIAGNOSIS!!! I know this is my first trimester in the clinic, but I often assess my progress and make note of my strengths and areas where I see an opportunity for growth. I would love to hear input regarding your clinic journey.

Until then, enjoy the Fall break and do something that makes your heart happy and grateful!

— Monique, Tri-4