Alumni
Ilze Black - Programme Leader
​
-
LicAc, Dip Tui Na, PhD, MSc, MBAcC
-
Acupuncture Programme Leader
-
Tui Na and Acupuncture Clinician
-
Acupuncture and Tui Na practitioner in private practice
​
Ilze studied Acupuncture and Tui Na at The City College of Acupuncture, graduating in 2021. She is a member of the CCA clinician team and joined the programme leadership team in 2023.
​
Ilze is a member of the British Acupuncture Council, the Acupuncture Fertility Network UK, the UK Reiki Federation and is the founder of the TCM Practice Clinics in Islington and Hackney. Previously, she has worked as a programme leader and course administrator at Westminster College and the University of London.
​
“I was first introduced to Traditional Chinese Medicine practices about 20 years ago when I started to practice Shaolin Qi Gong. Qi Gong, the practice of ‘internal alchemy', is one of the five pillars or branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine. My Qi Gong daily practice supported me greatly over the years, but the stresses of teaching, completing a PhD and child birth depleted me greatly, leading me to extreme tiredness and pain which my GP could only help with pain killers. Luckily, I discovered the CCA student clinic and the great practitioners working here. Acupuncture and Tui Na restored my balance and this encounter with CCA bought me to my new path of becoming a practitioner myself, and subsequently the Acupuncture Programme Leader.
​
I am passionate about the benefits of Chinese medicine, an integrative approach to healthcare, and the education of new generations of practitioners.”
​​​​​​​​​Pinky Lalwani - Acupuncture Graduate
Lic. Ac, MBAcC, FEA Certified
​
Pinky Lalwani’s journey into acupuncture began as a patient seeking answers. After years in the corporate world, she faced autoimmune and hormonal challenges that conventional medicine managed but could not resolve. Acupuncture offered something deeper: relief, renewal, and a sense of direction. She trained at the City College of Acupuncture and developed a solid clinical foundation in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Today, she also assists in teaching at the college, helping future practitioners enhance their skills and confidence.
​
Pinky now runs Heal by Acupuncture, with clinics in Mayfair and Harley Street. She offers thoughtful, results-driven care for women’s health, hormonal balance, emotional well-being, functional health, and constitutional and cosmetic facial concerns. Her approach is gentle and precise, shaped by a continued commitment to deepening her practice. She has completed postgraduate training in cosmetic and auricular acupuncture and is enhancing her hands-on skills through studies in Tui Na.
​
At the heart of her work is a belief in supporting the body’s innate intelligence and capacity to heal. “Acupuncture gave me back my health,” she says. “Now I help others reconnect with theirs.”
​
Website: www.healbyacupuncture.com
Email: pinkylalwani@healbyacupuncture.com
Instagram: @healbyacupuncture
Phone: 07867 109999​​
​
​​​​​​​
Paris Moini - Acupuncture Graduate
Lic.Ac, MBAcC, MSw, BSc
​
Paris has a deep passion for holistic health and well-being. Paris's journey into acupuncture began during her own pregnancy, when she sought treatment for pelvic girdle pain, and to support the natural onset of labour. The relief she experienced ignited her passion for this ancient practice. As a former clinical social worker, Paris became interested in non-pharmaceutical treatments, particularly for children and adolescents facing mental health challenges.
This curiosity led Paris to explore the significant benefits acupuncture can offer for both children and adults. Paris decided to study acupuncture, and she is a proud graduate of The City College of Acupuncture, and a member of the British Acupuncture Council. She specialises in women’s health, and has extensive experience treating conditions such as menstrual issues, peri-menopausal symptoms, chronic pain, headaches, insomnia, facial paralysis, stress, anxiety, and digestive disorders. With a warm and positive approach, she is dedicated to helping her patients achieve better health and well-being.
​
Website: www.limetreeacupuncture.com
Email : info@limetreeacupuncture.com
Phone: 07520 673 493​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​​Jules Simonneau - Acupuncture Graduate
Lic. Ac, MBAcC, MAcS CA, BA
​
​
Jules graduated from The City College of Acupuncture, achieving first-class honours. Since attaining her Licentiate Diploma in Acupuncture, she has established her private practice, Pique me, in Tufnell Park, North London.
​
To enhance her knowledge, Jules has completed postgraduate training in menopause care, and advanced studies in cosmetic acupuncture. These additional qualifications enable her to provide specialised treatments, which are tailored to her patients' diverse needs.
​
At her clinic, Jules supports a broad spectrum of conditions, including pain management, stress, anxiety, women’s health, cosmetic acupuncture and many more. Her warm approach creates a calming environment, where her patients feel supported and heard.
​
Website: www.pique.me
Email : Jules@pique.me
Instagram: @pique.me
Phone: 07855 963019​​​​​​​​​​
Melanie Cullis - Acupuncture Graduate
Lic.Ac. MBAcC
​
Melanie is a proud alumni of The City College of Acupuncture, and since graduating has set up two busy clinics in Surrey; one in Godalming, the other in Cobham.
Melanie has a special interest in women's health and chronic health conditions and enjoys supporting women through various life stages, including fertility, pregnancy, post-birth and menopause, in addition to providing mental-emotional support for patients who are experiencing events such as trauma and grief.
Melanie has undergone postgraduate training in natural fertility, assisted conception and menopause.
​
Website: https://www.theacupuncturepractice.com/
​
Yasmin Hodge - Acupuncture & Tui Na Graduate
Lic.Ac, Dip Tui Na, MSc, PGCE, MBAcC
​
Yasmin studied Acupuncture at The City College of Acupuncture, graduating with her Licentiate Diploma in Acupuncture in 2020. She returned to CCA to study Tui Na, and completed her Diploma in Tui Na in 2023. Yasmin is a member of the British Acupuncture Council, and has set up her own busy practice in Streatham, South London.
Yasmin decided to change from a career in teaching to Acupuncture after having had successful treatment for conditions which could either not be treated by Western medicine, or required surgery. She now treats a wide range of health problems using both Acupuncture and Tui Na. Yasmin is in the process of setting up a multi-chair clinic in a local GP surgery, focusing on pain and anxiety.
​
Website: www.yasminhodgeacupuncture.co.uk
email : yasminhodgeacupuncture@gmail.com
Instagram: @yasminhodgeacupuncture
Phone: 07596 953123
​
Vanessa Rubio - Acupuncture Graduate
Lic.Ac. MBAcC
​
Vanessa Rubio is a TCM acupuncturist and Facial acupuncturist, with a special interest in women's health, hormonal imbalance, fertility, IVF support, pregnancy and menopause.
​​
Vanessa also supports clients with a wide range of physical and emotional conditions, such as fatigue, stress, anxiety, insomnia, digestive issues, pain and headaches.
​​
As well as graduating from The City College of Acupuncture with first-class honours, Vanessa has also undertaken further training in pregnancy, menopause, fertility, and advanced facial cosmetic acupuncture.
​​
Vanessa provides a safe space to discuss any issues, and is passionate about helping clients achieve balance and harmony in their lives through Acupuncture and getting to the root cause of their concerns.
​​
Vanessa is a member of the British Acupuncture Council and the Acupuncture Fertility Network. Her clinics are located in Marylebone and East Dulwich in London.
​
Website: www.vanessarubioacupuncture.com
email : vanessa@vanessarubioacupuncture.com
Instagram: @vanessarubioacupuncture
Phone: 07741 522171
Fiona Yi-chun Sung - Acupuncture Graduate
Lic.Ac. MBAcC BA MA
​
Fiona is a licensed Acupuncturist based in Sutton, London. She graduated with first class honours from The City College of Acupuncture in 2020, and has continued deepening her expertise with CPD training in pain management, women's health, and scalp acupuncture. She is passionate about a holistic approach, and has successfully helped clients with a variety of conditions, ranging from pain, menstrual disorders, fertility, menopausal syndromes, gut issues, to emotions. She firmly believes in the TCM philosophy of treating the individual rather than just the disease label, aiming to offer sustainable solutions for her clients' overall well-being.
​
​
Website: www.yiacupuncture.co.uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/yi.acupuncture
​
Pippa Glendon-Doyle - Acupuncture Graduate
BA MA Lic.Ac. MBAcC
​
Pippa is a Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncturist, who graduate from The City College of Acupuncture. After experiencing the benefits of Acupuncture herself, she chose to retrain, and now treats patients for many ailments such as stress, anxiety, menstrual issues, fertility, muscular problems, chronic pain and autoimmune conditions.
Pippa runs a private practice at home in Wandsworth. She has also set up a multi-bed practice, together with another The City College of Acupuncture Alumni, Sasha Hayward, in Wandsworth.
Pippa is registered with the British Acupuncture Council and the British Medical Acupuncture Society.
Private practice: www.pippagdacupuncture.co.uk
Multi-bed clinic: www.easthillacupuncture.co.uk
Email: pippa@pippagdacupuncture.co.uk
​
Juliette Atkinson - Acupuncture Graduate
Lic.Ac. MBAcC
​
Focusing on women’s health, Juliette (LicAc, MBAcC) has completed further training in treating women with acupuncture for fertility and during pregnancy, and has experience supporting women with acupuncture during their IVF journey.
Her philosophy is to stimulate the body’s own healing process using Traditional Chinese Medicine theory together with Western Medicine, bringing balance to the body and mind.
​
Juliette co-founded ELM (East London Multibed) with fellow acupuncturists to provide low-cost healthcare to the local community. She volunteers at St Joseph’s Hospice, where she works as part of the complementary medicine team offering acupuncture and offers private appointments at Healing Space in Hackney.
​
Juliette is a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), an organisation which is fully recognised by the NHS for the practice of acupuncture, and is favoured by Health Insurers. Click here for further information about insurance.
She abides by a code of ethics which maintains high standards of education, discipline and practice, and is a member of the Professional Standards Agency.
Juliette works all over London including Hackney, Bethnal Green and Chiswick.
Website: www.jaacupuncture.co.uk
Email: contact@jaacupuncture.co.uk
Tel: 0784 148 9002
Insta: @ja.acupuncture https://www.instagram.com/ja.acupuncture/
BAcC profile: https://acupuncture.org.uk/acupuncturist/juliette-atkinson/
​
Andrea Dewhurst - Acupuncture Graduate
Lic.Ac
​
Andrea is an Acupuncture graduate of The City College of Acupuncture. Andrea is an acupuncturist with a difference, as she travels around Hertfordshire, providing acupuncture to people in their homes.
​
Andrea specialises in female menstrual health from puberty to post-menopausal including PCOS, PMDD, PMS, hormonal migraines, endometriosis, and perimenopause.
​
The Travelling Acupuncturist See my latest blog post on acupuncture and supporting life after cancer here
Website: www.thechannelproject.co.uk
Email: andrea@thechannelproject.co.uk
Phone: 07876224566
Instagram: @thechannelproject
​
Sarah San - Acupuncture Graduate​
Lic.Ac MBAcC
​
Sarah is a licensed Acupuncturist, and a member of the British Acupuncture Council. Sarah is based in Esher, Surrey and practices out of Esher Groves Health Village, a private multidisciplinary practice comprising of private GPs, psychotherapists, an autism specialist, and cancer check specialists.
Sarah treats a range of issues including stress/anxiety, female health, pain management, digestive health and fertility.
Sarah also gives back to the community, as an Acupuncturist at the Cancer Centre at the Royal Surrey Hospital, Surrey.
Website: www.SarahSanAcupuncture.co.uk
Email: admin@SarahSanAcupuncture.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahsanacupuncture/
​
Saskia Hawkins - Acupuncture Graduate​
Lic.Ac
Saskia Hawkins is an acupuncturist based in Catford, South East London and a Member of the British Acupuncture Council. She is passionate about reconnecting people with their health in natural ways. Her mission at Saskia Hawkins Acupuncture is to provide each person with individualised holistic treatments that focus on addressing the root cause of their health concerns.
Since qualifying at The City College of Acupuncture, Saskia has undertaken additional training in natural fertility, IVF, menopause, pregnancy, musculoskeletal issues and cosmetic facial acupuncture. In her clinic, she treats a wide range of conditions, such as stress and anxiety, women’s health, anxiety, insomnia, and menopause.
Website: www.saskiahawkins.com
Instagram: @saskiaacupuncture
Phone: 0759 328 3980
Location: Catford, South East London: https://goo.gl/maps/eYcBk1kLu1eJy7aJA
Tina Surman - Acupuncture Graduate​
Lic.Ac
Tina is an Acupuncturist trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with a private practice based in Southwark.
Tina supports clients to achieve health and harmony in their lives through acupuncture and simple dietary and lifestyle advice.
Tina has a specialist interest in chronic pain, autoimmune conditions, women's health and supporting women through transitional stages of life; with their hormonal health, fertility, pregnancy and menopause.
Tina also works as a Teaching Assistant at The City College of Acupuncture, sharing her knowledge and skills with future acupuncturists.
Sara Buttanshaw - Acupuncture Graduate
​
Sara is an Acupuncturist practising in Dublin, Ireland. After graduating from CCA in 2022, she worked in multiple studios in East London before moving back to Ireland to open her own clinic. As of 2023, Sara is the owner of SB Acupuncture & Wellness, Dublin, and has become a member of the AFPA.
She has a special interest in working with menstrual health, fertility and pregnancy.
​
Sara has an interest in skincare, and is also a qualified Holistic Facial Therapist. She has undergone additional training in Facial Microsystems & Cosmetic Acupuncture to take a more holistic approach to skin health.
​
Website: www.sbacupuncturewellness.com
​
Frances Norbury - Acupuncture Graduate
​
Frances is an Acupuncturist and oboist based in Cholsey in south Oxfordshire. Her acupuncture work is as one of a team of practitioners working at the Cholsey Complementary Health Centre. Everyone is welcome in Frances’s clinic, and since graduating from CCA in 2022, she has been enjoying treating and helping men and women of all ages with a wide range of issues, including arthritic and muscular pain, pregnancy support and mental health concerns.
​
Frances’s work as an orchestral musician means she also has a particular interest in supporting other musicians through acupuncture with the physical and mental-emotional challenges of the way of life.
​
​
All practitioners at Cholsey Complementary Health Centre charge the same hourly rate, which is kept as low as possible to enable access to treatment for as many people as possible. Discounts can be negotiated for those with low incomes.
​
Cassie Bali - Acupuncture Graduate
​​
Cassie is a Naturopathic Nutritionist and Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM Acupuncturist with a private practice in Queens Park, London NW6.
Cassie has particular interests in Women’s health, chronic illness, mental health, digestive issues and autoimmune conditions. She has completed postgraduate training in acupuncture for fertility and IVF, cosmetic acupuncture and muscular skeletal issues.
Cassie works with patients to implement simple diet and lifestyle changes to help alleviate any symptoms and boost overall health and wellbeing.
Naturopathy and TCM are both holistic practices which look at the person as a whole. Cassie looks at her patients’ complete medical history, as she believes that all the systems of the body work together, and when one is out of sync, it can cause issues elsewhere. She considers her patients’ diet, lifestyle, and emotions when creating a bespoke nutrition and treatment plan.
​
Website: www.valehealth.co.uk
Instagram: vale.of.health
Tik Tok: vale.of.health
Lucrezia Zanin - Tui Na Graduate
​
-
BSc (Hons), LicAc, dip.Tui Na, AAC member
​
Lucrezia graduated from The City College of Acupuncture with her Licentiate Diploma in Tui Na Chinese medical massage. She graduated from The University of Westminster with a first class BSc Honours degree in Chinese Medicine Acupuncture.
Her passion for skin health and rejuvenation led her to study and practice Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture.
She decided to transmute her love for holistic wellbeing into her profession by providing high quality treatments for her patients’ health, treating the root cause of imbalance in the body, not only the specific symptom.
She is also a Yoga teacher and Reiki practitioner.
She is currently working in select clinics in London, located in Clerkenwell, Notting Hill, and Elephant & Castle.
Website: www.belladonnaacupuncture.com
Kate Levinson - Acupuncture Graduate
​
-
BSc (Hons), LicAc, MBAcC
​
Kate practices in Pinner, Harrow where she founded a multidisciplinary clinic called The Blossom Tree Clinic. She has a background in Psychology, and as such her area of special interest lies in complex mental-emotional cases and disease stemming from trauma. However, she enjoys treating a whole variety of internal conditions in the body, especially dietary and period dysfunction.
Kate volunteers as part of the Ukrainian Support Project providing trauma relief through ear acupuncture to refugees. She also has a Level 3 qualification in British Sign Language and feels passionately about making acupuncture more accessible to the Deaf and Hearing-Impaired community.
​
Jasmin Reif - Acupuncture Graduate
​
Jasmin is an acupuncturist and Heilpraktiker practicing in Düsseldorf, Germany.
She has a special interest in neuroimmunology - treating autoimmune and neurological conditions. Jasmin has undertaken postgraduate training in Scalp Acupuncture which is used to treat Polyneuropathy, strokes, multiple sclerosis, migraines and other neurological conditions. She also treats pain conditions, anxiety disorders and stress.
Parallel to her own clinic, she works at the Integrated Oncology ward at the Klinikum Essen Mitte, which is a centre for the treatment of tumours and metastatic cancer. Here, she focuses on pre, during, and after-care of cancer patients using acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.
Jasmin is currently studying Western Medicine in order to take part in running clinical trials for Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, which the University Duisburg-Essen is implementing.
​
Private practice: www.jasminreif.com
Ella Nazar - Acupuncture Graduate
​
Ella runs a general practice in Traditional Chinese Medicine in Clerkenwell, Central London. She is a Member of the British Acupuncture Council, as well as the Association of Acupuncture Clinicians, and she is on the NHS List of Approved Acupuncturists.
She is part of the acupuncturist team at the Ukraine Project, which provides free consultations and treatments to assist refugees and families with trauma recovery. She is an advocate of integrated medicine.
Ella also offers low cost acupuncture at The Stress Project in Holloway. She runs a free ear acupuncture group, in addition to offering full body acupuncture with GP referrals for people on low income, with mental health issues, and chronic conditions.
​
Private practice: www.ellanazar.com
Community acupuncture: The Stress Project https://www.stressproject.org.uk/acupuncture.html
​
Vanessa Evans - Acupuncture Graduate
​​​
Vanessa is a Walthamstow-based Acupuncturist, specialising in women’s health, menstrual wellness, pregnancy, fertility and menopause.
​
Website: www.vanessaevans.co.uk/
Leticia Nieto Acupuncture Graduate
​
Leticia is an Acupuncturist member of the British Acupuncture Council. She uses Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat a variety of conditions, such us pain, women’s health, anxiety and emotional issues.
​
She is the co-ordinator of ACMAC, the Association of Community and Multibed Acupuncture Clinics, and also runs Brent Community Acupuncture, a low-cost multibed clinic in Willesden Green, London.
​
Private practice: Leticia-nieto.com
​
Community Acupuncture Clinic: brentcommunityacupuncture.com
​
Truus Jansen - Acupuncture & Tui Na Graduate
​
Truus studied at The college of Acupuncture in London under Paul Johnson, one of the leading point location lecturers and fertility specialists, and studied Tui Na (Chinese Medical Massage) under Sarah Pritchard, chief lecturer and author of two Tui Na books.
​
Truus is also specialised in Paediatric Chinese Medicine, having studied with Rebecca Avern, who is the senior lecturer, clinical supervisor and teaching clinic director at The College of Integrated Chinese Medicine in Reading.
​
The combination of Acupuncture, Tui Na and Paediatrics, makes Truus able to work with all patients from infants to the elderly with any diagnosis using different techniques according to their needs and ailments.
​
Having worked in various community settings, Truus has set up ELM (East London Multibed), a collective of practitioners providing affordable acupuncture in East London.
​
As a qualified Acupuncturist and Tui Na practitioner, Truus is licensed and fully insured.
LicAc, dip.Tui Na, dip.Paed. Ac., Reiki 2
Website: www.tonify.systems
Email: truus@tonify.systems
07840 550 363
Vanessa Menendez-Covelo
​
-
LicAc, MBAcC, BSc, MSc, MPhil
-
Anatomical and Energetic Structures (AES) and Acupoints and Practical Skills (APS) Lecturer
-
Acupuncture Clinician
-
Acupuncturist in private practice
​
Vanessa initially turned to acupuncture to cope with the demands of a career in financial technology and an intense Ashtanga yoga practice. Inspired by the improvements in her own well-being, she then enrolled in CCA’s acupuncture licentiate and started her own acupuncture clinic just a few months before the Covid pandemic. Her clinic is now thriving and she has joined the CCA teaching staff to share her passion for traditional Chinese medicine.
​
“As a naturally curious person, practicing acupuncture provides me with the intellectual satisfaction of problem solving and the human factor of being able to help people”.
​
Sarah Haddon-Grant
​
Sarah is an acupuncturist practicing in Peckham and New Cross. She has a special interest in treating chronic conditions (including pain, anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia and IBS) as well as women’s health, fertility and IVF.
Sarah has undertaken postgraduate training in a number of areas including Acupuncture for Fertility and IVF, Classical Acupuncture, and Facial Acupuncture.
​
As part of her mission to make acupuncture accessible to a wider community, Sarah also runs a low cost community multi-bed clinic in Telegraph Hill, for low-income individuals that still want to experience the benefits. She is also a regular volunteer at Saint Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham where she supports patients in a palliative care setting.
​
Private practice: sarahhaddongrant.com
​
Community clinic website: hilltopacupuncture.co.uk
​
James Woodward
​​​
-
BA, LicAc, Dip Tui Na, MBAcC, VTCT
-
Professional and Practitioner Development (PPD-PA) Lecturer
-
Chinese Medicine 2 (CM2) Lecturer
-
Professional and Reflective Practice (PRP) Lecturer
-
Acupuncture Clinic (ACL) Supervisor
-
Tui Na Lecturer
-
Holistic Therapist
​
James studied Acupuncture at The City College of Acupuncture, graduating in 2017. He then returned to us to study Tui Na, graduating in 2019, and has since become a very welcome member of the CCA teaching team.
​
He studied Holistic Therapies at Canterbury College, completing a VTCT Diploma in 2009. This included Swedish massage, reflexology and aromatherapy.
​
James first started practicing reiki in 2006 and has studied with a range of teachers with different styles. In 2009 James qualified as a reiki teacher, and in 2012 founded the South East Kent Reiki Hands on Healing School. James volunteered for the NHS practicing reiki in the Supportive Therapies Unit for cancer patients at Canterbury Hospital, where his curiosity for acupuncture lead to his training at The City College of Acupuncture. He practices the Japanese style of reiki, and has his own YouTube channel with instructional videos for reiki techniques.
He runs his own practice, The Tranquillity Space in Herne Bay.