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Career Switch
From Paralegal to Acupuncture Physician
by lee walker
W
hen her Kung Fu instructor suggested that Phyllis Weber enroll in an
acupuncture course to better understand how to direct her energy dur-
ing martial arts competitions, she never dreamed it would lead to a new
career. “I signed on to learn about acupuncture principles from a martial arts per-
spective,” quips Weber, “but I had no intention of ever being an acupuncturist. By
the time I graduated from acupuncture school, I’d changed my mind about many
ideas I’d been skeptical about.”
The training not only stretched Weber’s belief system; it also became her life’s
work. After completing three years of acupuncture courses in 1996, Weber tran-
Photos: Phyllis Weber (above) and
sitioned from a 18-year career as a paralegal to become a licensed acupuncture
Weber with client (below)
physician.
But, Weber’s interest in working with an individual’s energy system didn’t
later, her only remaining symptom was
end with her acupuncture education. The National Certification Commission for
the existing optic nerve damage, and
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine requires 60 continuing education units every
I was no longer a skeptic. Today, this
four years, plus, the state of Florida requires 30 units every two years. This makes
woman walks five miles a day without
related classes in energy work, like Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique
a cane.”
(NAET), important to acupuncturists like Weber. She first heard about the therapy
Education is central to Weber’s
from a fellow practitioner.
practice. “I’m the end of the line for
Information on NAET.com purports that most illnesses are caused by undi-
most of my patients,” remarks Weber.
agnosed allergies that cause blockages within the energy pathways, also known
“They’ve been everywhere and tried ev-
as meridians. Practitioners maintain that this natural method provides permanent
erything else, so by the time I get them,
freedom from allergies and diseases arising from allergens.
they are willing to listen and learn.”
“I became interested because NAET is about getting an individual’s energy
They learn about their power to change
system to reprogram itself,” says Weber. “I liked the goal of eliciting a permanent
and what is required: a combination of
solution for a health problem, rather than giving repeated acupuncture treat-
altered diet, exercise and meditation.
ments.”
“From the start, I tell everyone, ‘It’s
However, Weber was more skeptical about NAET than she was acupuncture.
not within my power or anyone else’s
“When I first saw the instructor doing one of the techniques, I thought to myself,
to fix you. It’s your responsibility,’”
‘She has to be kidding. This must be some hocus-pocus thing,’” laughs Weber.
emphasizes Weber. “I let them know
It was three months after the class before Weber made use of NAET. Al-
immediately that if they aren’t willing
though her logical brain wouldn’t accept that the technique could produce any
to make lifestyle changes and do their
real results, Weber agreed to try it on a patient she’d been treating for more than
homework (like keeping a food diary),
two years. The
then I can’t help them.”
woman was open
Although many of Weber’s patients
to the idea, because
are as skeptical as she once was about
nothing else she
the body’s energy system and how it
had previously tried
works, fortunately, a large percentage
provided any for-
of them share her curiosity and open-
ward progress in her
ness to new ideas. “I like seeing how
symptoms of drop
people’s lives change once their belief
foot, digestive prob-
system is altered,” remarks Weber. “For
lems and a limp.
me, it’s about empowering people and
“I told my client
helping them to feel responsible for
about the bizarre
managing their health.”
technique I had
learned and ex-
For more information on acupuncture
plained that I had
or NAET, call Phyllis Weber at 239-
no idea about why
841-6611 (Naples) or 239-936-4199
it worked,” advises
(Ft. Myers). Online, visit NAET.com.
Weber. “Six months
See ad, page 9.
2 Collier / Lee Counties
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