Jill Hall is our longest term volunteer. She offers acupuncture to our residents and staff on a monthly basis, and has been since the opening of the Cornerstone Program in 2011. Jill has participated in acupuncture for the last 12 years, and started practicing in 2007. Jill’s day job is at Prince George’s Community College where she serves as the Literacy and Tutoring Program Coordinator; before that she was a Montessori teacher. We are so grateful that she finds time in her schedule to work with our residents.
Acupuncture is a form of complementary medicine designed to help reduce pain and stress and support those with addiction. It involves stimulating acupuncture points, most often using penetration with needles. While Jill describes acupuncture as extremely safe and relaxing, some people are apprehensive with the use of needles. Because of this, Jill offers acupuncture using seed beads and magnets for residents as well. Acupuncture has been gaining popularity in the US since it was introduced in the 1970s as an alternative wellness practice. At Cornerstone, Jill uses the “acu-detox” method which is the 5 needle protocol, (inserting 5 needles in each ear). This method boosts the immune system and facilitates overall wellness.
What Jill likes about acupuncture is its holistic nature. It takes the mind, body and spirit into account regardless of what a client comes in with, whether that’s stress, trauma or back pain. Jill believes that acupuncture has a lot to contribute to traditional Western medicine. Jill says that acupuncture is effective without being emotionally intrusive or requiring a lot of conversation. Clients are able to let go and experience relief without saying anything at all. Jill describes this as the de-numbing effect, when the women experience a feeling of being more alive and awake to their bodies and the world.
Jill’s experience at DASH has been pleasant. She says that the “overall commitment by the staff is beautiful and heartwarming.” Most of all she enjoys working with the DASH residents, and says that the “gratitude expressed by the women has been profound.” She enjoys her role and likes to provide a safe space among all the challenges that the DASH residents (and sometimes staff!) may face.
Jill is the February Volunteer of the Month because of her dedication to the DASH mission and because she has successfully taken a relatively unknown activity and transformed it into one of the most popular and consistent wellness programs at DASH. She brings a much-needed holistic approach to the healing process of our residents and they have responded enthusiastically. We appreciate her ability to adapt to the needs of the residents as well as her consistency and professionalism. It is only because of the generosity of volunteers like Jill that DASH is able to serve so many. At DASH we are proud to say that acupuncture is one of our keystone programs. It reflects our innovative approach to holistic healing. Thank you Jill!
