Teri Calandra MSTOM, Dipl. Ac. (NCBAHM™), L.Ac., LMT, RMT, Certified NET Practitioner

About Teri Calandra

Teri Calandra brings an unusual blend of discipline, empathy, and curiosity to her work as an acupuncturist.

She graduated with a BA in Dance from the University of Iowa, and danced for over 20 years before finally setting aside her pointe shoes to further her education. Years of musculoskeletal injuries — paired with lifelong allergies — gave her firsthand insight into chronic pain and imbalance, and led her naturally to acupuncture as a profession.

That personal experience shapes how she practices today. Teri approaches every patient with genuine empathy, working to help them find relief as quickly and effectively as possible. She believes strongly in an integrative approach to healing: Where one medicine leaves off, another picks up. It’s this philosophy — treating the whole person, not just the symptom — that guides her care.

Teri’s interest in energy medicine began as part of her own personal development journey, and it has since become a core part of her practice. Combined with her certification as a  NAET and NET practitioner, her depth of training sets her apart from other acupuncturists and alternative health practitioners in the Chicagoland area.

Education

Teri graduated from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, Chicago, IL in 2009 with her Masters of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, and herbology. In 2005, she earned her degree in massage therapy from American Institute of Alternative Medicine – Columbus, Ohio. She specializes in Tui Na (Chinese Medical Massage that uses acupressure).

She is licensed by the state of Illinois in acupuncture (L.Ac.), and is board certified through The National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (NCBAHM), formerly the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), as a Diplomate in Acupuncture.

Energy Medicine & Continued Study

Teri has practiced energy medicine since 2011, driven by a desire to better understand her own gifts and capacity for self-healing. Her journey began with the study of Akashic Records under Christina Cross, and expanded to include Reiki, Hawaiian Energy Healing, and other energy healing modalities, including Access Consciousness Bars.

 She became Reiki Master Teacher certified with the Usui Shiki Ryoho lineage in 2013, and with the Usui Reiki Ryoho lineage in 2017 as taught by Frans Stiene of the International House of Reiki (IHR). She continues teaches Usui Reiki Ryoho lineage throughout the year. In August 2018, she authored an article for Acupuncture Today, “It’s All About That Ki,” detailing her experience combining Reiki with acupuncture treatments.

In 2023, Teri attended her first Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET) seminar — an experience she describes as deeply transformational, both for herself and her patients. NET’s ability to quickly and efficiently identify and correct the body’s stress response resonated as the mind-body modality she’d been looking for. She became officially certified in Neuro-Emotional Technique in 2026.

Professional training and certifications