LEWISTON — Lynn MacDonald-Webber, licensed acupuncturist and partner of the Androscoggin Wellness Group, has brought community acupuncture to the Lewiston-Auburn area.

Instead of seeing each client at a personal appointment time, she sees clients in groups at her business at 95 Park St., Suite 201 in Lewiston.

MacDonald-Webber switched from a boutique model of acupuncture to community acupuncture when she moved her practice to Androscoggin County to expand access to acupuncture in the Lewiston-Auburn area.

“People can see me for less than a typical co-pay,” she said. With the group atmosphere, “They get the whole community experience,” she said.

MacDonald-Webber said social support has been shown to be a good predictor of longevity. Her clients sit back in the group treatment room and relax with their peers. A phenomenon known to practitioners as “group chi” often occurs, where all of her clients in the room will fall asleep at the same time or wake up at the same time.

Claire McCallion comes to the Androscoggin Wellness Group in Lewiston for acupuncture to treat seasonal depression and common anxiety problems. 

“It’s the highlight of my week,” McCallion said. “My experience with Lynn has changed my outlook.”

Sometimes clients will talk with each other in the waiting room, but once in the treatment room, everything is quiet.

“It’s a quiet, peaceful oasis — a 30- to 60-minute timeout that might just include a nap,” McCallion said. 

For more information about the process, visit the contact MacDonald-Webber at androwellnessgroup.com.