Meet Prisca Chen

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Prisca Chen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Prisca below.

Hi Prisca, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

Overcoming imposter syndrome came in phases. I was brought up to become a certain person, and stepping outside of those boundaries and discovering my self-worth required a lot of education (academic and worldly), surrounding myself with the right kinds of people, and several moments of spiritual awakening.

I was born and raised in a working class, conservative Christian family with Taiwanese immigrant parents. Perhaps it was because previous generations before me survived famines, wars, and political turmoil, that my parents’ only wish for their children was to be safe, healthy, and have stability. From a young age I was encouraged to put my head down and study hard, be humble, and eventually find a low-stress steady job rather than chase my dreams or “do too much” to achieve what were perceived as lofty goals. Whenever I saw important-looking people wearing nice clothes, carrying designer bags, enjoying fine dining establishments, my parents reminded me that that kind of life is “not for us” because “we’re not those kinds of people.”

At school, being one of the few Asian American students – and of the female gender – I conformed to the Model Minority archetype: I rarely raised my hand to speak or ask questions, never volunteered to be a leader for group projects, always followed the rules, and was the one the teacher occasionally sat the troubled students next to as punishment, hoping I would help influence them to behave better. I found it odd when teachers would tell us that we could achieve anything we put our minds to, that the sky’s the limit, because in our household, we were told to be humble, to be realistic. Careers in leadership, to be “professionals” or “experts,” were out of the question because “we’re not those kinds of people” and I shouldn’t “do too much.”

At church every Sunday, we were taught that the man was the head of the household, to follow the guidance of the Elders. A woman shouldn’t be too educated, otherwise she wouldn’t be able to find a husband. Perhaps it was a coincidence, but I noticed the other kids in my Sunday school class whose parents and grandparents were considered Elders, also came from affluent families. It seemed as if one’s wealth correlated with how blessed they were, and how much power and influence they had on our congregation. Ironically, we were taught that money is the root of all evil, and that we should earn just enough for what we needed, that anything extra should be given to those less fortunate rather than to spend on worldly pleasures.

And so for most of my childhood, I thought my goal in life was to do well in school, go to college to find a husband, and live a comfortable, humble life in the suburbs while raising children. I didn’t dream of pursuing education beyond a bachelor’s degree, never mind being a business owner and health professional in a big city such as New York.

After graduating from acupuncture school, my first job was at a well-established clinic in Manhattan. They paid slightly above minimum wage and expected me to follow their strict treatment protocols, leaving little room for growth. When I decided to leave that position to build my own practice, my parents anxiously urged me to stay. “Why would you do that? They’re paying you enough to live on,” they said. Running a clinic in New York City seemed like an unattainable lofty dream, and they reminded me they wouldn’t be able to support me if I failed. But I had a vision for the kind of practitioner I wanted to be and the practice I wanted to build. The managers of this clinic told me not to talk too much, to do too much, because I wasn’t the boss. I knew I couldn’t grow or achieve those goals by staying at the clinic. I was tired of putting my head down, silently following the rules. I wanted to be my own boss, set my own terms, and become the person I’d always been told I couldn’t be. I wanted to help people become better educated about their health, to empower them to take control and make informed decisions about their health and reach their goals.

With the support of my then-boyfriend, who said he would cover rent and I could chip in when I could, I put all of my time and energy into becoming a better practitioner and businesswoman. I knew I was young and not a seasoned practitioner, but I was eager to learn. I worked hard to obtain my board certification in reproductive health and fertility so I could truly become an expert in my field. I read books and took classes on practice management and marketing strategies. I forced myself out of my introverted shell to network. I met and spoke with other more experienced colleagues who offered their wisdom, to whom I am forever grateful. I built my own website and learned how to do Search Engine Optimization because I couldn’t afford to hire someone to do it for me then. Failing was not an option, because, as my parents reminded me, I literally couldn’t afford to fail. The more I learned, the hungrier I became to consume more knowledge on how to improve, and a fire lit inside of me with more ideas on how to build the practice of my dreams.

Networking for the first time with doctors and other health practitioners was a strange mix of excitement and self-doubt. At my first networking event, I was surrounded by professionals who were all older than me, dressed sharply, and spoke with a confidence that I could only admire. When they asked how long I’d been practicing, I could see their polite smiles while their eyes glazed over when I said I was a fertility acupuncturist. Their questions felt condescending at times —”Do you think acupuncture actually works?” “You probably haven’t been practicing for very long, have you?” It didn’t matter that I was one of just seven board-certified acupuncturists in New York City. It made me question if I belonged there. Am I an expert or a fraud? Am I boss lady material?

In my office every day was an internal struggle to balance my youthful appearance with the weight of the expertise I was striving to achieve, all while caring for patients who trusted me with their health. The challenge of charging higher fees for my specialized work often left me questioning whether I truly deserved those rates. Despite the countless hours of additional education, multiple board certifications, and ongoing professional development, I couldn’t shake the question: Have I done enough, or have I overdone it?

One of the greatest factors that helped me overcome imposter syndrome has been my community of fellow boss-lady colleagues. Many of the mentors I’ve connected with over the years have remained close friends. My colleagues and I continue to offer each other emotional support and encouragement. We collaborate in caring for mutual patients. We often share with each other on which conferences to attend, which courses to take, even which scrubs are most comfortable. We put our heads together to come up with solutions to challenges in business and practice management — particularly as we navigated the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, when we all had to close our practices and rebuild. We emerged stronger than ever and continue to remind each other of our achievements, ensuring we give ourselves a seat at the table and lean in as experts. We also remind each other to rest. As I attended more networking events, both formal and casual, and gained the respect of a few other members of the healthcare community, I started to realize my role in the industry. I ignored the naysayers, and fostered relationships with the ones that respected me and my work. As our collaborative efforts helped our mutual patients get better, it felt rewarding, and this feeling of being an “imposter” started fading away. The voices telling me I wasn’t this type of person became quieter. My patient roster grew, and hearing stories of their healthcare journeys were humbling. I felt honored to be part of their journeys. I treat people of all genders, religions, sexual orientations, ages, economic backgrounds, and I learn from them every day.

Fast forward to today. Whenever self-doubt creeps in—or even when my parents remind me not to work too hard and to stay humble—I reflect on how far I’ve come. I now have a thriving practice, travel often, eat well, and continue to work hard on improving my practice. I take pride in empowering my patients with their health, and helping hundreds of people start families. I am now on the referral list of several fertility clinics and physical therapy practices in the city, and even a few others around the country. I have a photo wall of babies I pass every day, each one a reminder of the stories my patients have shared with me about their fertility struggles. I know I still have more to learn, and more room to grow, but I also know it’s okay to stop and rest, and celebrate every achievement. And that boyfriend who once helped with rent? We’re married, and I’m proudly covering the rent for our Manhattan apartment while he pursues his dreams.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I founded Tranquility Base Acupuncture to offer a place that’s free of judgement, safe place for New Yorkers to share their challenges so that we can collaborate on the best way to overcome them and achieve their goals. As a patient-centered practitioner, I aim for optimal results through compassion, healthcare literacy, and empowerment: the more one know about their body, the more control they have over their healthcare decisions. I help my patients with interpreting their healthcare data and encourage them to ask questions so they get the answers they need to improve their health. Whether it’s lifestyle recommendations, nutrition (I love food and spend hours talking about how we can use food as medicine), or all the various modalities that TCM encompasses, I collaborate with my patients and their healthcare providers to offer the best care. While specializing in reproductive health and fertility, I also support various health issues and advocate for patients at every stage of their journey.

Some of the conditions I see a lot in my practice include gynecological issues (such as PCOS, endometriosis, perimenopause), male and female infertility, hormonal imbalance, and supporting transgender health. Another growing branch of my practice is in cosmetic acupuncture, including facial rejuvenation, hair restoration, weight loss, and Bell’s palsy recovery. I use an integrative approach, using traditional and modern modalities.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Be like bamboo: resilient and adaptable
When faced with frustrations, challenges, and constant change, it’s important to stay strong and adapt. In Chinese medicine, we say if you’re too stubborn and rigid, you will fall over when the wind blows. If you’re not rooted and too light, you will float away. Bamboo stalks are strong, rooted, and flexible. New York City is a fast-paced, competitive environment, and the path to becoming both an acupuncturist and a business owner often requires navigating unexpected challenges. Resilience — the ability to bounce back from setbacks — and adaptability — the ability to adjust to new situations or opportunities — were critical to survival. Whether it was overcoming moments of self-doubt or adapting my business strategy to grow, these traits helped me persist through tough times. There were also many times things didn’t pan out the way I wanted, no matter how much I planned, and I had to be ok with it.

2. Holistic knowledge of TCM and Western medicine
I believe in order to be an expert in one field, you must have knowledge of the other, so that you can help your patients receive the best care possible. The depth of my training and expertise in acupuncture was foundational to my practice, obviously. Also having technical knowledge of basic allopathic medicine was paramount in understanding my patients healthcare, communicating with their doctors, and helping my patients navigate every step of their healthcare journey. This knowledge allowed me to build trust and respect with patients and their other health practitioners, and offer effective treatments. Staying current with new research and continuing education in the field also helped me offer the best possible care.

3. Bamboo is stronger in a forest rather than as a single stalk
As a female business owner in a city as diverse and competitive as New York, the importance of a strong network cannot be stressed enough. Not only can a strong network provide referrals, but a good network also provides emotional support, creative ideas, important updates of the latest news and regulations that affect business, connections to other businesses and organizations, and so much more. As mentioned earlier, you must be strong and resilient like bamboo, and bamboo is strongest as a forest rather than as a single stalk.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I’m currently offering support for transgender health in my practice, including reducing side effects of hormonal therapy, post-surgical recovery, and emotional wellness. I would love to collaborate with organizations that work with LGBTQ+ health, particularly transgender health. I’ve reached out to a few in NYC and have not heard back, so the knowledge I have now is through. my own research via interviews with trans people and familiarity with drugs working in fertility and gynecology. It’s an area that has not been explored much, if at all, in TCM, and it’s only starting to be recognized and growing in Western medicine in the past decade or so. I would like more TCM practices to offer safe spaces to support trans health, and to help TCM practitioners obtain more knowledge so we can provide better transgender care.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tranquilityacu.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilitybaseacu/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tranquilitybaseacu/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tranquility-base-acupuncture-new-york-4

Image Credits

photos by Lily Marceau Telford