Meet Karissa McCallum, L.Ac., CD (DONA)

 

Licensed Acupuncturist • Herbalist • Doula • Essential Oil Educator

Hi! I'm Karissa — a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, certified birth doula, and essential oil educator based in Arlington Heights, IL. I specialize in women’s health, including fertility, pregnancy, postpartum care, and emotional well-being, and I love supporting families through all stages of life.

My path to East Asian Medicine started with a lifelong interest in health, birth, and children. After graduating from Northwestern University with a degree in Human Development and Psychological Services, I discovered acupuncture and felt immediately drawn to its holistic approach to mind, body, and spirit. I earned my degree from Pacific College of Health Sciences – Chicago, where I completed over a dozen clinical rotations and immersed myself in Chinese herbal medicine.

My personal health journey, along with five empowering home births of my own, deepened my passion for supporting women through birth and beyond. Becoming a doula felt like a natural extension of my work — blending my knowledge of acupuncture, emotional support, and essential oils into every birth I attend.

I currently practice at Family Tree Holistic Health, where I treat a wide range of conditions — from insomnia and headaches to pediatric care — always integrating essential oils into my treatments. I also handcraft my own line of essential oil blends and rollerballs to support wellness at home.

When I'm not in the office or attending a birth, I'm home with my husband, Patrick, our five amazing kids, and our sweet pup Ziggy. I love homeschooling, cooking, journaling, and recharging with yoga or a good soak in the tub.

I’m so glad you're here — I’d love to support you on your wellness journey!

Licensing / Accreditations

I am passionate about the overall wellness of my patients and enjoy taking continuing education classes.

 

CREDENTIALING

  • Licensed Acupuncturist & Herbalist in Illinois

  • DONA Certified Doula

SPECIAL LECTURES ATTENDED AT PACIFIC HEALTH SCIENCE’S MEDICAL SYMPOSIUM - SAN DIEGO

  • Chi Nei Tsag (internal massage of the organs)

  • Acupuncture for Weight Loss

  • Facial Diagnosis

  • Abdominal Diagnosis and Treatment

  • Food as Therapy

  • Immunology for Children

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION & CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

  • Completed a year-long mentorship with Marie-France Collin, specializing in accessory techniques such as cupping, moxibustion, gua sha, and channel pathway treatments.

  • Shadowed Dr. Lixin Sha, a China-trained practitioner with extensive experience in women’s health, pain management, and internal medicine.

  • Participated in an intensive clinical and academic program in China, including lectures on sports injury treatment, eye disorders, herbal processing, and traditional "nourishing life" principles. Observed inpatient hospital rounds in neurology, urology, gastroenterology, respiratory, rheumatology, and OB/GYN departments.in treating women’s health, pain, and more.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Acupuncture

  • Canonical Chinese Medicine Training: Shanhan Lun 

  • Canonical Chinese Medicine Training Jingui Yaolue

  • Balance Method with Dr. Tan

  • Build Your Confidence with Pediatric Essentials Robin Ray Green, L.Ac 

  • Everyday Holistic Pediatrics Elisa Song, MD

  • The Treatment of Gynecological Disorders with Herbs and Essential Oils Peter Holmes L.Ac, MH 

  • Eight Extraordinary Vessels and Their Clinical Application with Marie-France Collin 

  • Infertility: Blending Eastern and Western Medicine with Dr. Kate Phillippi L.Ac, DACM, FABORM

  • Integrative Approach for Common Fertility and Reproductive Disorders Laura Erlich, L.Ac

  • An Integrative Approach to Recurrent Pregnancy Loss and Repeated Implantation Failure Ursula Ritz, L.Ac

  • Maternity Acupuncture- Clinical Realities: Problem Solving Through Clinical Scenarios Debra Betts, L.Ac

  • Habitual Miscarriage: Diagnosis and Treatment with Case Studies Sharon Weizenbaum, L.Ac

Doula

  • Successful Ways to Manage Your Doula Business 

  • Perinatal Mental Health and the Intersection of Domestic Violence 

  • Postpartum Mood Disorders: How to Build Your Client’s Resiliency 

  • Ethical Dilemma of Recreational Marijuana Use for Breastfeeding and Pregnant People 

  • Designing a Successful Brand 

  • Issues in the Breech Presentation 

  • Breastfeeding in Special Circumstances

  • I have been going to see Karissa McCallum for over 2 years for acupuncture and cupping treatments. I originally went for treatment of migraine headaches, but quickly learned that acupuncture can treat almost anything. Karissa is a true healer that is intuitive, caring, comforting and has provided much relief for me through her acupuncture and cupping treatments. Karissa’s ability to make you feel cared for and understood is remarkable, and she provides amazing care. The office is warm and inviting, having almost a spa like feel to it.

    Shelly G.

  • Karissa is such a gift! Our family is so grateful for Karissa McCallum, who has helped both my husband and I with her wonderful talent and skill of acupuncture. Our family wouldn't be the same without her!

    Grace N.

  • Karissa is an excellent practitioner who works to find a treatment to help. I have seen her for circulatory issues, stress relief, and rosacea. Her acupuncture treatments are gentle and effective. We are glad to have found a great clinic like Family Tree so we don’t have to travel to Chicago for treatments.

    Liz C.

  • My treatments with Karissa began with the purpose of regulating my cycle following a miscarriage that was difficult both medically and emotionally. Karissa met my concerns with a level of care and compassion that led me to feel immediately comfortable and confident in her approach and treatment. During the course of my treatments with her, not only has she restored and regulated my menstrual cycles, but she has alleviated digestive symptoms, minimized skin breakouts, and elevated my mood. Once my cycle was back to normal, our focus shifted to optimizing fertility, and within a very short time I was pregnant again. Now our sessions focus on managing the symptoms of early pregnancy, including nausea, palpitations, swellings, heartburn, and more. Karissa is an excellent listener, a thoughtful clinician, and an effective practitioner. I look forward to meeting with her each week as she continues to promote bodily harmony, balance, and well-being throughout my pregnancy and beyond.

    Ashley

  • After dealing with some intense ovulation pain that had no clear diagnosis and that pain medication did not help to ease I decided to give acupuncture a try. I was referred to Karissa by a friend and I went in with an open mind but honestly was not expecting much change. I was greatly and happily proven wrong! After only 2 sessions my pain lessened and after regularly seeing Karissa the pain has completely gone away. She is an amazing practitioner who listens and uses her expertise to not only heal physical pain but mental as well. I am very grateful to have found Karissa & Family Tree Holistic Health.

    Dominika K.

  • We’re so glad we had Karissa as our doula. I truly could not have had the unmedicated birth I so badly wanted without her. Through a very rough pregnancy she was a great source of support. She was such a huge help creating our birth plan. My husband was so grateful to have Karissa in the delivery room with us. She would provide pain relief tips, help communicate with nurses and doctors, answer questions we had when nurses weren’t present. So my husband didn’t have to and could just focus on me. She also captured amazing photos for us that we would have never had without her there. Overall cannot recommend having a doula enough. Especially for first time moms. And especially if you have the opportunity to work with Karissa!

    Jackie G.

  • Karissa is a wonderful doula and acupuncturist. We started working with her early in my pregnancy and she was always available to answer questions and would reach out to her large network for resources. She was very thorough in asking me what kind of environment I wanted when I was in labor and asked about things I liked/disliked so she could plan for how to best support us. We were planning a home birth and Karissa came over to the house when we were ready for her help and she was a calm, gentle support as labor unfolded. When things weren’t progressing, she gave me ideas of things to try to get labor started again. She gave me a gentle acupuncture treatment that worked well to get the contractions going again and used her essential oils to provide a relaxing environment as well as an oil on my abdomen to help get the contractions going. When we ended up transferring to the hospital, she stayed by my side as I was put on Pitocin and was a knowledgeable advocate with the OB and nurses as well as a continued support for me as I was scared and exhausted. She stayed with us for over 55 hours of labor until they took me in for a c-section. She stayed in contact in the days and weeks after our son was born and even brought a nourishing, home-cooked meal to us at home. I can’t recommend Karissa enough and am so thankful we had her by our side as we navigated a long, difficult labor and delivery.

    Katie P.