Kate Mansfield Acupuncture

233 West 19th Street (btw. 7th & 8th Aves.)

Call 929-277-0760

Visit KateMansfieldAcupuncture.com

Scott Stiffler, for Chelsea Community News (CCNews): What is your interest, background, and training in acupuncture?

Kate Mansfield (Kate): I came to acupuncture via tai chi chuan. Our tai chi school offered qigong classes that incorporated postures, movements and massages that help us align with nature and the energy of each season. At that time I was living in London, where I had sought out tai chi classes to balance the stress of working as an architect and environmental consultant.

In 2012, I went back to school to learn 5 Element Acupuncture—first in Dublin, Ireland with the College of 5 Element Acupuncture (COFEA), then continuing in Gainesville, Florida with the Academy of 5 Element Acupuncture (AFEA). The school switch came about because somewhere in there, I fell in love with a New Yorker and wanted to make sure I met all the requirements to be able to practice here!

In 2016, I completed my Masters in Acupuncture and moved to New York. I was very fortunate to practice out of an office with Stephen Flores and Dr. Robert Abramson, two very experienced Five Element acupuncturists. 

CCNews: Talk a bit more about why, and how, you’ve brought the 5 Element approach to Chelsea.

Kate: 5 Element Acupuncture is a bit different than the TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) style most people have experienced. TCM focuses on diagnosing patterns of disharmony and uses point combinations to treat these patterns. Five Element Acupuncture seeks to diagnose the underlying cause of imbalance, called the Causative Factor, and that is the primary focus of treatment. Since we are balancing the whole (mind, body and spirit), treatments tend to last longer.

CCNews: What made you choose Chelsea as the place for your business?

Kate: Primarily, accessibility for patients and proximity to home, but also finding the right space! I wanted a location and space that enabled me to interact and support my local community, and I found that. I have a retail space about halfway between Seventh and Eighth Avenues on West 19th Street, and I have great neighbors (PT in the City and Dima hair salon). I’ve been here since September 2025, and love it. The space is also big enough for us to teach small tai chi classes in the future. I have patients who travel to me from New Jersey, UES, UWS, and even visitors from other cities, but it is so nice to get an acupuncture treatment and then stroll home, instead of dealing with the subway. I want everyone in the neighborhood to know I am here because I would love to have an acupuncturist so close.

CCNews: Many people will associate acupuncture with those images of many long needles stuck in the body. For those who’ve never had an acupuncture treatment, what can you tell them about the “pain factor?” Is that even a thing?

Kate: I think that is also what put me off acupuncture for many years! Let’s start with—I do not use those giant long needles, and in general I do not leave needles in. My needles are about an inch long, very thin, and most are inserted less than an 1/8th inch. There is a sensation when the tip (of the tiny needle) pierces the skin and another sensation when the needle connects with the acupuncture point. The first can be minimized through a needling technique to spread the skin as the needle is inserted. The second sensation can feel anything from a slight sting to something zingier or a dull ache. If there is a strong sensation then usually something was stuck and it is being released, so that is a good thing!

I have worked with many needlephobic patients successfully over the years—by working with the timing of the breath and offering likely sensations to expect with each point. We also use fewer needles in 5 Element Acupuncture, and I never leave you alone with needles in.

CCNews: Prior to first treatment, what do you talk about with clients, in terms of how acupuncture fits into their health and wellness practices?

Kate: The first time someone comes in, I ask them to fill out an intake form and then I do a full consultation. This includes standard things such as contact information, primary care physician, etc. I ask about medical history, and also about lifestyle (emotional health, quality of life, stressors, hobbies, exercise). Then there is a whole section of checkboxes covering neuropsychological, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, genito-urinary, musculoskeletal.

It is comprehensive because I want the big picture of everything that could be contributing to imbalance. After the consultation, I will take blood pressure, check surface temperature of the body, and listen to pulses, then do a type of clearing treatment called “Tapping for Aggressive Energy.” If the body is holding on to something from previous trauma, that can prevent healing from happening. People generally report feeling lighter and sleeping better after this treatment.

CCNews: How do I know if acupuncture is for me?

Kate: Everybody responds to acupuncture differently. So until you try it, you won’t really know. I want to make it easy and affordable for people to find out!  I offer a free, 15-minute consultation by phone or in the clinic, with no obligation. And on Tuesday evenings I have Community Clinic offering cheaper stress relief treatments.

I do accept health insurance, and there is a button on my website (katemansfieldacupuncture.com) where you can check if acupuncture is covered. You can reach me at katemansfieldacu@gmail.com. Or come by and say hello!

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