Meet Our Team

OWNER / ACUPUNCTURIST

Michaela is on maternity leave from June -September 2025:

I am a wife, mom to three children, business owner and a practitioner of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. In my practice I focus on Women’s Health, Fertility, and Pediatrics. I help women who are suffering from infertility, menstrual difficulties, and hormone imbalance. I also love working with  pregnant women at all stages of their pregnancy and preparing for delivery and healing during the postpartum phase. 

I am deeply passionate about helping women attain their goals of a healthy pregnancy, healthy childbirth, and smooth postpartum healing.  I also enjoy working with people suffering from anxiety and depression, insomnia, chronic illness, post Covid syndrome, and those looking for a way to manage their stress in our busy world. In my time away from work, I enjoy cooking, baking gluten-free goodies, singing and spending time in nature with my family. 

I believe our bodies are innately powerful, and with the right help, knowledge, and support, are capable of achieving balanced states of health.

OWNER / ACUPUNCTURIST

I am a healer and general practitioner of Chinese Medicine, treating a wide range of people with a variety of conditions. The main tools I use are Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Qi Gong, Shiatsu Massage, Dietary Therapy, and Counseling. I have been greatly influenced by holistic medicine and traditional healing practices from around the world for over 35 years. I help people with chronic pain, autoimmune and chronic illnesses including cancer, and I have a specialty in working with PTSD, trauma, anxiety, and depression. I also treat gynecological disorders and infertility. 

I have extensive training in Qi Gong and Tai Chi and have been a teacher of Qi Gong for 10 years. I look forward to bringing Qi Gong and Tai Chi classes to the Rapid City area. I’ve suffered from my own chronic illness since childhood and it is through Chinese Medicine, Qi Gong, and traditional ways that I’ve found healing and relief from pain and depression, and have ultimately found a life of freedom and purpose. I enjoy spending time in nature with my family, playing guitar, bird watching, and living life in the beautiful Black Hills.

Monique Mueller is joining our team for the summer of 2025. We are excited to welcome her!

"I am a Yoga Teacher and Acupuncturist.  I hold a Master's Degree in Acupuncture from the Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine, and am a licensed Acupuncturist in Wyoming. I've been practicing acupuncture full time since 2019 in Sheridan, WY, and am looking forward to now serving the communities of the Black Hills in Rapid City this summer. 

I enjoy working with fertility patients, and women throughout all stages of their pregnancy.  I see patients for pain (pre and post surgery), autoimmune disorders, wellness, and maintenance for aging bodies. I look forward to meeting each of you and seeing you around in the community!

In my free time I love teaching yoga, plants of all kinds, learning new things, lifting weights, walking and cooking."

I am a lifelong student of medicine and healing. After practicing as a Registered Nurse for nearly 20 years, I became drawn to finding a more natural and effective medicine that treats the whole being, mind, body, and spirit. I enjoy treating all kinds of pain, digestive disorders, autoimmune conditions, sleep disorders, skin conditions, women's health and overall wellness.  

I enjoy treating complex, complicated medical conditions that integrate both my western medical knowledge with Chinese Medicine theory and practices. I have a solid understanding of biomedical conditions and am happy to work with you and your other medical providers to help you achieve your health goals. In my free time I love spending time outdoors, hiking, fly-fishing rafting, camping and horseback riding. I am thrilled to join Thrive Acupuncture and Wellness and excited to be a part of the Black Hills community.

Ashlee is joining our team for the summer of 2025. We are excited to welcome her!

I am a Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist with a passion for integrative, whole-person care. With over 20 years of experience in the healing arts, my background includes massage therapy, teaching yoga, holistic birth support, and Classical Chinese Medicine. My work is deeply inspired by personal healing, extensive travel and leading wellness retreats, and I bring a heart-centered, holistic approach to supporting women’s health, autoimmune conditions, pain, stress, and emotional well-being.

I am also a certified Wahls Protocol® Health Practitioner and love helping those with autoimmune conditions reclaim their vitality through personalized, root-cause care that integrates acupuncture, nutrition, and lifestyle shifts.

Outside the clinic, I enjoy traveling and camping in our converted camper with my husband, our 6-year-old son, and our dog. I love hiking, swimming, practicing yoga, and cooking nutrient-dense paleo meals.

I’m honored to support you in your wellness journey and thrilled to be spending the summer exploring and practicing in the Black Hills.