Registered Acupuncturists at Access Acupuncture in Dartmouth, NS

Christian Saint-Pierre, R.Ac
As a registered acupuncturist, Christian has spent most of his adult life analyzing & integrating both the classical & cutting-edge concepts of acupuncture.
Early Training & Practice
In his teens, he learned how to treat sports injuries with Chinese Massage & herbal ointments during his Kung Fu training. In 2002, he moved to Nelson BC in order to study acupuncture at the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences.
After receiving his acupuncturist certification in 2005, he practiced & continued studying so as to better help his patients & his community.
In so doing, Christian developed a great interest in pre-Maoist acupuncture, chrono-acupuncture & Daoist medicine.
Post-Graduate Study
In early 2010, he met the late great Dr. Richard Tan & discovered the Balance Method; an authentic, stunningly effective Taiwanese system of acupuncture & Chinese medicine, rooted in Daoist philosophy & practice.
Without a doubt, this was exactly what Christian had been looking for. The logical, comprehensive system resonated deeply with Christian, who began practicing the Balance Method exclusively.
Christian then spent nearly 5 years studying with Dr. Tan, learning & acquiring the Balance Method’s skills of acupuncture, FengShui, BaZi & QiGong.
Before Dr Tan’s death in 2014, while in Paris, he named Christian as “one of the best Balance Method practitioners ”.
Christian is one of ten practitioners in Canada to hold the highest level of certification in The Balance Method. He is also a certified BaZi consultant & YiJing practitioner. He taught for the Academy of Acupuncture in San Diego for 5 years, & now teaches the Balance Method independently to local practitioners.
Access Acupuncture Begins & Evolves
In 2012, Christian eventually moved to Cornwall & opened an acupuncture clinic with his wife, Julie. After seven years of successful practice in Cornwall, Christian moved to Nova Scotia with his family. He now practices at Access Acupuncture in Dartmouth, NS. He lives with his family in Halifax.
Christian is a registered acupuncturist with the Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine Association of Nova Scotia (ATCMANS). He was formerly & registered with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners & Acupuncturists of Ontario (CTCMPAO).

Julie Saint-Pierre, R.Ac
Julie underwent acupuncture treatments in 2005 after suffering a series of anaphylactic shocks due to food allergies. Twelve sessions later, to her allergist’s amazement, Julie could eat 15 out of 16 foods previously forbidden to her!
Filled with a desire to help others who found themselves in the same situation, Julie enrolled at the International Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Ottawa, Ontario, where she graduated in 2012. In the last months of her studies, she met Dr. Tan and dove deep into the Balance Method, a highly effective style of Taiwanese acupuncture. She refined her style and now provides professional, individualized quality treatments.
In 2017, she created Access Acupuncture KIDS – a program designed to provide highly effective, natural pediatric care for children & teens, treating a wide variety of chronic conditions such as asthma, anxiety, pain, menstrual issues and more!
After seven years as a successful practitioner in Cornwall, Julie & her family moved to Nova Scotia and opened a clinic in Dartmouth. Julie now practices acupuncture, prescribes herbal formulas, and specializes in pain, women’s health, fertility, perinatal care, & pediatrics.
Julie is the only acupuncturist in the Atlantic provinces to be certified by the Obstetrical Acupuncture Association. She provides the highest treatment quality when it comes to fertility, pregnancy, postpartum and lactation care. Every week, she gives treatments at The Perinatal Wellness Centre for women in all stages on their conception journey. She is also the only acupuncturist to offer the Mother Roasting treatment in NS, which is offered 4 days to 3 months after giving birth to help recover from labour, to “seal the gate” and to address any lactation challenges.
Julie also partnered with SheSpot, a women’s pelvic health clinic in Nova Scotia. She used her expert practitioner skills to provide superior patient outcomes for bladder, gynecological & hormonal imbalances.
As a Francophone, she loves to connect with & unite Francophone health practitioners in the HRM.
As a member of the Centre For Women in Business, Julie collaborates with other woman entrepreneurs, who are all helping each other achieve their dreams and acting as community role models.

James Hagen, R.Ac
James Hagen: A Balanced Approach to Healing
James Hagen is a registered acupuncturist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who brings a unique blend of scientific understanding and holistic philosophy to his practice. Born in Colorado Springs and raised with a passion for martial arts, James’s path to acupuncture was paved with both personal experience and academic pursuit.
After completing an Honors Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario in 2014, James found himself sidelined from his beloved martial arts due to debilitating back and knee pain. It was through the transformative power of acupuncture that he was able to heal and return to his active lifestyle. This profound experience ignited a passion for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), leading him to pursue a Diploma of Acupuncture at the Canadian College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Halifax, which he completed in 2024.
Now settled in Halifax, James is dedicated to helping others achieve optimal health and well-being through acupuncture. He is particularly drawn to the Balance Method, a contemporary approach to acupuncture that emphasizes a systematic and precise application of TCM principles. He continually refines his skills by studying and practicing with experienced practitioners Christian and Julie.
Beyond his professional life, James remains a dedicated martial artist, currently training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kung Fu. His lifelong journey through martial arts, which began with Karate at the age of 10 and evolved to include Kickboxing, has instilled in him discipline, focus, and a deep understanding of the body’s mechanics. He also finds creative expression through music, playing bass guitar in “Apéro,” a local Halifax band. His interests extend to breakdancing and delving into the depths of Chinese philosophy and metaphysics, reflecting his multifaceted personality and commitment to personal growth.
James Hagen’s unique background, combining scientific knowledge with a holistic approach and a passion for personal development, makes him a dedicated and insightful practitioner in the field of acupuncture.