SD Voyager Magazine's Inspiring Conversation With Chelsie

Healing Sanctuary RSF's owner, Chelsie Black, shares her empowering wellness and professional journey with SD Voyager Magazine in their article “Inspiring Conversations with Chelsie Black of Healing Sanctuary RSF”.

The following contains text from SD Voyager Magazine's article, "Inspiring Conversations with Chelsie Black of Healing Sanctuary RSF", published July 21, 2025. 

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsie Black.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In my late teens I experienced a wide range of health problems. I was diagnosed with numerous food allergies, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and also Lupus. After being put on numerous rounds of antibiotics along with many other medications, I developed side effects from the medications as I declined in health. I decided at that point that it was time to try something different. ⁣It was then that I turned to a more natural approach making drastic diet and lifestyle changes. I saw how there seemed to be a correlation with Autoimmune Disease, trauma, mental health, and diet.

I have always felt deep empathy for those undergoing mental health struggles. This lead me to work at a non profit organization for about five years that helped homeless and underserved adults with mental health issues. In my opinion, we all have a tendency for some mental health issue and may go through different periods in our lives where we have different challenges. I would see people come and go from this non profit I worked at and felt I wanted to do something more for them. I was longing to give them quick relief from their symptoms as well as advice and help on how to help them keep themselves feeling better.

With no understanding, belief, or bias of Chinese Medicine, I went in for acupuncture for the treatment of stress and low back pain. As soon as the treatment began, I immediately felt different. I was amazed with how the treatment left me pain and stress free. I knew then that this was something I wanted to do for others, to help people feel as well as I did and I immediately signed up for acupuncture school. After deciding to get regular treatments, I found that my other symptoms such as food allergies, joint pain, fatigue, irregular periods, anxiety, and high ANA blood count started disappearing.

During school I completed over 3,500 hours of extensive didactic and clinical training in many subjects including; Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Western Medicine, and Nutrition. Since 2010 when I started acupuncture school, I have seen first hand the beneficial results of Traditional Chinese Medicine modalities. I love being able to not only see quick and drastic improvement in patient’s symptoms, I also love being at a point in my career that I can give them first hand advice on how to keep themselves well based on what I have seen in the past 9 years of working as an acupuncturist.

Acupuncture can sometimes offer instant results, but stretching, having proper nutrition, a regular workout routine, therapy, and regular bodywork sessions are imperative to keeping yourself well and having your body aligned.

I worked in downtown Rancho Santa Fe for Dr. George Groth whom I will forever be grateful for as I was attending acupuncture school. In acupuncture school we learn Chinese and Western pathology, but working in a Western medical office gave me the ability to see many illnesses and problems first hand and be able to understand Western medicine in a way I could have never understood without being immersed in it.

In 2021, my waitlist continued to grow and I was wanting to provide more practitioners so that every person who contacted me could get proper care. I decided then to expand to a larger location where I could hire more people and we could provide more healing modalities to continue to help people find physical and mental well-being. I am thankful to be able to have a beautiful place to work inside of Cielo Retail Shops in Rancho Santa Fe near Lake Hodges.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have learned the more we let go of the outcome of something the less struggles we face. I would say it took me some time to learn this and I still need to have it written down and recite it regularly LOL! I love the phrase “Let go and let God” because I frequently want to believe that I am in control of things when that is not the case. There is a divine plan and the more we can go with the flow of it, the easier life will be. Overall I think I have been led to the right place at the right time. Some of the challenges I faced were having a baby during the middle of my masters program as well as going through a divorce shortly after. Balancing work as a single mother and owning a business can be challenging. I am grateful to also have a second child now as well as a supportive partner who helps me balance work and home life. He reminds me of what is important, to laugh, and not take things too seriously.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Healing Sanctuary RSF?
Our Integrative Wellness Center, Healing Sanctuary RSF, provides many services and *affiliated services including; Acupuncture, Therapeutic Massage, Lymphatic Drainage, Sports Cupping, *Naturopathy, Microneedling, *Ayurveda, Chi Nei Tsang (Abdominal Organ Detox), Cellulite Cupping, Human Design, *Jyotish Astrology, Facial Rejuvenation, *Inner Alchemy, and More. Many of our services are offered in person as well as remotely. We also have a beautiful gift shop offering natural products, supplements, jewelry, and unique crystals. We offer therapeutic essential oil products made by our Naturopath Rashelle Black including everything from nourishing face serum to sore muscle bath salt.

What sets us apart is our unique, empathetic, and intuitive healers who give one on one time and attention to our patients. I have selected the most caring team of individuals from all walks of life. From the moment our patient’s walk into our office they immediately comment on the great atmosphere. From the beautiful drive in near the lake in the hills, to the fountain as you walk in, and the crystals that balance the energy inside, we have cultivated a space that is truly zen.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Enjoy this life while you’re here. Try to laugh, be present, and keep a glass half full mentality. Be grateful for all that you have and for what is to come.