Olivia Bracken, Acupuncturist/Owner of Golden Door

Olivia has been practicing acupuncture for over a decade. She opened Golden Door in 2020 to create a healing collective where an integrative healing team could provide all forms of therapy in a respectful, safe, and peaceful environment.

Olivia started her healing path by earning her Master’s degree in Asian Health and Science from Pacific College in 2012. On top of her Master's, she has taken additional Acupuncture courses in Michelle Gellis’ Cosmetic Acupuncture, Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture, Dry Needling, Channel Theory (with Dr. Tan), and Taoism Theory and Treatments.

After graduation, she spent a year overseas in Taipei, Taiwan doing a clinical rotation with a master acupuncturist who specialized in skin diseases. Olivia has taken additional CEUs in functional medicine regarding thyroid and the endocrine system, visceral manipulation, energy healing, Asian bodywork (Shiatsu, Thai, and Tui Na), and is Yoga RYT-200 Teacher Trained. She has worked in collaboration with the local fertility clinic, STL Fertility, performing acupuncture after IVF transfers. She has been along the healing journey with many fertility patients. Suffering from her own infertility battles led her to make Fertility Acupuncture one of her biggest passions when it comes to helping the community.

Olivia treats all types of conditions and specializes in fertility, hormone imbalances, skin issues, autoimmune conditions, and digestive disorders. She also loves a good challenge. Do you have something weird that your doctors can’t give you answers about? She would love to help. She has a calming presence and is a great listener, ensuring that everyone who comes through the door feels heard, safe, and cared for.

WHAT IS VISCERAL MANIPULATION?

“Viscera” relates to the internal organs of the body, such as the liver, kidneys, and intestines. Visceral Manipulation is a gentle manual therapy that aids your body’s ability to release restrictions and unhealthy compensations that cause pain and dysfunction. Visceral Manipulation, or VM, does not focus solely on the site of pain or dysfunction but evaluates the entire body to find the source of the problem.

Visceral Manipulation (VM) was developed by French Osteopath, Jean-Pierre Barral. He was named one of TIME Magazine’s Top Six Innovators for Alternative Medicine to watch in the new millennium.

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?

VM is a soft hands-on manual therapy. Underneath the pain or diagnosis is a compensatory pattern created in the body with the initial source of the dysfunction often being far from where the pain is felt. Because of this, the practitioner searches for this pattern and the source and treats the related tissues. The treatment is a gentle compression, mobilization, and elongation of the soft tissues. This could take several days to occur after the Visceral Manipulation treatment.

HOW CAN ORGANS CAUSE PAIN AND DYSFUNCTION?

Your body is made up of many interrelated components such as bones, muscles, nerves, a thin connective tissue called fascia, as well as internal organs (viscera). Your organs are in perpetual motion. When you breathe, walk, and stretch, your organs move in your chest and abdomen. For example, when you take a breath, your kidneys move one inch; and with deep inhalation, they move 4 inches. In a day, they move a little over ½ mile. That’s around 19,000 miles in a lifetime!

There are many reasons for an organ to lose its mobility: physical traumas, surgeries, sedentary lifestyle, infections, pollution, bad diet, poor posture, and pregnancy/delivery. When an organ is no longer freely mobile but is fixed to another structure, the body is forced to compensate. Imagine scar tissue around the lungs. Because of the pull of the adhesion, with every breath, the movement patterns of the nearby structures would be altered. This could shift rib motion creating pulls on the spine. These restrictions might then show up as mid-back and neck pain, as well as limited motion in the shoulder. This scenario highlights just one of the hundreds of possible ramifications of a small dysfunction – magnified by thousands of repetitions each day. This also explains how pain can often be far removed from the actual cause. Content pulled from The Barral Institute.

Due to limited availability, online booking is limited to existing patients only.

To Book a New Patient Appointment, please call 314-379-4848

Testimonials

Golden Door is such a gem, and I feel really fortunate to have stumbled upon this business at just the time I really needed it. Olivia is so kind and easy to talk to, and it’s clear she has expansive knowledge about wellness and fertility. I’m just really thankful to have found her during my TTC journey - going to see her for treatments has been a silver lining to what would otherwise be a really stressful and difficult time. - TA

After every session, I feel more relaxed and comfortable in my own body. The herbs I use take care of my gallbladder pain. - JS

Olivia is fantastic! I love being able to come in and tell her what's going on in my life, and using that information, she knows what I need for my acupuncture treatment that day. Without her, I wouldn't be able to keep my gallbladder issues under control. She works with me to make sure my herbal treatments are working as intended, and that allows me to not have my gallbladder removed and live a healthier life. – JF

I have been visiting Golden Door for a couple of months now and can’t say enough how amazing this place and the team are. Olivia, the owner, and my acupuncturist, is extremely knowledgeable and puts me at ease every time I am there. My stress and anxiety have decreased significantly since I started coming here. I have also had a wonderful massage. This is a one-place stop for anyone looking to take care of their mind, body, and soul! – JHB 

I decided to try acupuncture for the first time and started seeing Olivia as my practitioner. I am so happy I chose this facility- each visit is customized and relaxing. Olivia is also very talented, knowledgeable, and personable. I have seen results and am so grateful for such a positive experience. I highly recommend Golden Door. Thank you so much! – DT

The highlight of my week is always going to Golden Door Collective. I know when I get there, I will be welcomed with positive energy and smiles and when I leave, I feel refreshed and have a glow from the inside out. Olivia and her team are knowledgeable and truly care about my well-being and health—mentally, physically, and spiritually. Cupping and acupuncture have been wonderful additions to my wellness plan for I feel the benefits of both treatments. Call Golden Door today and get set up with Olivia! -KJ

Olivia is the best! I leave feeling rejuvenated and well. Her kindness and care are everywhere and you feel it the minute you walk through the door. -PE

I have been getting acupuncture facials from Olivia and I highly recommend them. I've seen remarkable changes in my skin and I love it. The service at Golden Door is efficient and the environment is relaxing, super clean, and very pleasant. -SC

Olivia is so wonderful. She has helped with my OABS. The expensive drug my doctor prescribed did not work. After 1 session with Olivia my nighttime urge and frequency all but stopped. I see her every two weeks and learn something new that acupuncture helps. I am no longer a skeptic. -ES

Five stars are not enough. Acupuncture with Olivia is the highlight of my month. Over time she has helped me with fertility issues, pregnancy, migraines, and most recently my sciatica. I always leave feeling refreshed and restored both physically and mentally. -KB