What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 6pm Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 6pm Friday 10am - 6pm Sunday 10:30am - 8pm

The Better Place

Home
United States
Oakland, CA
The Better Place

Hello! I'm Sarah Donnelly, a chaotic good acupuncturist, esthetician, and bodyworker The Better Place is your local holistic healthcare clinic in North Oakland.

We are inspired to specialize in: cosmetic acupuncture; postop, fibrosis, scar care; lymphatic drainage, long-hauler syndrome (chronic damage from illness or medical treatment).

10/12/2025

After attending the conference in Rotterdam, I've been reflecting on how knowledge moves through time. In code, medicine, and lineage.

Before sharing more from the Netherlands, I wanted to return to the stories that carried me here: the crossings, ports, and bands the way I see systems and healing.

The next post begins with an ancestor of mine: a Canton herbalist whose knowledge crossed oceans before I did.
-------------------------------------

My great-great grandmother's father was an herbalist in Canton.
He practiced with herbs and formulas: knowledge passed through hands, not pages.
When my family crossed the ocean to Oakland, that medicine crossed too.
It moves through my work today.

10/11/2025

I went to the TEDx Coolhaven: Women in AI event last night at OASE, and I can’t stop thinking about it.

Listening to women speak about artificial intelligence as something that touches creativity, care, and connection - felt pretty close to home.

Curiosity itself is a form of intelligence, and traditions keep evolving: every generation adds new ways of listening and pattern-recognizing, whether through needles or neural nets. Curiosity is what keeps both lineages alive.

Feeling grateful for the conversations that keep expanding how I see both my field and the future.

08/04/2025

My Personal Restoration Work Journey

The changes I notice the most:
- Clearer facial definition and symmetry
- Reduced puffiness, esp around the eyes
- Improved skin texture and elasticity
- Less tension in the jaw and neck
- Better overall energy and sleep

This is the same systematic approach I use with patients: addressing restriction patterns layer by layer, restoring drainage pathways, and supporting the body's natural capacity for tissue regeneration.

The timeline matters: sustainable changes happen gradually, with consistent intervention. Quick fixes don't address the underlying patterns which create the issues.

The systemic changes surprised me the most - better digestion, clearer vision, better energy management. This work affects the whole body, not just where you apply it.

This is why I'm passionate about teaching people how to understand their own tissue patterns and maintenance habits over time.

07/12/2025

This trip to study with the legendary Kiiko Matsumoto in Berlin changed me in so many ways. Not only will her material change the way I approach healing, but the trip itself fundamentally changed the way I look at the world and my place in it.

I feel fortunate to be granted this opportunity, and will pay the healing forward

03/02/2025

The March and April calendars are now open for booking, to give your body a helping hand during these times.

Booking link in bio

11/06/2024

Give yourself space to grieve, and feel the things.

And continue to be healthy and thrive. Even if it's out of spite, it still counts. 🙌🏽

11/05/2024

What is the best way to show our love to the people we cherish?
✨
Experiences > Things
Health > Hedonism
Inner stillness > Outer pain
✨
betterplaceforhealing.janeapp.com/online_gift_cards/new
*
*
*

08/03/2024

Cultivating inner peace

It's easy to forget self care during times of transition and revolution.

A quiet, quick, simple ritual can make all the difference in the world. A walk around the block, watching the Bay from your car, 5 minutes of listening to the birds sing. It could be anything, as long as it's time set aside to nurture you and only you.

A signal to your body and the universe that you're worth nurturing, protecting, receiving love. These signals build and turn into a feeling of stability

3 deep breaths in a parking lot today is better than 30 minutes of yoga maybe next week.

We're now open Saturdays if you're seeking some self care structure and support, would be lovely to see you
*
*
*

06/24/2024

✨ I'm incredibly fortunate to find my calling in life, and to LOVE it. And messages like these from the beautiful people in my community just warm me to my toes ✨

06/07/2024

🌞 Sun's out, faces out 🌞

For June and July, our Facial Restoration treatment ($300) is available for the summer rate of $210 (regular 90 minute treatment rate).

✅ Always Included:
lymphatic drainage, intraoral massage, acupuncture, myofascial release, and guasha
✅ Some patients may receive scar tissue release, moxa, or LED red light therapy if necessary

🌞 Who's this treatment best for?
- Puffy faces
- Eye bags
- Lines and wrinkles
- Sagging skin
- Swollen cheeks
- Tight jaws/TMJ
- Chronic headaches
- Hormonal weight fluctuations
- Frequent illness & fatigue

✅ Booking at https://betterplaceforhealing.janeapp.com or find the link in the bio.
-
-
-

06/05/2024

To me, results are everything! And results take time.

📷The before picture is from a series of professional shots taken in 2016, and the after picture is from last week, 8 years later, at age 42. The incredible composite overlap image shows exactly how much my face and neck have been reduced by consistent lymphatic, myofascial, and fibrosis reduction work. My sinuses are under less pressure, smiling is easier, and my singing voice has even improved!

How would your life be different if you were more comfortable in your body?
*
*
*

06/04/2024

Some days are more important than birthdays for me.

Today, I celebrate 9 years of sobriety. And get to reflect on this gorgeous growth journey I've been lucky enough to experience. If nothing changes, nothing changes, and I know the universe will always keep me on my toes, always moving forward ✨
-
-
-

Address

6536 Telegraph Avenue Suite C-104
Oakland, CA
94609

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 6pm
Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 6pm
Friday	10am - 6pm
Sunday	10:30am - 8pm

Telephone

+19252680878

Website

https://betterplaceforhealing.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Better Place posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to The Better Place:

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Oakland?