Chinese Medicine | Japanese Style Acupuncture
Somatic Experiencing
GWCIM Director of Operations
Dr. Angela Gabriel is a Licensed Acupuncturist and certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. Her practice specializes in treating chronic illnesses using Chinese Medicine. Additionally, she addresses the mind-body origins of disease through the Somatic Experiencing® Approach, which focuses on improving nervous system regulation.
At the GWCIM
Angela joined the GW Center for Integrative Medicine team in 2010, bringing with her a background in both Western biomedicine and Eastern medicine. Angela’s path to Chinese medicine began as a young scientist when she, as a biology student, personally experienced the benefits of acupuncture and Qi Gong, sparking a lifelong interest in Eastern philosophy and healing. Today, with dual Master’s degrees in Biochemistry and Oriental Medicine, she strives to integrate both paradigms into her practice.
Professional style
Angela’s acupuncture approach is rooted in Japanese-style acupuncture and Nagano-Matsumoto style with an emphasis on gentle, nearly painless needling techniques suitable for most sensitive people. She combines acupuncture with Somatic Experiencing® (SE) to help patients work through trauma-related symptoms, using a “body-centered, bottom-up” approach to heal both physical and emotional imbalances.
Expertise
Her expertise is especially beneficial for patients with anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, stress disorders, and GI and metabolic conditions, particularly when these are exacerbated by long-term stress. Angela believes in tailoring each session to her patient’s needs, sometimes focusing on Somatic Experiencing® techniques for trauma while integrating bodywork, and other times on acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, herbal therapy, and lifestyle recommendations. Sometimes patients might be interested and engaged in Somatic Experiencing work without acupuncture.
Education and Training
- Masters degree in Biochemistry, Moscow State University (1995)
- Masters degree in Oriental Medicine, New York College for Health Professions, NY (2005)
- NCCAOM Board Certification in Oriental Medicine, current
- Certifications in Chinese Herbal Medicine and Aromatherapy in Chinese Medicine
- Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), enabling her to use SE® in her integrative trauma work (2022)
- BASE (Relational Bodywork and Somatic Education) certification program (2025)
- Extensive training with renowned figures in Chinese medicine, such as Jeffrey Yuen, Kiiko Matsumoto, Shudo Denmei, Peter Yates, Whitefield Reaves, and others
- Member of DC Acupuncture Society
Professional Experience
- Participation in acupuncture research at Columbia University, New York
- Running private acupuncture practices in New York City and Washington, D.C.
- Joining the GW Center for Integrative Medicine in 2010
- Integrative Medicine program at “Bread for the City“, Washington D.C.
- Teaching mindfulness and bodywork at various workshops and programs including to GWU medical students
- GWCIM website and social media content editor
Beyond the Clinic
Outside of GWCIM, Angela is a long-time student of the Diamond Approach and appreciates the Sufi poetry of Rumi and Hafiz. She balances her professional life with a busy family, including two teenage sons, her husband, Dr. Misha Kogan, and two dogs (Noodlz and Shabu). Angela’s love of dance, cooking, hiking, kayaking, and nature fuels her creativity. She finds inspiration in artists like Andy Goldsworthy. She is an advanced student of Spanish and is inspired to travel to Spanish-speaking countries and other parts of the world. Her passion for self-expression through movement and art mirrors the holistic care she provides to her patients.
Testimonials
- Shelly Davis, Washington, D.C.: “Angela Gabriel is truly remarkable. I came to acupuncture skeptically after exhausting other options, and she’s been a life-changing gift. She doesn’t just focus on the issue but looks at me as a whole person, offering solutions that go beyond the surface. Her caring nature, technical skill, and holistic approach make all the difference.”
- Anne S. Li, Washington, D.C.: “Angela Gabriel is a skillful and compassionate practitioner of Chinese Traditional Medicine including acupuncture. My particular issues are treated and my entire being benefits from each session. This is an excellent practice offering many treatment modalities and practitioners.”
- Beth Goodbye, Washington, D.C.: “I’ve had wonderful experiences with multiple providers at GW Center for Integrative Medicine, and I’ve worked regularly with Angela Gabriel. I love how Angela integrates somatic experiencing with acupuncture. She is a creative and compassionate healer. My strongest recommendation.”
More about Somatic Experiencing® (SE)
Somatic Experiencing® (SE) is a therapeutic approach created by Dr. Peter Levine to address the physical and emotional effects of stress and trauma. SE sessions at GWCIM involve Angela helping patients attune to their body’s sensations, promoting awareness and release of tension stored from past traumatic events. By focusing on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and a “bottom-up” approach, SE works to restore coherence between the body and mind, helping patients reconnect with a sense of safety and resilience.
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