For Cohasset resident Emily Johnston, Acupuncture is more than a career—it's a calling. 

As an Acupuncturist and owner of Johnston Family Acupuncture set right in the heart of Cohasset Village, Emily is a dedicated advocate for holistic health and integrative care, and her clinic focuses on everything from pain management to fertility. 

With years of experience in the field and a deep-rooted passion, she has built a practice that brings together both Traditional Chinese Medicine and modern medical perspectives to provide personalized, compassionate care to her community.

Emily's journey into Acupuncture began in an unexpected place: as a high schooler suffering from debilitating sinus infections and menstrual pain. Her parents, both allopathic/western medical professionals, sought an alternative to the typical treatment course of medication and birth control, leading her to a Norwell Acupuncturist who would change her life. 

“I went from missing school due to pain, to simply noticing when my period arrived, which was a complete transformation,” Emily recalls. This experience sparked her interest in the field and led her to explore a career dedicated to helping others find relief through holistic approaches. 

After attending Hingham High School and completing a degree in German studies and history at Hamilton College, Emily spent two years in Germany as a Fulbright Scholar.

Further inspired by Germany’s integrative approach to healthcare, she returned and pursued Acupuncture studies at the New England School of Acupuncture, part of MCPHS and Pain Management at Tufts Medical School. Over three intensive years, she obtained a master’s in Acupuncture and a master’s in pain management and later, a doctorate in Acupuncture, equipping her with a comprehensive understanding of both Eastern and Western medicine.

“I always wanted a collaborative approach to healthcare,” Emily says. "In my Boston and Cohasset practices, I work alongside chiropractors, massage therapists, and MDs. Integrative medicine isn’t just about Acupuncture or any one treatment—it’s about combining the best of both worlds for each patient.”

Since founding her first clinic in Boston in 2018, Emily has been particularly focused on pain management and fertility—two areas that Chinese medicine views as closely linked. Her success stories highlight the benefits of Acupuncture: from helping clients with back pain to assisting couples facing fertility challenges. 

She recalls one of her most rewarding cases: “A 40-year-old woman came to us after six unsuccessful IVF transfers. With regular sessions, she not only got pregnant but did so naturally. That was my badge of honor.” 

Emily is also dedicated to dispelling common misconceptions about Acupuncture. Patients often ask her if they’ll feel results after one session, and while some may experience immediate relief, many conditions require a few weeks up to three months of treatments to see the best outcomes. 

 “Acupuncture requires commitment,” she explains. “Like exercise or healthy eating, it works cumulatively. However, my goal is to get you to the point where you don’t need me anymore, so you can live your life fully.”

A typical Acupuncture session at Johnston Family Acupuncture is both relaxing and rejuvenating. After a thorough consultation, the Acupuncturist typically applies anywhere from 6 to 20 tiny, hair-thin needles to targeted points on the body. Patients then rest for about 30 minutes, allowing the body’s natural healing response to activate. 

“We aim to help people tap into their own healing abilities,” Emily notes. Afterward, Emily may use complementary techniques like cupping or Gua Sha massage, and she provides “homework” to ensure the healing process continues beyond the session. “The body’s healing cascade starts within 24 to 48 hours,” she explains, adding that this approach can alleviate pain, boost immune response, and regulate hormones over time.

“The World Health Organization supports Acupuncture for hormonal regulation, and research shows it’s effective for various conditions,” she shares. “We do have research to say it does work – we just don’t know why it works.” 

This evidence-based approach reassures Emily’s clients, many of whom find Acupuncture after trying traditional methods. “We focus on the whole body, not just the symptoms, to help people achieve optimal health.” 

When Emily isn’t in her clinics, she spends time with her husband and three young children, enjoying outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, and boating on the South Shore. 

She and her husband first met in college, when she served as his RA in the dorms, but they two didn’t connect romantically until an alumni event post-graduation. The couple married on Thompson Island in Boston and lived in Southie, until family life brought them back to the South Shore. 

Emily feels lucky to have found the perfect space to open her second clinic, be able to walk to work from her Cohasset home, and most importantly, for her team of practitioners to support her patients. Her associates, Acupuncturist Courtney Lennon and massage therapist Hilary Primo, both Cohasset residents, also provide support to manage different schedule needs and styles of treatment. 

In addition, a psychologist, a yoga practitioner, and a meditation coach also work out of the clinic, with many of the same patients who need a different or an additional approach to healing. 

“I feel like the stars have aligned,” Emily smiles, “Cohasset and the South Shore are where I want to live and I am so grateful that this community has embraced us and our integrative approach to helping others.”