About the EAR Acupuncture Resilience Program

Supporting Alberta’s first responders with individualized ear acupuncture in a supportive group setting.

About the Program

The EAR (Ear Acupuncture Resilience) Program offers customized auricular acupuncture treatments designed to help regulate the nervous system, reduce stress, and support recovery from trauma. While sessions take place in a calm, community-style group environment, each treatment is tailored to the individual rather than following a fixed ear protocol. This allows care to be responsive to each person’s needs while still providing the collective benefits of receiving treatment together.

Meet Our Providers

Vanessa Ebertz, B.A., Dr. Ac (she/her)

Doctor of Acupuncture

Vanessa Ebertz is a Doctor of Acupuncture specializing in trauma and stress-related conditions. She has been in practice since 2013 and is registered with the College of Acupuncturists of Alberta, where she previously served as Treasurer.

She graduated from the Acupuncture program at MacEwan University in 2012 and holds a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree with a focus in Kinesiology and a minor in Psychology from the University of Calgary.

In response to the 2013 Southern Alberta floods, Vanessa co-founded the YYC Acupuncture Relief Project (YARP), providing more than 2,200 free ear acupuncture treatments to affected community members and first responders. She is a trained member of Acupuncturists Without Borders and a National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) specialist, using ear acupuncture to support trauma recovery, stress regulation, and addictions recovery.

Vanessa founded the Ear Acupuncture Resilience (EAR) Program, which offers ongoing community-style treatments to help mitigate the effects of trauma. She is currently involved in research using this program with first responders in Alberta.

Her approach reflects a core principle of Chinese medicine: mind and body are inseparable. By supporting nervous system regulation and resilience, she helps patients recover from injury, process stress, and return to balance.

Dr. Kristen McCaffery, Dr. Ac (she/her)

Doctor of Acupuncture

Dr. McCaffrey completed her acupuncture training at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta, graduating in 2021. She is a registered Doctor of Acupuncture practicing in the Edmonton area, with clinical experience in both private practice and interdisciplinary health settings.

Her work is grounded in Traditional Chinese Medicine and informed by a gentle, trauma-aware approach. Dr. McCaffrey focuses on nervous system regulation, general well-being, and the interconnection between physical and psychological health.

Within a psychology office setting, she offers Ear Acupuncture Resilience (EAR) treatments to support stress reduction, emotional regulation, and to mitigate the effects from trauma.

Dr. McCaffrey approaches care with an emphasis on safety, presence, and attunement, creating a calm and grounding treatment environment. She understands healing as a collaborative process and works respectfully alongside mental health professionals to support clients’ overall well-being.

Dr. Taylor Barilla, Dr. Ac., DTCM (AB), PCP (AB)

Doctor of Acupuncture

Dr. Taylor Barilla completed her Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) training in 2011, followed by her Emergency Medical Technician – Advanced / Primary Care Paramedic (EMT-A/PCP) certification in 2012 at the Emergency Services Academy, leading to a 13-year career in Emergency Medical Services.

In 2025, she completed her Doctorate of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Canadian Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine. With extensive experience as a First Responder, Dr. Barilla has a deep understanding of the intricate relationship between what the body endures and how those experiences manifest as both physical and emotional health concerns. Her doctoral thesis, “The Neurobiological and Biomechanical Effects of Acupuncture on Emotions as a Stored Pathogen,” explores how unresolved emotional trauma is held within the body and how acupuncture can support the processing of these experiences by releasing physical tension and regulating the nervous system.

While maintaining her licensure with the Alberta College of Paramedics, Dr. Barilla has also worked with multiple sports teams as a trainer, strengthening her appreciation for the role of preventative medicine, injury prevention, and nervous system resilience in long-term health and performance.

Dr. Barilla’s passion lies in helping the helpers; supporting first responders, healthcare workers, and those who have dedicated their lives to the wellbeing of others. Her treatments are grounded in kindness, empathy, and clinical precision, fostering a safe and supportive environment that encourages deep nervous system regulation and meaningful, lasting healing.