Exploring Life & Business with Sophie Achekian of Meridian Pathways Acupuncture

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophie Achekian.

Hi Sophie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Becoming an acupuncturist wasn’t my original plan — or so I thought. In hindsight, it was always meant to be.

As a child in Armenia, I was studying to be a concert pianist. I adored my piano teacher. She saw potential in me and trained me with patience and dedication. When I was 14, she moved to Israel. After that, my passion for piano waned.

At 16, my family immigrated to the U.S., and we lived in a one-bedroom apartment — we didn’t have the space or the financial means to own a piano.

I finished high school here, and eventually graduated from UCLA with a degree in Business Economics. In 2000, I began working in marketing at Interpublic Group, a prominent global advertising firm. I stayed there for nearly nine years. While I appreciated the business world, it never truly fulfilled me.

Seeking something more meaningful, I enrolled in the four-year graduate program at Emperor’s College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Santa Monica. It was a true sink-or-swim few years for me: a full time, corporate job, evening classes, demanding coursework, and raising two young children. My older son was born halfway through the program, and my younger son arrived just days before graduation. In fact,, I took my very last final exam from the hospital.

Then fast-forward to six months ago, my sister and I were cleaning our parents’ garage. My mom hands me a stack of old dusty Russian newspaper clippings that I had collected as a kid — all about holistic health and “magic points.” I had no memory of it, but in that moment, it all clicked: I had been drawn to acupuncture long before I even understood what it was.

It was a full-circle moment — I hadn’t just found my path. I had returned to it.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth? Not quite. My journey has been anything but linear — I have had more ups and downs than I care to remember. I still don’t know how we made it through the countless pandemic shutdowns. But somehow, we did!!

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have the unwavering support of my family. And in the toughest moments, it was my patients who reminded me that what I do truly matters. Their collective trust and loyalty has been a force multiplier in my life – especially during times when giving up felt like a good option.

As you know, we’re big fans of Meridian Pathways Acupuncture. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
These days, I specialize in pain management. My approach blends true and tried traditional methods of acupuncture, fire cupping, and gua sha, with some cutting-edge technologies, like ultrasound, infrared light and microcurrent therapy, allowing me to tailor treatments that are individualized and effective.

What sets my practice apart? To me, it’s the quality of connection I build with each patient.

More than 15 years in practice, and over 25,000 treatments later, I’m incredibly proud to say that I still remember most of my patients: their names, their stories, and their health goals. That kind of lasting connection isn’t just meaningful to me — it’s at the core of how healing happens.

I mean, a few months ago, I did get an invite from one of my patient’s kids to go to his dinasaur themed 4th birthday party!! Find me another acupunturist who can say that!

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
So many lessons!

But one of the most important things to me, and I try every day to live this way, is a concept I’ve embraced from Japanese culture — the idea of leaving something better than you found it.

Whether it’s a space, a relationship, or a moment in someone’s day, I want my presence to have a positive, and meaningful impact.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.meridianpathways.com – website
• Instagram: meridian_pathways_acupuncture – on IG

Image Credits
The photos were taken by my awesome patient Taron Ter-Gulanyan.