Looking back on the Acupuncture Week with Caspar van der Poel

1. Home
2. Current affairs

The Acupuncture Week is already behind us. By launching the podcast series 'From burn-out to balance', we aimed to bring acupuncture even closer to the public through visual and audio material. Caspar, one of the collaborating project leaders, was closely involved in the implementation of the Acupuncture Week and looks back on the campaign in this interview. He talks about the new video series and podcast, why they are so important, and how they help to make acupuncture more visible and accessible.

Podcasts and videos: what do you think they add for the NVA, the members, and the public?
Caspar: 'When I got involved in this project in 2024 and the question arose: 'How do we bring acupuncture more to the attention of the general public?', my first thought was: 'with visuals and sound.'

In this day and age, social media is indispensable in our society and therefore an excellent way to promote our wonderful profession. But with the rise of AI, you also see a lot of impersonal and generic content emerging. Acupuncture is a people's profession, with people, for people. And it is precisely that human aspect that you can beautifully show and hear with videos and podcasts.

I am convinced that if we start using this more as an association, we will literally get more visibility. Which is ultimately what we want, because when more people know the great work we do, we can be of more significance to more people.'

Caspar: '...because when more people know about the great work we do, we can make a difference for more people'
Photo: Flashback photography - Renate Boere

How was it for you to be present at the recordings?
Caspar: 'It is a project that was born in 2024, with the idea of wanting to do more with video material for the NVA. Since then, I have been busy with it a lot and even more in my thoughts. When the approval came from the board in spring and then also at the ALV, that was already a nice milestone.

But it was even better when the time finally came and we could start with the recordings. Together with Marjolein Frencken, I took my place behind the camera for the first time in early August for the video Acupuncture for burnout symptoms. We quickly found our way in our collaboration, and so recording that first video was actually a breeze. Something that was also quickly evident when we sat together in front of the camera a few weeks later to record a second video.

In the meantime, I watched from the sidelines during the podcast recordings, and it was just enjoyable. Beautiful people, professionals with fascinating stories. Listening to them, I was confident that we were producing a beautiful podcast series.'

Imagine you were one of the Five Elements, which element would you be and why?
Caspar: 'One... I find that quite challenging. Personally, I always feel strong in the combination of Earth - Wood - Water.

Stability, drive/focus, and calmness are qualities that I always recognize in myself and that I often receive from clients. For example, I have heard more than once that it seems like I can see right through you with an intense yet familiar gaze, inviting you to share more about yourself, while at the same time it is miles away from the element where I recognize myself the least. That would have been an easier question to answer: Metal.

I have often thought about how much it could help me if I possessed more of the qualities of order and structure that Metal offers. But so far, it has remained more of a desire.'

Watch and Listen Back to Acupuncture Week
The two intro videos about burnout symptoms and the Five Elements, along with the podcast series of Acupuncture Week and the stories of clients and experts, can be found on the campaign website: www.acupunctureweek.com.