Rebecca Sasak is a licensed acupuncturist and traditional Chinese herbal medicine practitioner with more than 15 years of experience. Originally from Joliet, Illinois, Sasak moved frequently in her early years, living in Colorado and Oregon before settling in Northwest Indiana.
“I was a single mom, and my kids played soccer. Anyone with kids in travel soccer knows it’s a huge time commitment. I was just trying to support myself between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.,” Sasak said. “I lived in Miller Beach, but then zoning laws changed, requiring students to stay in their district, so I sold my home in Miller, moved to Chesterton, and rented a home while my kids finished high school.”
Believing that modern life lacks meaningful connections, Sasak set out not only to support herself and her family but also to give back in the best way she knew—through healing and holistic wellness.
“So much of what we experience feels transactional,” Sasak said. “My background is in food and beverage, specializing in hotel, restaurant, and travel administration. Ultimately, my goal is to create a rustic retreat center in the woods where people can visit for healing and wellness. Now, after years in practice, I want to educate people and start a new conversation about health and wellness.”
Education and meaningful conversations have been at the heart of Sasak’s mission. Looking ahead, she is developing two manuals to further her impact.
“One is ‘The Healthy Home Inspector,’ a practical guide to reducing toxicity in your living environment. The other is about how to regulate sleep, reduce lifestyle-related health issues, and uncover hidden environmental culprits,” Sasak said.
Sasak’s journey to developing manuals of her own ultimately began with the opening of her own practice—a dream years in the making.
“I was aligned with a chiropractor for seven years, and then an opportunity came up with a space in Chesterton, which used to be a Sylvan Learning Center. It was just a raw, vacant space. That didn’t matter though, because I saw the potential,” Sasak said. “I took it over myself, maintaining it with just a few practitioners along the way. I've never really had a marketing plan—I didn't even have a website for my first 10 years, but I’m happy where I’m at now at Thrive Healing Center.”
For Sasak, a connection to nature is essential to maintaining balance in both her professional and personal life.
"I’m a nature lover. I have a dog who keeps me grounded and a kayak that I take out on the lake behind my clinic in the mornings before work. For me, staying grounded comes from having a daily rhythm,” Sasak said.
Sasak has incorporated these same grounding techniques into her practice to promote a healthier lifestyle.
“I’ve never felt more balanced mentally and emotionally in my life,” she said. “I credit that largely to water and Earth grounding, which help discharge built-up energy. Grounding is key for everyone.”Sasak prides herself on offering holistic healthcare for the entire family. She believes that each individual has a unique and personal healing process. To learn more, visit her practices at Thrive Healing Center.