Photo of Jason and Damita Hartz, owners of Florida Acupuncture and Counseling, Inc.

Our Story

Florida Acupuncture and Counseling was founded on October 1, 2019, by Damita and Jason Hartz—born from a vision rooted in purpose, culture, and community. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Acupuncturist, Damita began the practice in a small office off 6th Street in Gainesville, Florida. Meanwhile, Jason, a former contract employee at the Gainesville VA Hospital, was completing his Master’s Degree in Acupuncture with plans to join her in practice.

Shortly after opening, the world was hit by a global pandemic. While many businesses struggled, the need for mental health and integrative wellness services surged. By the end of 2020, Florida Acupuncture and Counseling had outgrown its original location and relocated to NW 43rd Street to accommodate its expanding clientele.

In April 2021, the practice officially became a group practice—adding four additional counselors, a second acupuncturist, and expanding into its current, larger facility. The clinic evolved to offer massage therapy, EMDR, Qi Gong and yoga classes, group therapy, and therapeutic gaming, deepening its commitment to holistic and collaborative care.

Damita Hartz is the grandniece of Bunny Wailer—co-founder of Bob Marley and the Wailers and a founding figure of Rastafarianism. She comes from a lineage of natural and holistic healers, and that ancestral spirit of restoration and wellness is the foundation of everything we do. Her heritage inspires a model of care that is rooted in connection, culture, and healing the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.

At Florida Acupuncture and Counseling, we live out our mission every day: to foster a healthy, thriving clientele through a team of integrative, client-focused professionals in a supportive, family-oriented environment.