From Apprentice to Practitioner: Reflecting on Gerad Kite’s 'The Untapped Self'.
- Johnny Childs
- Aug 28
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 2
When I first began my journey into Five-Element acupuncture, I had the privilege of working directly under Gerad Kite at the Kite Clinic. I was his original apprentice, and those years shaped not just my skills as an acupuncturist, but my entire philosophy of practice.
Looking back now, after thousands of hours in the treatment room, I can see how those early lessons became the framework for everything I do in clinic today in Marylebone, Central London.
Gerad’s approach was never about quick fixes. He taught me that true healing begins with reconnecting people to themselves — the “untapped self” that often lies beneath layers of stress, expectation, and imbalance.
That idea might sound simple, but it changes the whole direction of treatment.
Instead of chasing symptoms, we listen for the root. We look for what is asking to be seen and supported. This foundation has guided every treatment I’ve given since, whether I’m helping someone with fertility support, calming anxiety, improving sleep, or navigating a big life transition.
With the release of Gerad’s new book, The Untapped Self, I’ve found myself reflecting on that formative time.
The book captures so much of what I witnessed first-hand: the idea that health and fulfilment come not just from treating what hurts, but from realigning with our deepest nature. For patients and practitioners alike, it’s a reminder that acupuncture can be a doorway back to ourselves — a quiet, steady path rather than a quick detour.
Lessons from Apprenticeship
Training under Gerad was rigorous and humbling.
I learned that acupuncture is not simply about where to place needles, but about how to truly listen.
Pulse taking wasn’t just technique; it was conversation.
Colour, sound, odour, emotion — the subtle signatures of the Five Elements — were not abstract ideas but living information. In Five-Element acupuncture, diagnosis is a rich and nuanced process. Practitioners observe these five key areas—colour, sound, odour, emotion, and the pulses—to gain insight into a patient's elemental balance.
Gerad impressed on me that every patient carries their own story of imbalance, and that the practitioner’s role is to help uncover and resolve what lies beneath.
In practice, that means I’m as interested in how you’re sleeping and what you’re worrying about as I am in where it hurts.
Five-Element acupuncture looks at constitutional patterns — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water — and asks how your system is trying to restore harmony.
Sometimes that means helping the body release long-held tension; sometimes it means supporting a depleted system to feel safe, nourished, and resilient again.
Often it’s both.
That philosophy remains central to my work today. Whether I am supporting someone on their fertility journey (including IVF preparation and recovery), helping them manage stress or burnout, or guiding them through grief, menopause, or a period of change, I return to those core principles: treat the person, not the symptom; seek the root, not the branch; and always aim at wholeness.
Why Gerad’s Philosophy Matters Today
We live in a time where quick answers are everywhere, yet genuine connection is increasingly rare. Health is often reduced to hacks and headlines.
Gerad’s philosophy — and the book that embodies it — is a powerful reminder that real healing takes depth.
Patients often arrive expecting acupuncture to “fix” a symptom: headaches, IBS, anxiety, painful periods, low energy, insomnia.
What they discover, and what The Untapped Self so beautifully describes, is that the true gift is discovering themselves anew.
That doesn’t dismiss symptoms; it respects them.
Pain, tension, and emotional turbulence are communications. When we align with the body’s intelligence rather than fight it, results are often more stable and meaningful.
In my experience as a senior practitioner at Kite Clinic, this approach helps people feel calmer, clearer, and more able to meet life — not just for a few days, but in a way that changes their baseline.
This is not theory for me; it is the daily reality of my work. It’s what makes acupuncture more than a treatment — it makes it a path back to wholeness.
In Central London, where pace is fast and pressure is high, creating that still point can be transformative.
How Patients Can Benefit from the Book - Gerad Kite's 'The Untapped Self'
For those who have experienced acupuncture, reading Gerad Kite's The Untapped Self can deepen your understanding of what happens in the treatment room.
It explains why emotions shift, why long-held patterns begin to loosen, and why people so often describe feeling “more themselves” after treatment.
Many of my patients say the book gave language to sensations they’d already noticed on the couch: a softening in the chest, a steadier breath, a sense that “something let go.”
For those new to acupuncture, the book offers a window into the philosophy that underpins my own work. It shows that healing is not just about removing pain or stress, but about reclaiming the parts of ourselves that have been suppressed or forgotten.
If you’re curious, a helpful way to read it is alongside treatment: notice how you feel before and after sessions, keep a simple journal of sleep, mood, and energy, and pay attention to small signs of change — they often point to bigger shifts underway.
What to Expect at Kite Clinic (19 Wimpole Street, W1G 8GE)
If you decide to explore Five-Element acupuncture with me, your first appointment includes a detailed consultation.
We’ll talk about your main concerns — fertility, stress and anxiety, hormonal balance, digestion, pain, or sleep — and also about your broader health picture.
Treatment itself is gentle; most people find it deeply relaxing.
We’ll agree a plan that fits your goals and schedule.
In many cases, a short series of sessions helps the body establish a new equilibrium; from there, seasonal or monthly top-ups can maintain momentum.
Kite Clinic sits in the Harley Street medical district, a setting built for quiet, focused care. My intention is simple: to create a space where you can come home to yourself, supported by the precision and depth of Five-Element acupuncture.
Who I Work With
Over the years I’ve worked with a wide range of people — professionals under pressure, creatives seeking clarity, new parents adjusting to change, and many on the fertility path. Common reasons patients seek treatment include:
Fertility & IVF support (cycle regulation, stress reduction, pre-/post-transfer care)
Stress, anxiety, and burnout (calming the nervous system, improving resilience)
Women’s health & hormones (PMS, painful periods, perimenopause, menopause symptoms)
Digestive issues (bloating, IBS-type symptoms, appetite and energy regulation)
Sleep & recovery (insomnia, restless sleep, jet lag, fatigue)
Pain & tension (headaches, neck and shoulder tension, lower back discomfort)
Every treatment is tailored. The aim is to support your system to do what it knows how to do — heal, reorganise, and return to balance.
As Gerad’s original apprentice, I feel proud to see his ideas reach a wider audience through this book. His influence is woven through every aspect of my practice, but over the years I’ve also developed my own voice, shaped by the patients I’ve worked with and the journeys I’ve witnessed.
Gerad Kite's The Untapped Self is a testament to the philosophy that started it all. For my patients and readers, I cannot recommend it enough — not just as a book, but as an invitation to look deeper within.
If you’re curious about Five-Element acupuncture in London, or you’re seeking fertility acupuncture, stress relief, or support with sleep and hormones, I’d be glad to talk.
To learn how the Five Elements inform every treatment, explore our Five Elements page. If you’re ready to begin, book a session with me via our booking page where you can select either of Johnny Childs' convenient clinic locations, Kite Clinic Wimpole Street or at Liberty London.
Book your Session with Johnny Childs today.
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