About

Lauren J. Paap, L.Ac., MAOM, Dipl. Ac. & ABT (NCCAOM)®, AOBTA®-CP, CH

Founder & CEO, Inspired Thought LLC
Director, Acupressure Therapy Institute (ATI)
Founder, Eastern Medicinal Therapies Education Center (EMTEC)

Lauren Paap is a mission-driven leader with over 30 years of experience in human services, integrative medicine, nonprofit development, and transformational education. Her work spans from designing training institutes and therapeutic programs to guiding community initiatives and ecological expeditions.

With formal training in acupuncture, bodywork therapies, neuroscience-informed coaching, and Eastern healing traditions, Lauren blends clinical skill with systems thinking to create environments where individuals and communities thrive. She holds a Master’s degree in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, executive training in Neuroscience for Business from MIT Sloan, and Performance Neuroscience Coaching through the Flow Research Collective.

Lauren has led regional and national nonprofit programs focused on women, families, and vulnerable populations. She directed Greater Boston’s Playspace Programs for Horizons for Homeless Children, overseeing 50 programs, 700 volunteers, and large-scale events. Her operational experience includes managing residential facilities, commercial kitchens, and grassroots fundraising, as well as serving in executive and advisory roles on multiple boards.

Her ecological values have been expressed through work with Ocean Alliance and Sea Shepherd, sailing from Boston to Tahiti and supporting toxicology research in the Gulf of Mexico. A lifelong advocate for environmental and social stewardship, Lauren brings a track record of hands-on leadership and community engagement—from urban volunteer programs to regenerative education projects.