About Dr. Kim Makoi
Dr. Kim Makoi is a San Francisco–based holistic chiropractor and mind-body consultant who helps people relieve stress, release emotional blocks, and restore balance using the Neuro Emotional Technique (NET). Holding doctorates in Chiropractic and Pastoral Counseling, Dr. Makoi combines science, compassion, and humor to make healing both effective and approachable.
He is the author of The Issues Are in the Tissues: Get Comfortable in Your Own Skin and Thrive in Business and in Life and Booze to Balance: A Chill 30-Day Liver Healing Program, and the creator of The Daily Nugget, a popular daily series blending humor, insight, and mind-body wisdom. Through in-person and online sessions, Dr. Makoi offers an integrative approach that empowers clients to understand the mind-body connection and take an active role in their own healing process—creating lasting change from the inside out.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Makoi curates one-on-one luxury healing retreats and deeply personal “living funeral” rituals that blend emotional release, sacred symbolism, and restorative care. These immersive experiences are designed to help clients mark life transitions, reconnect with purpose, and return home renewed—in body, mind, and spirit.
Me in a nutshell
I was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Northern Virginia. For the record, I used to say I didn’t believe in astrology—but after a few uncannily accurate readings, I’ve learned to keep an open mind. (If you’re into that sort of thing, I’m an Aquarius and a Water Rat.)
I spent the first 33 years of my life running on estrogen and the past twenty or so on testosterone. Honestly? I’m enjoying the ride.
These days, I share a cat with my neighbor and have made friends with the ravens of Ocean Beach, who know me as “the peanut guy.” (They started it.) Personality tests say I’m a Social 5 on the Enneagram and an INTJ on the Myers-Briggs, but I try not to take any of that too seriously.
If snail mail were an Olympic sport, I’d have a wall of gold medals. I’m a postcard champion, expert package sender, and firm believer that real stamps still matter. When I’m not mailing something, I’m usually helping people get unstuck—physically, emotionally, or both. My doctoral degrees are in Chiropractic and Pastoral Counseling, with advanced training in Nutrition, Addictionology, and Mind-Body Medicine.
Things I love: film festivals, opera, good music, the ocean, islands, haggis (don’t knock it), books, naps, and anything that reminds me that life and death are both worth celebrating. I’ve written three books so far… and more are on the way. Conspiracy theories? NO. Aliens? Heck yes.
“The best way to get to know someone is to know what they value, what they support and what they prioritize.”
What I Prioritize
My kid
Sleep
My calling
Continual learning
Spirit
Water - to be near it, in it, on it… and, yes, to drink it too
Introvert-friendly friendshipping
What I Value
Freedom: I value the freedom of each individual to travel their own unique path—to explore, to question, and to discover their purpose and place in this world.
Connection: I value the power and beauty of connection—between people, communities, nations, and the planet itself (and beyond). As much as I cherish individuality, I believe we are nothing without our connections to the whole.
Honesty: I value truth and honesty, even when it’s uncomfortable or not what I want to hear.
Respect: I value respect for all fellow humans (and other living beings).
Love: I value love in all its forms, even the messy, complicated ones. In the end, everything comes back to love.
What I Support
The biggest question in holistic healing is often, “But where’s the research?” For over 30 years, the ONE Research Foundation has been raising funds and supporting high-quality, peer-reviewed studies to show the world that NET (the Neuro Emotional Technique) is real, effective, and evidence-based.
The San Francisco Opera: I love opera, and the SF Opera is world-class. I’m a proud season ticket holder and an unrepentant evangelist for first-timers—I believe everyone should experience the magic of live opera at least once.
Postcrossing: This may look like a hobby for snail mail enthusiasts, but Postcrossing is a quiet force for world peace. It connects people across borders and beliefs, one postcard at a time. I’ve met incredible friends through Postcrossing—people of all ages, backgrounds, and perspectives—and it constantly reminds me to step outside my bubble.
Frameline: Frameline is the organization behind San Francisco’s annual LGBTQ+ film festival—my favorite local event of the year. It showcases powerful stories that expand empathy and visibility for our community. If it’s tough to get an appointment with me in late June, this is why: I’m at Frameline!
Planned Parenthood: This organization continues to provide essential health care, education, and support for people facing reproductive challenges—and it remains a vital resource for countless communities.
The Alembic: An extraordinary nonprofit mind-body center in Berkeley that brings together teachers, healers, and seekers from around the world. The Alembic continues to inspire deep transformation and authentic connection