What to Expect
We make sure all our new patients feel welcome, safe, and taken care of.
Before your first appointment, you will receive an intake/consent form to complete on-line.
Please complete as much or as little of this as you are comfortable with - at the minimum please let me know what help you require and a brief history, as well as any other health concerns or prior conditions.
First Appointment
Following the initial interview, you will lie on a comfortable massage table. For certain treatments it is more convenient to remove some articles of clothing and use a sheet for draping purposes, but generally loose pants and a loose top are most comfortable and it allows your practitioner to access all the points necessary for the treatment.
There is a therapeutic far infrared heat lamp for warmth and circulation, and the temperature in the room is comfortable.
Sean may feel your pulse, look at your tongue or palpate your skin, depending on what your health goals are.
From over 400 acupuncture points located all over the body, he will then carefully choose the appropriate acupoints for your situation and clean each point to be treated with alcohol. A treatment generally includes 8-12 points – sometimes more and sometimes less. Feel free to ask questions at any time if you are curious about why certain points are chosen and their specific function for your treatment.
The sterile, single-use needles are held in a guide tube which holds each needle in place and allows for precision of placement. You will feel the guide tube on your skin before the needle is gently tapped. After the needles are in place and Sean ensures that you are relaxed and comfortable. At this time electrical stimulation may be included with the treatment which has been shown to improve health outcomes and success rates for many situations without adding any discomfort to the experience.
At this time you will be left alone in the treatment room with low light and relaxing music (or silence) for 25-45 minutes (depending on the treatment protocol). Before or after the acupuncture treatment other modalities such as acupressure or cupping therapy may also be used.
Acupuncture point selection may vary from treatment to treatment, depending on the situation and goals. For certain patients, the acupuncture points may be the same from treatment to treatment.
Needle Sensation
With acupuncture there is often a sensation felt around the area of the needles during the treatment. Common sensations to expect include distention, energy, numbness, heaviness, or a feeling of moving electricity. Often people will experience a sensation far away from the area being needled. This is called “deqi” and it is a good sign that the treatment will be successful and an indication that your nervous system has recognized the needle. Very occasionally there will be a small pinch or sharpness with a needle in which case inform your practitioner and they will make an adjustment to the needle.
FOR ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING INITIAL TREATMENTS, PLEASE USE THE FORM BELOW….