Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect during an acupuncture session with you?

Since everyone’s experience of acupuncture varies it is impossible to say exactly what you will experience! The room is quiet and the treatment table is warm. Most points are on your arms, legs, scalp and back, and usually stay in for 25-40 minutes. The needles are very fine, single use, and sometimes can be felt as a little pinch or pressure or “zing”. The majority of my clients find it very relaxing, and often have a short power nap while the points are in. This is great, as you are then in your parasympathetic state, which is when we heal most effectively.

In general, it’s said that statistically 80% of people respond well to acupuncture - they shift and improve with varying amounts of time and momentum. Another 10% respond astoundingly quickly and well, like they are on the very brink of healing and just needed a tiny little nudge. And 10% respond more slowly or require more treatments or integrated approaches.

Frequently, my clients report improvements right away. In some cases the changes aren’t noticed for a few days, or until we’ve had a few treatments. The frequency and number of appointments needed depends on your response, the condition being treated, your activities and lifestyle.

We are each unique, and in this era of social media and everything being out on display I especially want to protect that experience of healing at your own pace and in your own unique way. One of the reasons I don’t post reviews is I don’t want you to compare your experience and progress with anyone else’s. We are each on our own path.

What do we do in an initial health consultation?

During an initial health consultation we will talk about your main health goals and then I will guide you through all of the different areas of your health so that I can get a full sense of who you are as a person and how I can best help you to achieve those goals. Small details can give me clues as to your underlying imbalances or patterns, such as your own unique responses to foods, stress, temperatures and activities. You are free to share as much or are little as you feel comfortable.

I also have a feel of your pulses at your wrists, look at your tongue, and sometimes feel your abdomen. These are classical diagnostic tools that can tell me more about your internal state, and are also important for preventative care.

Can I follow you on social media?

Other than my blog, my business is not on social media for a number of reasons. In large part it’s because I believe that the answer to so many of our questions and problems lies not in our phones but in our relationships with nature and with those around us. I want to connect with YOU, as a person. My presence on social media may change one day, as one of the things I hear a lot from clients is that they come away from our conversations with an understanding of Chinese Medicine, the world, and themselves that they have not heard from others before. And I would like to share that with the wider world as well. But for now, I’m just too busy with the rest of my life - IRL!

Are you taking new clients?

Yes! I am happy to see you as a new client. To give everyone the best care and to always have time for my current clients’ needs I stagger new client intakes and you may need to schedule your initial appointment several weeks or at times months in advance. Let me know if you are interested in booking in and I will contact you with the details. Having said that, if you are in need of care for something acute and time sensitive, or if you are traveling in from the Communities, I can often fit you in on shorter notice. Feel free to contact me and I’ll be in touch.