Welcome to Your First Visit

If this is your first experience with acupuncture or Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), welcome — and congratulations on taking the first step toward your natural healing process.

You’re joining millions of people worldwide who trust this medicine not only to treat pain and illness but to prevent them. My goal is to make your first visit comfortable, informative, and uniquely tailored to your health goals.

Before Your Appointment

To save time, please download and complete the New Patient and the Functional Assessment forms and bring them with you to your first visit. If you prefer to fill it out in the office, please arrive about 30 minutes early.

You’re also encouraged to bring:

  • Any recent blood work or lab reports

  • A list of your current medications, supplements, or herbs

  • Any relevant imaging (X-rays, MRI, etc.)

Having this information helps me understand the full picture of your health and allows for a more comprehensive approach to care.

I’m honored to help you begin.

Intake & Assessment

Your first visit usually lasts between 90 minutes and two hours. During this time, we’ll discuss your primary concerns and review your health history in detail. I’ll also perform a traditional diagnostic assessment, which may include looking at your tongue and feeling your pulse — two important tools in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

We’ll then talk about your treatment plan, what to expect, and how often you might benefit from visits. Questions are always welcome — this is your time to understand your body and how it heals.

Treatment

Acupuncture points are selected based on your diagnosis and may include points on the arms, legs, abdomen, or head. Most patients feel only a light sensation or warmth when the needles are placed.

As you relax, you may feel tingling, heaviness, or a gentle wave of calm — this is the body’s natural healing response. Many patients enter a deep state of relaxation or even fall asleep during treatment.

Your first acupuncture treatment will last about an hour, and follow-up visits are typically shorter as we build on your progress.

If it’s determined that other therapies such as cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, or auricular acupuncture would help your condition, these may be added at the end of your session.

After Your Treatment

Take your time getting up from the treatment table. You may feel awake and refreshed, deeply relaxed, or even a little tired — each response is unique.

Drink water, rest if you need to, and observe how your body feels over the next 24 hours. Gentle changes — in sleep, digestion, or mood — are all signs that your body is rebalancing.

A Note of Thanks

I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of your healing journey. Each treatment is an evolving collaboration — guided by experience, curiosity, and care.