How long will my first appointment take?
Your first appointment will take about one hour. This includes consultation, needling, and resting time. With COVID-19 ongoing, we will email you our paper work and you will email it back to us prior to your first visit.

How does the sliding scale work? How much should I pay?
Our treatment fee works on a sliding scale of $30-$50, and you choose what to pay at each visit. We want you to pay an amount that you are comfortable with. We will never ask for income verification. How much you pay does not change the treatment you receive or the number of needles that are used.

On your first visit, there is a $10 initial consultation fee in addition to the treatment fee you choose to pay.

We accept cash, checks, and all major credit cards. Exact change is always appreciated, as sometimes we do not have change. We are likely going to move to on-line payments only, to reduce the possibility of virus transmission.

Do you accept insurance?
As a community clinic, we do not bill insurance but can provide a receipt for you to submit to your insurance company.

Does acupuncture hurt?
We use very thin needles, so often you won't feel them at all. As a clinic, we do our best to be as gentle as possible with needle insertion. You will likely be surprised with how comfortable the experience actually is. Whichever practitioner you end up seeing, please let them know about your nervousness. You are not alone in feeling this way, as most of us have had terrible experiences with needles in Western medicine. Our needles are nothing like the hypodermic ones used to take blood or insert medications. They are sterile and single use only, so we NEVER re-use them and dispose of them in biohazard containers immediately after treatment. And we use a very small gauge of needle for patient comfort—they are thinner than a single strand of hair!

People describe the experience of acupuncture in very different ways: some feel warmth at the site of insertion and others feel tingling, pulsing, sometimes a deep heaviness and ache, but these sensations are mostly a "weird" feeling if you've never experienced them, but not what would be described as "painful." Others, don't feel very much at all, and that is okay too. Neither response is indicative of the effectiveness of the treatment. Other times, you may feel a slight pinch with insertion. Once the needles are in place, they should not hurt. Let the acupuncturist know if the needles are uncomfortable or will prevent you from resting.

What should I wear?
You will remain clothed during your treatment, so we recommend wearing comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that will allow the acupuncturist access to your forearms and lower legs.

Do I need to bring anything with me?
Yes. You can bring a clean, twin flat sheet (or any size larger) to cover your chair and any blankets or pillows you might want. While we used to provide these things, the transmission factor of COVID-19 on fabrics is not very well known. You may rent one from us at the minimal cost for $2—that’s each pillow, each blanket, each sheet will be $2. Our laundry costs and time have dramatically increased due to the pandemic.

How often do I need to get a treatment?
This can vary depending on your treatment goals. On your first visit, your acupuncturist will recommend a series of treatments based on her experience with your condition. 

Do you treat children?
We welcome people of all ages, including children! Please be aware that your child will need to be able to sit quietly during their treatment, since we treat in a common area. They can watch a DVD or listen to music on headphones, as long as the sound will not be disruptive to others around them. 15 minutes with the needles is usually plenty of time for a younger child.

We find that children who want to receive treatment usually do fine; if your child is frightened or isn't interested in treatment, it is probably better to wait until they are older.

Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a guardian.

For children 12 and under, we offer a reduced rate of $10 per treatment. There is an additional $10 consultation fee on the first visit.

Where can I learn more about acupuncture?

If you're new to acupuncture and curious about how it works, then check out this online book titled, "Why Did You Put That Needle There". (Click here to read it.) (A Spanish version is also available--simply click here.) This book answers a number of commonly asked questions and provides an overview of treatment. We know acupuncture can seem downright mysterious, but the fact that placing tiny needles in the arms and legs can lead to less suffering and improved mental and physical functioning is nothing short of wondrous!