FAQ
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Acupuncture shouldn’t hurt… but it shouldn’t be “sensation-less” either. During an acupuncture session, I’ve had clients report that they can feel warmth in areas of their body and they can feel a current of energy moving up and down their arms and legs. Some clients burst into laughter or tears. Other clients feel their aches and pains dissipate within the 20-30 minutes that the needles are retained. I can always adjust my treatment style to your tolerance for these sensations, just let me know! And, it’s completely normal to feel all the feels during a session with me… this means your body is working hard to return to its natural flow state! Clients typically report feeling more calm, relaxed, present and peaceful at the end of an acupuncture session.
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Initial sessions are longer because it’s important to collect as much information as possible at the beginning. I like to tell my clients that good acupuncturists are excellent investigators, our job is to follow the breadcrumbs and make sense of the symptoms you are reporting. The tools I use to make sense of your symptoms include asking questions, looking at your tongue and feeling your pulse. I often have clients tell me that they appreciate how thorough I am, and that they never realized how many “random” symptoms actually relate to each other through the lens of Chinese medicine. The most important piece of the puzzle is the diagnosis: your root pattern of disharmony in Chinese medicine tells me every single thing I need to know about how to treat you. Your Chinese medicine diagnosis leads me to choose the most powerful acupuncture points on your body which will bring your body into balance in the most efficient way. Expect to be with me for about 75-90 minutes in your first session.
Be sure to have had something light to eat and drink about 30-60 minutes before your session as acupuncture works best when your body’s cells are happy and hydrated. Wear loose-fitting clothing and please refrain from wearing perfumes and/or synthetic fragrances. My clients often tell me that the rest they get on my table is the best rest they’ve had in a long time.
Once your first acupuncture session is scheduled, I will send you an email that contains more information regarding my office location and all of the forms necessary to begin working with me. At this time, I am accepting new acupuncture clients only after we first speak on the phone. If you are ready to work with me, book your free 10-minute discovery call with me here.
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Acupuncture is very safe if performed by a licensed acupuncturist (the practitioner should have “L.Ac” as part of their title). I graduated from an accelerated program through Southwest Acupuncture College, earning my Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine, which included over 3000 hours of classroom education and over 1000 clinical hours in a supervised setting. I then sat for my board exams in order to become a licensed practitioner in both acupuncture and Chinese herbs. I am licensed both through the state of Colorado (DORA) and through our national governing body (NCCAOM) and I must maintain my credentials by engaging in continuing education on a regular basis. There are very few negative side effects to acupuncture.
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Results vary from person to person and are dependent on several factors: How long have you had this condition/these symptoms? How severe is this condition/these symptoms? How committed are you to actively working on your customized treatment plan at home, between sessions with me. Generally speaking, an initial course of treatment is one acupuncture session per week for 4-6 weeks then we reassess and check in with how you’re feeling. Most cases can take 10-20 sessions to improve but I’ve had clients with acute conditions feel 90% better after one session. Chronic conditions tend to take more time. One of my favorite teachers in acupuncture once told us that it takes about one month of acupuncture (weekly sessions) for every year you’ve had the symptoms/condition/illness/disease to bring your body back into lasting balance. I would agree with this sentiment based on my clinical experience. Acupuncture has a cumulative effect on the body, so each treatment builds upon the previous and the body, over time, should “hold on” to each treatment for longer and longer. This typically equates to coming in for acupuncture more frequently to start, then tapering off once symptoms are relieved, with “tune up” treatments every so often (sometimes monthly, sometimes seasonally) to remind the body that it has the capacity to return to a state of flow.
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I graduated from Southwest Acupuncture College (in Boulder, CO) in 2009 and opened my first clinic, Denver Community Acupuncture, in January 2010. I performed thousands of treatments on clients during my time at Denver Community Acupuncture, in a high-volume setting, and as I’ve navigated my own health journey, my practice has mirrored this trajectory: focusing on fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopausal health. As I’ve experienced each of these stages in my own life, I’ve collected wisdom, knowledge and education on what has worked for me personally AND what has been successful in the clinic setting.
I have participated in several post-graduate mentorship programs. I did a 12-month mentorship with Debra Betts, L.Ac, PhD. on acupuncture in pregnancy and postpartum. I completed a 6-month mentorship with Desiree Mangandog, L.Ac. on combining Chinese medicine and essential oils. I’ve studied with numerous teachers to further my knowledge on acupuncture and autoimmune disorders, acupuncture and migraines, acupuncture and pain management, sports medicine acupuncture, scalp acupuncture for neurological disorders, acupuncture and IVF, and pediatric acupuncture. These days, I really enjoy working with women who are committed to making deep, lasting changes in their lives.
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At this time, I am not in-network with insurance companies so all clients must pay in full for their services at time of treatment. However, I have several clients who have been successful in seeking reimbursement for acupuncture. If you have out-of-network benefits with your health insurance company, you may request a superbill at the time of service that contains all of the proper coding necessary for coverage. Ultimately, though, you are responsible for contacting your insurance company to verify any and all benefits specific to your plan.
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I kindly request that you give at least 24 hours notice if you must cancel your appointment with me.
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Once I have confirmed your appointment, I will send you an email at least 48 hours before your first session with me. This email will contain important details such as what to expect and where my office is located (including my address and directions).
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Information about your body comes to me in a variety of ways. I receive a lot of information about you visually, in my mind’s eye. I can also feel in my body where the energy is stuck in your body. What’s ready for healing in you will be shown to me.
For example, sometimes we have contracts with others that have expired and need to be broken. Sometimes I can see a projection in your future, such as a major opportunity that will happen for you in three months time. And sometimes I can see you stuck in a self-destructive pattern that is preventing you from really feeling alive. I am able to feel if your boundaries need to be strengthened and if you are holding onto too much energy that is not yours to keep. I’ve even channeled loved ones who have passed on.
Once I’ve “downloaded” all the information that needs to come through, I put the puzzle pieces together and begin the treatment session. This is where we clear any stagnation or blockages of energy, nourish the areas of the body that don’t have enough energy and harmonize the entire system so that the treatment sticks.
I have found that using essential oils in place of acupuncture needles and herbs can be a really powerful way to move your energy. There are two ways this can happen. Although we are not physically in the same space, we are still connected energetically. This means I can apply the oils to acupuncture points and meridians on my body to move the energy in your body. I use my body as a blueprint of your body and it acts as a conduit for your healing. Or, if you have your own essential oil collection, I can also guide you through the application process in real time so you receive your own essential oil experience. Both treatment techniques are equally powerful, and I've had patients benefit tremendously from both methods.
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There is a saying in Chinese medicine, “99% of illness is rooted in the spirit”. I interpret this to mean that ALL dis-ease begins with emotions because simply put, emotions are energy in motion. When emotions get stuck, your body’s energy gets stuck and this is the root to all illness.
Every single emotion has a specific energy vibration. Some, like shame and guilt are lower on this scale which means when you feel these emotions, you don’t feel great. Others, like love and joy, are much higher vibrationally which means when you feel these emotions, you feel pretty darn good.
When acupuncture points are stimulated, your body’s energetic blueprint gets a “call to action”.
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Just like each emotion has its own unique frequency, essential oils have their own individual energetic frequency too. This means you can use essential oils to encourage your own energy frequencies to shift from shame to acceptance; from fear to love; from anger to joy. When essential oils are applied to specific acupuncture points and zones on the body, they invite our energy to move out of staying “stuck in the same old story”. This means that any work you currently do to help you shift can be AMPLIFIED by adding in essential oils. Meditation + oils... Acupuncture + oils... Journaling + oils… All juicy recipes for changing the trajectory of your life path.