BEFORE YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT...

I'm excited to meet you and to help you start feeling better! Here's some helpful and important info!

FORMS AND HISTORY

You should receive a pending appointment email when you submit your request. If you do not, please text or call me 716-427-4321.

Once your appointment has been confirmed, a link to your medical history and consent forms will be emailed to you. My practice is paper-free, HIPPA compliant, encrypted, and password protected in the Unified Practice data cloud to provide the ultimate in protection for your private information. Everything can be conveniently filled out from a desktop, laptop, or iPad (forms are not optimized for phones). Make sure you e-sign and press submit and save at the end! It must be filled out in one sitting, as, unfortunately, it won’t save as you go.
The body is a connected system, so all of your history, social behaviors, and symptoms are important, even if they don't seem relevant to your current complaint. When a particular section really doesn't apply to you at all, simply skip it and press continue.
It is always helpful to bring any lab reports, imaging studies, reports from other doctors, and a list of current medications if you have them.

When you arrive you may be asked to wait in the parlor or be taken back immediately to the treatment room where you will be invited to sit down in a comfy chair.
I usually try to review your health history prior to your appointment to help save you time. We will then go over your concerns together and you will be able to ask any questions you may have.
If your clothing doesn’t give access to the treatment areas, you will be asked to change into a gown, and then you will then lay either face up or face down on the heated table.
I will swab your skin with alcohol and then gently insert needles into the acupuncture points, depending on your needs, you could have anything where from just 4 to 30 hair thin needles, more if you are having cosmetic acupuncture.
You may feel some sensation as the needle enters the skin, but there is usually no discomfort after insertion. If you feel pain after insertion, let me know and I will adjust the needles or remove them. I want you to be comfortable!
I will usually lead you in a brief relaxation exercise and then allow you to rest for 20 minutes.
Adjunct treatments such as cupping or gua sha are done before needling.
Sound baths (if booked) happen during the rest period.
After I remove the needles, I may do a very brief (30 sec-2 min) massage, or we may stretch, breathe, or do a little qi gong to integrate the treatment into the body.
You will be offered tea or water, book your next session, and I can answer any additional questions.

Eat something nourishing about two hours before your treatment. A great choice is a complex carb with some protein and fat. For example a hard-boiled egg and whole-grain pretzels or almond butter and brown rice crackers.

Please keep in mind that street drugs, excess caffeine, certain medications, and nicotine can interfere with the effects of acupuncture. If at all possible, refrain from taking any of these substances the day of treatment, but DO continue to take any daily prescribed medication. One cup of coffee early in the morning is usually fine if you’re a regular coffee drinker, but caffeine right before an appointment can interfere with your body’s ability to relax.

Wear loose clothing that can be easily pushed up to expose the legs, arms, and abdomen, or I can provide you a robe, fisherman pants, or gown. If you are planning on having cupping, gua sha, or moxibustion, or if the day is cold or breezy, please bring a scarf and warm sweater to wear afterward.

The clinic is located at 1800 Hertel, set back from the street. There are big evergreens, a dark pink door, and green steps. Street parking is available, but feel free to use an empty space in the driveway, too.

Please be prompt! If you are more than 15 minutes late, your session will be canceled to accommodate the next patient and you will be charged for the appointment.

Cancellation or rescheduling is welcome 24 hours or more prior to your appointment, please text me! If you no-show or cancel less than 24 hours before your appointment, you are responsible to pay the full cost of your session. Emergencies do happen, and I do my best to be flexible and understanding when they do. If you are ill, have gone into labor, or your baby has spontaneously moved from breech to cephalic position you are exempt from fees.

From time to time, I attend births as a birth doula or death beds as an end-of-life doula, and sometimes have to attend last-minute IVF appointments for patients. If a mama goes into labor or death is imminent for a patient, I may have to cancel your appointment. Such is the nature of the job! I hope you understand!

If you've got questions, I've got answers (probably). Shoot me an email, use the form on the contact page, or ask away during our first visit. Questions are always welcome!