Before your first appointment
Before your first acupuncture appointment, you will have a free 15-minute phone consultation with me. This gives us an opportunity to discuss what brings you to treatment, answer any initial questions and talk about what to expect.
You will also be emailed an intake form to complete and return before your appointment. This covers your health history, current symptoms and any medication you take, helping me prepare for your visit and tailor your treatment to you.
Please allow time to complete the form before your appointment. If you have any difficulty completing it, please get in touch.
Your first appointment
Your initial appointment is an opportunity to talk through what has brought you to acupuncture, your health history, lifestyle and what you would like support with. Please allow plenty of time so that the consultation does not feel rushed.
My approach is informed by Traditional Chinese Medicine, which considers the person as a whole. Alongside discussing your main concerns, I may ask detailed questions about areas such as sleep, energy, digestion, appetite, temperature, stress, pain and, where relevant, menstrual health.
Traditional Chinese Medicine assessment.
This detailed conversation is sometimes referred to in TCM as the “Ten Questions.” It helps me build a fuller picture of your health and identify a TCM pattern to guide an individual treatment plan.
I may also observe your tongue and gently feel the pulse at both wrists. Tongue observation and pulse assessment are traditional TCM methods used alongside conversation and clinical observation to inform your treatment plan.
I will explain what I am doing and why. Your comfort, dignity and consent are important throughout, and you are always welcome to ask questions or decline any part of the assessment.
Your treatment.
After the consultation, I will discuss a proposed treatment approach with you. Acupuncture needles are single-use, sterile and disposed of safely after treatment.
You will usually be asked to rest comfortably on the treatment couch. Depending on the treatment plan, you may be asked to move or adjust clothing enough to access a treatment area; this can include feet, hands, legs, arms, stomach and back so please dress accordingly. Your privacy and comfort will always be respected.
You may feel very little when needles are inserted. Some people notice a mild, temporary sensation such as warmth, heaviness, tingling or a dull ache. Please tell me at any point if you are uncomfortable.
Additional techniques
Alongside traditional acupuncture, I may use a range of supportive techniques as part of your individual treatment plan. These can include cupping, gua sha, electro-acupuncture, auricular (ear) acupuncture and ear seeds.
The techniques used will always be discussed with you first and chosen according to your symptoms, health history, preferences and treatment goals. Not every appointment will include these methods.
Cupping uses gentle suction on the skin and may leave temporary circular marks. Gua sha is a gentle scraping technique used on the skin and can also leave temporary redness or marks. Electro-acupuncture uses a very mild electrical stimulation between selected acupuncture needles. Auricular acupuncture involves points on the ear, while ear seeds are small adhesive seeds or beads placed on specific ear points for you to press gently between appointments.
After your appointment.
People’s experiences after acupuncture vary. You may feel calm, relaxed or tired after a session, and some people notice temporary changes as their body responds to treatment. I will discuss appropriate aftercare with you before you leave.
Acupuncture is complementary to, and does not replace, appropriate medical assessment or treatment. Please continue to follow advice from your GP, consultant, fertility clinic or other healthcare professional. For urgent medical concerns, contact NHS 111 or call 999 in an emergency.
Ready to arrange an appointment?