Your first appointment runs about 90 minutes, and a good portion of that is talking. I'll ask about your main concern, but also about sleep, digestion, energy, stress, and your medical history. In Chinese medicine, these things aren't separate topics – they're all part of the same picture. I'll also check your pulse and look at your tongue, both of which give me information that symptoms alone don't. If your main compliant is pain then we will do a few tests to assess movement restrictions.

Based on what we've discussed, I'll place needles at points selected for you. They're single-use, sterile, and about the width of a human hair. Most people feel a brief sensation on insertion and then nothing at all. If we go into muscles that spot can feel achy for a few moments. I’ll make sure everything is comfortable and then let you rest for 20 to 30 minutes – a lot of people fall asleep. Depending on what your body needs, I may also use cupping, gua sha, or electro-acupuncture in the same session.

Before you leave, we'll talk about what you might feel afterward, how often to come in, and anything you can do between sessions – movement, stretches, or small adjustments that support the work. Acupuncture builds over time, so we'll set realistic expectations together rather than guessing.