What To Expect

What to Expect at Your First Visit

On your first appointment at Guiding Spirit Acupuncture, you’ll meet with Guiding Spirit’s licensed acupuncturist, Susan Dykeman. First, you’ll talk for about thirty to 40 minutes. You’ll have the opportunity to tell the story of your health and what brought you to acupuncture. Susan will listen closely to your story and gather more information about you and your health by guiding you through a series of focused questions.

Next Susan will perform a brief physical exam, including an examination of your tongue and pulse, important pillars of Chinese medical diagnosis. You will then discuss her recommendations for a treatment plan. Most patients begin with a series of acupuncture sessions, usually at a frequency of one to three times per week, depending on your situation.

Next, you receive your first acupuncture treatment!

Many patients will feel an improvement with their first treatment, noticing a lessening of their discomfort and/or an overall sense of increased relaxation and improved wellbeing. Other patients notice changes the day after treatment. Still others, often those with particularly complex or severe complaints, may require several treatments before the benefits of treatment begin to unfold.

Your entire first visit will take about an hour and a half. Please make sure you have completed your online forms prior to your visit so that we don’t have to spend any of our scheduled time on that!

What to Expect Over Time

As you embark on your treatment plan, you’ll come back for one-hour follow-up treatments as you move through the phases of rescue care, stabilization care, and support care. During each follow-up treatment we will take time for a brief check in to discuss updates since your last appointment, and then you’ll have your acupuncture treatment.

During the rescue care phase, we will be working on easing your symptoms and getting your body started on the path to healing your underlying issues. That’s why we often recommend patients come in 1-3 times a week for the first few months: ideally, you’ll come in for your next treatment before the benefits of the previous treatment have worn off. This keeps your symptoms at bay and keeps your body on a healing trajectory.

As your body holds onto these healing changes for longer periods, you will space out your treatments as you move into stabilization care. The goal in this phase is to consolidate improvements so that care recedes from the foreground as you are able reorient your focus and energy onto other life pursuits!

Finally, in the support care phase, many patients transition to coming in for occasional tune-ups when they feel the need to rebalance. The change of the seasons is a difficult time for many people, so that’s a common time to come in to relieve stress or get symptoms back in check. Others know that a treatment once a month or every other month is necessary to keep themselves on a healthy path in this busy, stressful life. At Guiding Spirit, we’re here for you when you need us!

Insurance Information

Acupuncture is a service that is covered by many health insurance plans, and Susan Dykeman participates in most major plans. When you schedule an appointment and fill in your insurance information online, we will check your specific benefits and report back to you the parameters of your coverage.

If you don’t have insurance coverage for acupuncture, you may be able to use your health savings account (HSA) to pay for service. Otherwise, pay as you go prices are as below.

Our other services (Herbal Medicine, Aroma Point Therapy, and Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture) are not typically covered by insurance and are paid for separately.

Pricing of Services

Many health insurance companies cover acupuncture. Other services, like essential oils and herbal medicine, are not covered by insurance. If you are paying for any of our services without insurance, the prices are as follows:

Acupuncture
Acupuncture New Patient Intake & First Treatment $160
Acupuncture Follow-up Treatment $95

Herbal Medicine
Herbal Medicine New Patient Intake $125
Herbal Medicine Follow-up Consultation $65

Aroma Point Therapy
Aroma Point New Patient Intake & First Treatment $160
Aroma Point Follow-up Treatment $95

Facial Rejuvenation
Facial Rejuventation Intake & First Treatment $200
Facial Rejuventation Follow-up Treatment $200
Add Celluma Therapy to Regular Acupuncture Treatment $50
Add MicroCurrent Mask to Regular Acupuncture Treatment $50

How to Choose Your Appointment Type

Most people first come into Guiding Spirit for acupuncture. That is a perfect way to get started. Choose “New Patient” and “Acupuncture First Appointment: Intake” When you book your first appointment. Susan can then describe and/or recommend any other treatments as necessary.

A notable exception is with children and teens. These young people may be wary of acupuncture, and so an introduction to Chinese medicine through Aroma Point Therapy can be a beautiful and effective way to get started.