FAQs

You may be reading through the site and thinking, “I like this idea of all of this, and, I do not struggle with my relationship to food and my body ... so do I actually belong?”

YES, you still belong here at Body Positive Acupuncture! I treat folks with all kinds of symptoms and issues. I insist on doing so through a body-positive lens that advocates for the people in marginalized bodies.

A body-positive lens aims to heal the wounds that may have come from diet culture, weight discrimination/stigma, ageism, heterosexism, racism, classism, gender bias, a consumerist-driven society, personal and/or medical trauma, and various other factors.

I work well with people who identify as women and non-binary, and members of the queer community. My practice is well-suited for folks that range in their 40s-60s.

I love treating folks who suffer from anxiety, fertility issues, depression, menstrual issues, digestive issues, headaches, and back pain (and many other ailments).

My office is accommodating for folks in larger bodies. My treatment table adjusts to different positions and has a weight capacity of 450lbs. I love working with folks who want to get out of the diet mentality and get a bit out of their head and into their bodies. That being said, EVERY body is welcome.

Intuitive eating counseling is a fully virtual service. I often send out worksheets for clients to fill out before their appointments. Generally we start out with a one-hour session I call “Intuitive Eating 101”. This gives the basic layout of all the principles of this approach to eating and deep listening to your body. Then we have time to discuss what resonated during that hour and what did not.

If you’d like to delve deeper, I generally see intuitive eating counseling clients once a month for 8-10 months. Together, we will more comprehensively explore all of the principles of Intuitive Eating, as you learn to apply them in your own life. This work is not quick — in fact, it can be quite slow. When it comes to taking the exit ramp from diet culture, the deprogramming takes time. Most of us were socialized with some form of diet culture. I’ll help you to practice being curious and compassionate with yourself as you heal your relationship with food.

I am an out-of-network provider. While I do not accept or bill insurance companies, many insurers include coverage for acupuncture. You pay me at the time of service and I will provide you with a Superbill that you can submit to your insurance carrier for possible reimbursement.

Coverage is dependent upon the terms and conditions of your health insurance plan. I will happily provide documentation for out-of-network coverage.

Acupuncture is the oldest and most commonly practiced medical technique in the world. It is used by one-third of the world as a primary health care system. Acupuncture accesses the body via twelve primary and eight secondary meridians that lie like roadmaps throughout the body and help us find our way to harmony. Acupuncture addresses the whole person, not just parts of the body, making it an especially useful modality for cultivating body positivity.

I use a number of modalities to specialize treatment for each patient. These may include the use of needles, moxibustion, gua sha, and cupping. I make sure you understand what I am doing before I do it.

Acupuncture hurts sometimes. When it hurts, the pain lasts for about 3 seconds and the sensation goes away. People come to me for treatment because it works. Is the pain worth it? I declare that it is. Chronic symptoms like back pain, headaches, menstrual cramps, anxiety, depression are far more uncomfortable than the acute pain sometimes felt with a needle insertion. Remember that these seconds of discomfort are only a possibility, and they are broken up and coordinated with the patients own exhale, which minimizes pain. Others do not feel any pain. You may feel a sensation beyond the initial insertion (the qi sensation, or sometimes a dull ache). I recommend remaining open to the possibility that discomfort during treatment is not inherently negative, as it can reflect the body’s response to therapeutic stimulation and may serve a meaningful physiological or energetic purpose.

In order to serve you best and keep the schedule accessible, my cancellation policy respectfully asks for 48+ hours notice prior to cancellation or rescheduling. This policy requires at least 24 hrs notice to avoid being charged the $50 late cancellation fee. If you provide less than 12 hours notice for cancellation or no-show, you will be charged the full fee of your scheduled appointment.

This is my way of meeting you halfway; sometimes things happen and I understand that. When you book an appointment, that time is reserved just for you. Giving proper notice allows time to fill the treatment slot. Cancellations due to emergencies, inclement weather, acute illness, or COVID-related symptoms are not subject to the cancellation fee.

I recommend 1 weekly treatment for 6-8 weeks. We will reevaluate from there. Depending on progress, we will continue treatment at lesser frequency. My job is to help you get to a point where you need me less and less over time. Your body will start to deliver the results once we get on track with a successful treatment plan.

I am proudly fully vaccinated to protect myself and others from Covid-19. I stay updated on all available boosters. I am happy to wear a mask during your treatment and often choose to do so, especially during the fall and winter to avoid the spread of viruses in general. You are not required to wear a mask until you are actively symptomatic.