frequently asked questions
Does acupuncture hurt?
Most patients don’t feel the points at all. At some points you might feel a little pinch, which is totally normal. Once the needles are placed, you may feel a pleasant warm, dull, achy sensation, and that means the needles are getting their groove on and doing their job. Many patients find it so relaxing that they fall asleep, and if we’re being honest, who doesn’t want to knock off for 45 minutes in the middle of the day? Heaven.
How many appointments will I need, and how soon will I see results?
Acupuncture treatments are more effective with higher frequency. This means that you may initially come 1-2x/week for the first several weeks as your schedule allows, and then as frequently as needed until symptoms are under control. After that, many patients choose to continue maintenance visits - ranging from every other week to once per month - to tackle any minor injuries or issues that arise from standard workouts and day to day life, or for preventative care, such as boosting the immune system during cold and flu season.
Important note: Acupuncture is not a magic bullet! It helps the body heal itself and jump starts processes such as immune system functionality and neural reprograming, but it's not an instant fix. If you injured yourself 6 months/years ago, one treatment won't completely unwind what's out of sorts. Acupuncture is an incredibly effective tool in the arsenal of the healing journey, but it's one of several things that may need to be done to improve your current circumstances. In almost all cases the healing process will require active participation from the patient (thats you!).
How should I prepare for my appointment?
Initial paperwork is required and it's mandatory that it be filled out prior to the initial consult so as to maximize efficiency during your first intake and ensure that there is enough time for your treatment. Acupuncture appointments may also require access to certain areas of the body, and we recommend that you wear or bring loose, comfortable clothing, such as a tank top and pair of workout shorts. We also encourage clothing that is comfortable-yet-fabulous; bonus points for a smoking jacket or hostess pajamas.
What is your Cancellation Policy?
The office maintains a strict 48 hour cancellation policy. Appointment times with The East West Company are reserved exclusively for your care for the duration of all scheduled visits. Clients are expected to keep all appointments as scheduled in order to ensure maximum progress in connection with treatment and care. If clients need to cancel or reschedule an appointment and call/text/email 48 hours or more in advance, no charge will apply in this situation. If an appointment is cancelled with less than 48 hours notice, or if the client fails to show or cancels on the day of the appointment, the cancellation fee will apply and the client and will be required to schedule at a new appointment. While it’s understood that everyone has contingencies in their lives, from unexpected business meetings to exams to flight delays, the office is unable to absorb the lost clinical time resulting from such eventualities.
Extreme Weather Conditions: The East West Company reserves the right to close the office due to extreme weather for the safety of all individuals. In these cases, you will be notified either the day before or the morning of your appointment. If the office is open but you have concerns about driving conditions, please contact the office to speak with Dr. Collins directly.
How do I know if Dr. Collins is the right practitioner for me?
This is a very important question! Wondering if we'd be a good fit?
Who I do work with:
Most patients don’t feel the points at all. At some points you might feel a little pinch, which is totally normal. Once the needles are placed, you may feel a pleasant warm, dull, achy sensation, and that means the needles are getting their groove on and doing their job. Many patients find it so relaxing that they fall asleep, and if we’re being honest, who doesn’t want to knock off for 45 minutes in the middle of the day? Heaven.
How many appointments will I need, and how soon will I see results?
Acupuncture treatments are more effective with higher frequency. This means that you may initially come 1-2x/week for the first several weeks as your schedule allows, and then as frequently as needed until symptoms are under control. After that, many patients choose to continue maintenance visits - ranging from every other week to once per month - to tackle any minor injuries or issues that arise from standard workouts and day to day life, or for preventative care, such as boosting the immune system during cold and flu season.
Important note: Acupuncture is not a magic bullet! It helps the body heal itself and jump starts processes such as immune system functionality and neural reprograming, but it's not an instant fix. If you injured yourself 6 months/years ago, one treatment won't completely unwind what's out of sorts. Acupuncture is an incredibly effective tool in the arsenal of the healing journey, but it's one of several things that may need to be done to improve your current circumstances. In almost all cases the healing process will require active participation from the patient (thats you!).
How should I prepare for my appointment?
Initial paperwork is required and it's mandatory that it be filled out prior to the initial consult so as to maximize efficiency during your first intake and ensure that there is enough time for your treatment. Acupuncture appointments may also require access to certain areas of the body, and we recommend that you wear or bring loose, comfortable clothing, such as a tank top and pair of workout shorts. We also encourage clothing that is comfortable-yet-fabulous; bonus points for a smoking jacket or hostess pajamas.
What is your Cancellation Policy?
The office maintains a strict 48 hour cancellation policy. Appointment times with The East West Company are reserved exclusively for your care for the duration of all scheduled visits. Clients are expected to keep all appointments as scheduled in order to ensure maximum progress in connection with treatment and care. If clients need to cancel or reschedule an appointment and call/text/email 48 hours or more in advance, no charge will apply in this situation. If an appointment is cancelled with less than 48 hours notice, or if the client fails to show or cancels on the day of the appointment, the cancellation fee will apply and the client and will be required to schedule at a new appointment. While it’s understood that everyone has contingencies in their lives, from unexpected business meetings to exams to flight delays, the office is unable to absorb the lost clinical time resulting from such eventualities.
Extreme Weather Conditions: The East West Company reserves the right to close the office due to extreme weather for the safety of all individuals. In these cases, you will be notified either the day before or the morning of your appointment. If the office is open but you have concerns about driving conditions, please contact the office to speak with Dr. Collins directly.
How do I know if Dr. Collins is the right practitioner for me?
This is a very important question! Wondering if we'd be a good fit?
Who I do work with:
- Women & men who are ready to embrace the changes necessary to heal body, mind and soul
- People who want to take a proactive approach to their physical, mental and spiritual health so that we're not fixing things after they "break"
- People who have tried other interventions with moderate or little success and are looking for a comprehensive approach to their healthcare concerns
- Folks who are keen on naturally managing their health and wellness in favor of taking non-essential medications or having non-critical surgery for quality of life
- People who enjoy a good four-letter word
- People who are not afraid to occasionally embrace big lifestyle changes for extended periods of time (dietary changes, workout adjustments, stress management, etc.)
- People who are open to utilizing multiple modalities - acupuncture, bodywork, lab work - to maximize their recovery
- Folks who think all of the above sounds great, but aren't quite ready to embark on making personal changes (and that's okay! I'm here when you're ready)
- People who want to say they've tried but who, at their core, don't want to change
- People who expect acupuncture or functional medicine to "fix" them without participating fully in the healing process
- People who anticipate 100% improvement after one (or two, or three) treatments, especially if the health issue(s) in question is chronic, long-standing, or multifaceted