Appointment Options and Information

ONLINE BOOKING

Monday 9am-7pm
Tuesday 11pm-7pm
Wednesday 9am-12pm
Thursday 9am-7pm
​Friday 9am-3pm
​
​Now contracted with :
Cigna
Aetna
Lifewise
​Premera Blue Cross 
​Veteran's Choice Program

Recommendations: 

• Have a snack or a meal beforehand. 
• Wear comfortable loose fitting clothing.
• Arrive early to make your visit stress free.

​Parking: There are a couple of visitor parking spaces in our parking lot and plenty of street parking available. The spaces labeled Bellingham Bay Acupuncture are not for this office. Please use the spaces marked Visitor only. My office is on the second floor so head up the stairs or use the elevator to find me in suite G1. There is an elevator from the garage level for wheelchair access and your convience. 
​

First Office Visit 

Duration 1-1.5 hours. 
For your first office visit, we will discuss in depth the issue you are seeking care for and then use the remainder of the visit to start treatment. We can then discuss what type of treatments would best serve your needs going forward. As we progress, we can change the approach depending on your needs.

• Paperwork.  Filling out the first visit paperwork (link below) before you come in  can be a great way to save on time and gives you the time to make sure its accurate.  I'm happy to provide copies if you prefer to fill them out in the office. Please bring a list of any medications you may be taking.  ​
• Health Insurance. Call ahead with your insurance information so we can verify your benefits and eliminate any surprises ahead of time.  The last thing I want is for you to end up with an unexpected bill. 

Free consultations

If you've always been curious about acupuncture, but don't want to commit to a treatment without more information, a consultation can give you information and peace of mind.  Please give me a call to set up a time to talk. 

Follow Up Services

Rates listed are for time of service payment. Personal payments and insurance billing not paid at the time of service are slightly higher. 

What is the advantage of breaking services down into so many categories?
It may seem complicated to offer so many different types of treatments, but the benefit is several fold. First, it allows us to tailor a treatment plan specifically for you. We can better meet your specific needs and then change as you change. For those who simply want maintenance and ongoing care, I want treatment to be affordable. At the same time,  those who need more care can get it. Another benefit to this system is logistics. It is difficult to schedule clients for the same period of time when their needs are different. This new system will allow you to book exactly what you need. Some of you have mentioned that you wish you could spend more time one-one-one with me during your appointment. I want to be available to serve your needs best. 


Basic follow up visit.  Duration 45 min-1hour Includes 1 set of acupuncture needles with 30 minutes to rest. This visit is primarily for those who are in the maintenance phase of treatment. If your issue is ongoing and needs occasional maintenance, this option allows you to come in at an affordable rate for a single set of needles. This option is good for clients with conditions like insomnia, where regular but basic treatment is advised, or for someone with post-surgical back pain after moving out of the acute phase and into pain management.

Mid level follow up option 1.  Duration 1 hour. Includes 1 set of acupuncture needles and 15 minutes *Tuina (see description below). This visit is for those with acute injuries limited to a small area. The injury or flare up of an old injury needs more attention than maintenance-level care.

Mid level follow up option 2. Duration 1 hour. Includes 2 sets of acupuncture needles. This visit is for those with conditions that involve the front and back of the body, and where multiple sets of needles/positions of the body are necessary to fully address the problem.

High level follow up option 1.  Duration 1 hour 15 min. Includes 2 sets of needles and 15 minutes *Tuina. This visit is for more complicated problems that involve several body areas and involve a high level of pain. The addition of tuina greatly aids in reducing pain levels when combined with acupuncture treatment.

High level follow up option 2.  Duration 1 hour 30min. Includes 2 sets of acupuncture needles and 30 minutes Tuina. This is for those who would like more manual therapy included in the treatment and have more complicated or widespread pain. This gives us more time to work on the problem.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES
Electro acupuncture involves using a TENS unit designed for acupuncture needles. This is a great way to step up the strength of the treatment when needed. It can be a great way to treat pain.  We can discuss any questions you have about this option on the first visit.

*Tuina is the Chinese form of orthopedic massage. Tuina involves a series of physical tests and verbal information that take into account the specific muscles, bones, nerves, and ligaments involved. It is strongly focused on anatomy and orthopedics and in China includes chiropractic adjustments as well. These adjustments are not practiced in the U.S. but the system is still a very effective way to approach pain conditions. At this time I am only providing 15 and 30 minute Tuina sessions to complement the acupuncture. No full-hour long sessions will be provided as Tuina is a complement to acupuncture, not a replacement.

---