Working with me

Let's talk a bit about working with me & how I can help you.

I pride myself on providing a comfortable & safe environment, where we can chat openly and come to a solution together.

A major part of my ethos is making sure you are happy & comfortable, so you can get the best out of your treatments. There is no judgement here and being open and honest with each other will help me to get the best course of action for you.

If you've been to your GP numerous occasions and don't feel you are getting listened to, if you're taking medications to mask symptoms or feel you will always need to suffer with your condition - come work with me and see how I can help you.

Treatment is always personalised to you and your specific concerns. It is constantly under review and fluid to move with progress - I research, review and adapt your treatment plan - the work I put in to help you is not just in the clinic room - I will always be looking for the most efficient way to have treatment success for you, we very much work together and you will always be a part of decisions for your treatment.

Coming to see me isn't about getting a foot rub and some 'woo', (neither of which you will receive!).

I have spent over £30k on my education for Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture alone, to be able to provide you with effective treatment. For my degree (which is a Bachelor's of Science) and continuing professional development, I am trained in both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Bio Medicine (Western Medicine)

We will discuss everything from a western medicine perspective, TCM and Acupuncture will be used to compliment treatment you are already receiving, IVF Cycles and medications. You may be asked to undergo further testing, inc. blood work.

The beauty of TCM is there is always a diagnosis, of which there isn't always in western medicine (unexplained fertility issues anyone?!), so we will always have something to work with to repair imbalances in health and the reproductive system.

Safety:

Needles are sterilised and single use, which are put into a sharps bin and destroyed correctly once used. Fresh needles are always used and a needle won't even be used twice on yourself - e.g if I have to reposition a needle, I will dispose of the old one and use a fresh one.

All hygiene practices are fully adhered to. I am a member of The British Acupuncture Federation and the Association of Acupuncture Clinicians - who are governing bodies in the U.K for Acupuncture and have a strict set of standards that I am contracted to adhere to.

I am fully registered, licenced and inspected by Sunderland Council both as an Acupuncturist and the clinic premises.

If you ever have any questions whilst in the clinic - please do ask me.

Process

1st Consultation

Your 1st appointment will always be longer, as we will have a full consultation where I will take medical history, your pulse & tongue diagnosis and we will chat about why you're looking for treatment.

Sometimes I may ask uncomfortable questions (e.g - some people don't like talking about bowel movements, or admitting they have been feeling angry, for fertility treatment we will discuss your cycle in great depth, gory bits and all), and you can always, always choose not to answer. But it's worth noting the more honest you are with me, the better a treatment I can provide to you.

I will then let you know your treatment plan and what you can expect moving forward, you will also receive your 1st Acupuncture Treatment.

Please always ask any questions you feel you want to - your comfort is of upmost importance to me and it's imnportant you are informed and active in your treatment

1st Consultation (not included in a treatment package) is £65

Following Appointments

At each appointment we will discuss progress. I will often ask you to collate and provide me with certain information in between appointments to allow me to check progress more thoroughly and to prepare beforehand so we can get the best out of your appointment and treatment.

Sometimes I will use other methods along with the needles - moxa, electro therapy, heat lamps - any variation to treatment will always be discussed and explained to you.

Acupuncture is an accumulative therapy - so you will likely see improvements after each session - but each treatment builds onto the next, making it stronger and more effective and lasting longer each time. The closer together you are able to have your treatments at the beginning, the quicker we will see results.

You will sometimes be provided with some lifestyle advice, provided with tools to compliment your treatment at home between treatments, or for fertility, asked to under go further/new testing.

Whilst it's absolutely always your choice, the outcomes of your treatment are wrapped up in your co-operation as well as what happens in the treatment room.

I recommend that you book your follow on appointments a few weeks in advance, especially if you are limited to the days/times you are able to come for treatment

Timescales

For fertility work - I ask that you commit to weekly sessions of at least 3 cycles. This gives us the time needed to manipulate and correct any issues including hormonal and egg quality.

If you are undergoing IVF, I ask that you adhere to the above times as close as possible, as the longer we have to work on your reproductive health, the better a position you will be in for your IVF rounds.

Once your IVF treatment begins, I will support you through that to continue to help get the best possible outcomes, support with medication side effects and very importantly, the emotional and stress element of IVF.

For all other health concerns, I ask that you commit to weekly sessions for at least 6 weeks. Progress is monitored each session.

Sometimes it can take a little longer than the times stated above - particularly if you've had an issue for a long time or it's complex.

It's normal for some patients to move onto a maintenance schedule following treatment if they have a chronic condition - for some it's once every 6-8 weeks, for others it can be a few times a year. Again, everyone is different

Pricing

For Acupuncture to be effective, it requires consistent, weekly treatments.

For chronic conditions, once we have managed to get control of the condition/symptoms, then we can begin to space treatments out longer than a week. As soon as I feel we are able to increase time between appointments, I will let you know.

Most conditions we will see a change within 4-6 treatments and often that is the only treatment that is needed. If I don't feel that treatment will be successful for you , I will always discuss this with you and offer suggestions for referrals to different practitioners, if appropriate.

Fertility work will always need a minimum of weekly treatments for 3 cycles to make a real, sustainable difference.

Occasional fortnightly treatments when needed won't harm progress

To help with commitment to treatment, I do provide a package of treatments at a reduced cost. 3 x sessions at £150, 6 x sessions of £300, Please see here

Pay as you go appointments are £55

Pre- Appointment

Please gather as much information you can regarding test results that you have already had conducted. You may ask your GP/Clinic for copies of these results, if there is an issue obtaining them, you can request them under a 'Subject Access Request'

Please wear loose clothing, or bring shorts/vest top for you to change into privately in clinic

There is free parking in the centre grounds, but for appointments after 3.30pm, please park at the back of the building - see your booking confirmation for further information