Choosing a Practitioner

There is no logical way to the discovery of those elemental laws. There is only the way of intuition, which is helped by a feeling for the order laying behind appearance.attributed to Albert Einstein

Finding a practitioner with whom you feel comfortable will play an important role in the successful progression of the work you do together. When choosing a practitioner, you might start by considering the following three things.

  1. What is my sense of this person? Can I see myself trusting this person enough to create a safe space? What is their philosophy of practice and of health? And, how do I relate to it?
  2. What is the practitioner’s practice style? There are different styles of acupuncture needling. Styles vary depending on the traditionof acupuncture (Japanese, Chinese, 5 Element, ...) and individual technique. Needling technique can range from gentle to aggressive. It is important to remember that although training may be similar, no two acupuncturists will practice in exactly the same way. So don’t be discouraged if you don’t feel compatible with the style of the first practitioner you see.
  3. What is my experience of a session with this practitioner? Do I feel comfortable and confident in their care? Is there room in our interaction for my feedback? And if there is, do I feel heard? Have all my questions been answered to my satisfaction?