General
Questions:
Do you accept insurance?
Do you offer gift certificates?
Do you offer discounts, sliding scale, or barter?
Acupuncture
Questions:
What is acupuncture?
Does acupuncture hurt?
Are the needles clean?
How does acupuncture work?
Why do most people see an acupuncturist?
What other techniques might you use in an acupuncture session?
What are the education requirement for an acupuncturist?
CranioSacral
Questions:
What is CranioSacral Therapy?
What is the CranioSacral system?
How does CranioSacral Therapy work?
What conditions does CranioSacral therapy help with?
What conditions do you work with most often with CranioSacral
therapy?
Is CranioSacral therapy safe?
How many CranioSacral sessions will I need?
How long are CranioSacral sessions?
What does a CranioSacral session look like?
What will the CranioSacral session feel like?
Zero
Balancing Questions:
What is Zero Balancing?
What is a Zero Balancing session like?
Who comes in for Zero Balancing? What can it help with?
What are the effects of a Zero Balancing session? How will I
feel afterwards?
Who developed Zero Balancing?
Reiki & Energy Work Questions:
What is Reiki?
What are the benefits of Reiki?
Who comes in for a Reiki session?
What happens during a Reiki session?
How will I feel during and after my Reiki session?
What should I do or feel after my Reiki session?
What are attunements? What do the different Reiki
designations mean?
What is a brief history of Reiki?
Thai
Bodywork/Thai Massage Questions:
What is Thai Bodywork?
What does a Thai Bodywork session look like?
What are the benefits of Thai Bodywork?
What should I wear during a Thai Bodywork session?
What should I do to prepare for the Thai Bodywork session?
How will I feel after my Thai Massage? What should I do?
What does Thai Massage feel like? Is it painful?
For what kinds of people is Thai Bodywork not appropriate?
1. Do you offer discounts, sliding scale, or barter?
Appointments for
students and teachers are always $60 (includes all services except thai
bodywork). There are options for barter and sliding scale, please email for
specifics.
2. Do you accept insurance?
No, we do not accept
insurance directly, but we would be happy to provide a bill for you to submit
to your insurance company for reimbursement. Many insurance plans either cover
services such as acupuncture and massage or allow you to pay using a Healthcare
Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Savings Account (FSA). Please review your
individual policy for details regarding your coverage.
3. Do you offer gift certificates?
Yes, we offer gift certificates available in any amount or for any service. Payment can be processed over the phone and gift certificates can be mailed anywhere in the United States.
1. What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine is based upon the idea that
stimulating certain areas and points on the body can cause healing processes to
occur. Today, acupuncture is practiced with consideration to modern Western
physiology, taking into consideration knowledge about the varying systems of
the body, among them your nervous, circulatory, lymphatic, and vascular
systems.
Acupuncture
works by encouraging the body to increase its capacity to deal with illness and
disharmony within your body naturally. It is used in the treatment of many
acute and chronic diseases, as well as for pain and injury.
During
your session small needles will be placed throughout your body after careful
consideration has been made to your unique physiology and signs and symptoms you
present.
2. Does acupuncture hurt?
People experience acupuncture differently, but acupuncture is not intended to
cause pain or harm to the body in any way. Commonly, people experience
sensations of warmth, tingling, or an overall feeling of calm during the
acupuncture session.
3. Are the needles clean?
It is required by law that all acupuncture needles use are sterilized and are
for single use (meaning just for your treatment). After each treatment the
needles are safely disposed of.
5. How does acupuncture work?
Traditional Chinese Medical theory says that channels of qi (energy) run
throughout the body. When these channels get obstructed, dysfunction, pain, and
illness occur. Acupuncture works by essentially putting up "red
flags" that tell the body that the flow of qi is blocked or being misdirected
in the body. The body will then respond and correct the imbalance.
6. Why do most people see an acupuncturist?
People come in my office for many conditions, but a common theme among them is
that they feel as if a problem they have has not been resolved. Western
Medicine has a focus of treating symptoms, but often does not treat the root
cause, or the reason why an illness or imbalance began. Traditional Chinese
medicine can alleviate the root cause of the illness/imbalance and help the
body be able to self correct in the future. Treatment you receive will be
integrative, and will take into account the Western medical treatment you are
undergoing.
7. What other techniques might you use in an acupuncture session?
Acupuncturists
use many techniques, including herbology, cupping, and guasha. In our session
bodywork, including CranioSacral, Energy Work and Reiki, Zero Balancing, as
well as massage techniques may be used to speed up the healing process based on
your individual needs. Dietary suggestions might also be a part of
treatment.
8. What are the education requirement for an acupuncturist?
All acupuncturist
should have attained a degree from an accredited school, as well as have Board
Certification (NCCAOM). The degree for an acupuncturist is a four year process,
where both Western and Eastern modes of healing and thought are explored.
In some
states, including Illinois, chiropractors and other medical professionals are
taught acupuncture in a few hundred hour course with little to no hands on
experience- be sure to ask your acupuncturist about their training and the
amount of education and clinical experience they have had with
acupuncture.
1. What is CranioSacral Therapy?
CranioSacral Therapy
uses soft touch to release restrictions in the tissues that surround the
central nervous system. It is effective for alleviating pain and dysfunction in
a wide range of chronic pain and trauma related disorders.
It began
in the early 1900's when Dr. William Sutherland theorized that the bones of the
skull were able to subtly move and shift. In the 1970's osteopathic physician
John Upledger observed a palpable rhythm in what would later be termed the
craniosacral system during surgery, and later found that certain gentle
movements could influence this system.
2. What is the CranioSacral system?
The craniosacral
system is comprised of the membranes and fluid that surrounds the central
nervous system and protect the brain and spinal cord. Your brain and spinal
cord are then responsible for sending out messages to the entire body. Trauma,
genetics, as well as long term physical and emotional stress can impact this
system and cause it to not act as efficiently as it should.
3. How does CranioSacral Therapy work?
When the body has to deal with stress or trauma, it has
to compensate, creating tension and restriction throughout the body, as well as
the tissues that form around the brain and spine. This change can cause your
central nervous system, as well as other body systems, to not perform as optimally
as they could or should.Using gentle touch, these restrictions will be
evaluated and released. By releasing these restrictions, the body will be able
to readjust and self correct.
4. What conditions does CranioSacral therapy help with?
CranioSacral therapy can assist in a wide range of
trauma and stress related disorders, as well as assist in general immunity.
However, research has shown CranioSacral therapy to be especially helpful with
the following conditions: Migranes and headaches, chronic neck and back pain,
stress related disorders, motor coordination problems, brain and spinal cord
injuries, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, TMJ syndrome, scoliosis, central
nervous system disorders, learning disabilities and ADD/ADHD, Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder, orthopedic disorders, and trauma related disorders.
5. What conditions do you work with most often with CranioSacral
therapy?
Although there can be a wide range of patients and
conditions treated with CranioSacral therapy, I personally have worked and seen
the most improvement with: TMJ/tooth grinding, migraines and other headaches,
trauma related disorders, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, as well as
depression/anxiety disorders.
6. Is CranioSacral therapy safe?
Yes, though this therapy may not be advised for patients
with certain conditions, including some bleeding disorders that affect
intercranial pressure, such as acute aneurysm and cerebral hemorrhage.
7. How many CranioSacral sessions will I need?
That varies based on the individual, but five weekly or every other week sessions is the typical amount of time that
is required for me to elicit long standing changes in the body. After the initial round of appointments, a maintenance appointment is typically scheduled to make sure your body has not gone back to old patterns.
8. How long are CranioSacral sessions?
Each session is typically an hour long, but can vary
from 45 minutes to a little over an hour.
9. What does a CranioSacral session look like?
A history will be taken, and then the patient fully
clothed will lie on a massage table while the therapist places hands lightly on
the body to check restrictions and evaluate how the body is functioning as a
whole. Then, the areas of greatest restriction will typically be worked on with
gentle pressure.
10. What will the CranioSacral session feel like?
Most people find the sessions relaxing and peaceful, and
some will find that they experience tingling, sensations of warmth, or feelings
of release as the body readjusts itself.
After the
session, most people feel great and energized, but some can feel like their
body is deeply processing or reorganizing, or temporarily can experience
feelings or discomfort associated with the original trauma when the body
releases the past event/trauma. After this period, it is common to feel as if a
weight has been lifted off your shoulders and an alleviation or change of the
symptoms you came in with.
1. What is Zero Balancing?
Zero Balancing
combines Western anatomical thought of the structure of the body (bones,
joints, ligaments) with Eastern energetic thoughts of the body (qi, meridians,
flow of energy).
Zero
Balancing brings the energy of the body and the structural system of the body
into a balanced state. It is intended to bring balance to both energy and
structure as well as provide a clear, strong flow of energy through the
body.
2. What is a Zero Balancing session like?
A session will begin with a general intake, where we
discuss any physical or emotional history of trauma to your body. You will then
be led into a quiet room and the session will begin with an assessment of your
range of motion while in a sitting position.
You will
then lie on a massage table fully clothed as I evaluate and use pressure and
traction to major areas of congestion in the body, including the hips, feet,
low back, ribcage, neck, and head.
The
session generally lasts from 45-60 minutes, and will end with time for any
questions you may have about the session or aftercare instructions.
3. Who comes in for Zero Balancing? What can it help with?
Zero Balancing is excellent for chronic pain, including
shoulder, neck, and back tension. Quite a few of my patients have chronic pain
issues that have not been able to be fixed because previously the focus was
either just on the physical aspect, or just on the emotional/spiritual/qi
aspect of the issue.
Along the
same lines, Zero Balancing also works well with trauma release. A number of
patients come in who say that ever since they had a car accident or some sort
of emotional or physical trauma their body just doesn't feel right to them, or
that they have distanced themselves from their bodies after the trauma.
Zero Balancing also does well with emotional distress and general stress relief. It is able to make people feel grounded and more in focus about their life and their decisions. It also works well with depression and anxiety as it increases awareness about physical structure.
4. What are the effects of a Zero Balancing session? How will I feel
afterwards?
Physically, body pain occurs where energy is blocked or
weak in your system. When bone energy is worked with, it allows for greater
flow as well as less pain.
Mentally,
the session works to provide grounding, stability, and a quiet mind. Overall
people leave feeling generally calm, grounded, as well as more at home in their
body. It is quite common to feel as if you are able to stand taller and have
more confidence in your body after a session.
5. Who developed Zero Balancing?
Zero Balancing was developed by Fritz Smith, an
osteopathic physician who was one of the first acupuncturists licensed in the
United States. Fritz also studied Rolfing, yoga, as well as meditation. It was
through the studies of both anatomical structure and Western medicine as well
as Eastern thought that he developed Zero Balancing, a blend of the two
systems, in the 1970's. The name Zero Balancing came from an early session that
he did, where the patient revealed after the session that she felt as if she had
come back to a "zero point", a point of balance and stillness.
Reiki
& Energy Work Questions:
1. What is Reiki?
Reiki is a Japanese
technique that uses light or no touch to access the energy flows in the body.
It is based upon the theory that each human being has several chakras as well
as a background field that can be accessed and altered to allow for greater
flow of energy throughout the body and throughout the life of the patient.
Although
Reiki is considered spiritual in nature, it is not a religion and does not rely
on a belief structure or dogma, and is appropriate for all spiritual
paths.
2. What are the benefits of Reiki?
Reiki is excellent
for overall stress reduction and relaxation, as well as overall promotion of
healing processes. People typically come to a Reiki session because they are
either at a high stress point of their lives, they can't stop thinking or processing mentally, are in transition in some way, or
have difficulty relaxing.
3. Who comes in for a Reiki session?
Since Reiki is appropriate for all patients regardless
of age or health status, many patients seek out Reiki who are unable to be
treated by other means. Those undergoing high periods of stress including
students (especially before exams), depression/anxiety patients, those with
high sensitivity to the world around them, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue,
patients with low immunity (including Cancer, AIDS/HIV, autoimmune conditions)
and pregnant patients as well as those undergoing fertility treatment make up
the largest portion of my Reiki practice.
4. What happens during a Reiki session?
The session will begin with a short discussion of what
you would like from the session as well as how you would like to feel leaving
the session. You will then enter a small, comfortable room and lie on a massage
table fully clothed.
An
assessment of how energy is flowing throughout your body using light or no
touch will be done first. After that, a series of hand positions over the body
as well as light touch will balance and even the flow of the energy systems of
your body, including exploration of your chakras, the different layers of your
aura and your background field.
Your
session will end with a discussion of my findings as well as time for any
questions you may have.
5. How will I feel during and after my Reiki session?
At the very least, patients experience a sense of
relaxation, peace, and warmth during and after the session. Some patients will
feel the warmth as a glowing radiance surrounding them or feeling as if they
were sinking into a warm, relaxing bath.
Patients
who are more sensitive to the world around them are sometimes able to see
colors or get a sensation of the movement of their energy centers and chakra
system, as well as feel the buzzing sensation around them of their background
field.
6. What should I do or feel after my Reiki session?
It is important after your session to give yourself time
to integrate back into reality. Many people will feel spaced out after a reiki
session. If this occurs, taking a walk, gardening, and making contact with the
earth in some way will ease the transition.
Many
people report feeling more at home in their body and grounded after a session,
as well as feeling more balanced, creative, alert, as well as in less pain. It
is fairly common to feel fatigue after a Reiki session, so allow yourself time
for a nap. A few hours (or a few days) after you have integrated the session
into your body, it is common to feel increased mental and physical energy and a
more positive outlook on life.
7. What are attunements? What do the different Reiki designations
mean?
A reiki attunement
is how a person becomes a practitioner of Reiki. The attunement process allows
the practitioner to access greater amounts of universal energy based on the
level of attunement to facilitate healing. It is typically transferred from
teacher to student in person, but can be done through distance healing.
After a certain number of attunements, the student has the option to become a Reiki Master, which
means that they are a competant practitioner of Reiki and gives the ability to
teach Reiki to others as well as attune others to Reiki.
When
choosing a Reiki practitioner, it is important to ask about the length of the
practitioner's training as well as their attunement level. Since there are no
guidelines as far as who can designate themselves as a Reiki practitioner, many
who have attended a one day workshop consider themselves to be a practitioner.
This typically is not harmful, but can lead to less successful Reiki
treatments.
8. What is a brief history of Reiki?
There is not a clear
history of the origins of Reiki. However, the most commonly practiced form of
Reiki practiced in the United States is Usui Reiki, which originated from Dr.
Mikao Usui.
Dr. Usui
was born in 1865 in Japan and spent a great deal of his life pursuing religious
as well as medical paths. On a meditation retreat at Mount Kurama in Japan he
felt his crown chakra open as a result of the meditating underneath a
waterfall. As a result of this his healing abilities increased and he came up
with Reiki, a form of healing that can flow through practitioner like a
waterfall to patient without depleting any personal reserves of energy.
Reiki then came to the United States through Hawayo Takata, who was born in Hawaii and traveled to Japan to be healed of chronic Stomach and Lung problems. She found a Reiki clinic and was eventually healed of her problems. She then sought to learn this healing process, and eventually brought the form known as Usui Reiki back to Hawaii, where it then spread to the United States.
Thai Bodywork/Thai Massage Questions:
1. What is Thai Bodywork?
Thai Bodywork (also
known as Thai Massage, Traditional Thai Massage, or Thai Yoga Bodywork) is a
2500 year old form of bodywork that incorporates yoga, acupressure,
reflexology, and compression on the body's energy lines.
2. What does a Thai Bodywork session look like?
A brief intake will be done to determine your specific
goals for the session. You will then be led into a quiet relaxing room with
music playing. You will lie clothed on a mat on the floor and the session will
begin.
The
session will begin with an assessment of how energy is flowing through your sen
lines (main energy lines of the body) through acupressure and compressions.
Once the assessment is complete, held stretches, acupressure, and passive yoga
postures will be used to balance the body physically as well as energetically.
3. What are the benefits of Thai Bodywork?
Thai Bodywork is
great for general relaxation, overall balance of the body-mind connection,
detoxification, warming and stretching of muscles, and flexibility. Benefits
include the opening of joints, the balance of opposing muscle groups, as well
as an increased overall energy flow throughout the body.
Specifically,
Thai Bodywork works well with chronic pain issues, including both joint and
soft tissue pain syndromes, lymphadema, inflammatory disorders, and emotional
and stress related issues.
4. What should I wear during a Thai Bodywork session?
You should wear or bring loose fitting clothes, such as
sweat pants or yoga pants and a tank top or loose fitting shirt so that your
full range of motion can be utilized and explored. You will also remove your
belt, shoes, and remove any items from your pocket that might interfere with
the session.
5. What should I do to prepare for the Thai Bodywork session?
Please drink plenty of water before and after the
session- it is easier for your muscles to warm up and become flexible when you
are fully hydrated. Please do not eat a full meal approximately 60 minutes
before the appointment begins.
6. How will I feel after my Thai Massage? What should I do?
Patients feel energized but relaxed after a session.
Most notice a greater amount of flexibility and relief from pain or restrictive
issues they came in with.
You can
resume any activity you wish after our session, but be aware that some soreness
can occur afterward from the work and to not overdo any activity. Drinking
plenty of water is appropriate to assist in flushing out any toxins that have
been released as a result of the session.
7. What does Thai Massage feel like? Is it painful?
Thai massage is not intended to feel painful or cause discomfort.
Since the work is done slowly and rhythmically and works with your own range of
motion, your muscles and joints have time to relax and ease into the session
without a sensation of pain. The therapist will take you through any movements
passively while you are able to relax and enjoy the session.
8. For what kinds of people is Thai Bodywork not appropriate?
Thai Bodywork is
appropriate for most people, but is not intended for pregnant women, post
surgical patients (approximately 4-6 weeks), and for those who have a history
of blood clots.