Choosing your acupuncturist

[ydycbamj]

Hi

Just wondering what considerations folks use when choosing their acupuncturist?

For example:
How much knowledge is their out there about the different styles of acupuncture practised? Did you know about different styles when you chose your practitioner? If you are thinking of trying acupuncture, are you aware of the different types?

Did you (or would you) check to see if a potential practitioner is registered with the British Acupuncture Council? Would you know the importance of doing this!?

If you are happy with your practitioner of another therapy or medicine, for example your osteopath or your GP, would you assume they are suitably trained if they then offered you acupuncture treatment?

Nosey, aren't I! But as an acupuncturist I have no realistic perspective on what the general conception is of the word "acupuncture" as it is understood by you and you and you (and you there, just lurking!)

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Aragorn

 

[Valep]

Aragorn,
I've been using acupuncture for years and it's a bit difficult to say cos I'm "in the know" already, working as I do for an acupuncture college, but...
[ul][*] I would always choose a member of the BAcC[*] I would find a couple of practitioners in my area and then I would ring and speak to the practitioner personally before booking an appointment. If I didn't immediately feel a rapport with them, then I'd call another, because I feel the the therapeutic relationship is one of the most important parts of the treatment. It's absolutely vital to be able to trust an acupuncturist's competence with the needles, as well as their competence with people. [*] I also pay attention to the length of time they allocate to a treatment. For example, I know plenty of people who treat in half hour sessions, but personally, I would find that too rushed. An hour is preferable and 45 minutes is bearable, but any less, and I wouldn't book in.[*]Obviously, finally, (and almost most importantly) I would trust word of mouth. I would trust the recommendation of a friend over and above a swish looking website every time.
[/ul]
Hope that's useful to you and that your practice is flourishing
Bonny

 

[203]

Popular topic then!
Could someone who's been here a while let me know if it is usual to have so few views/replies in this section?
Thanks

Aragorn

 

[Rivers]

Dear Aragorn,

Do not worry, it is not unusual...

BTW, I forgot to answer your question myself. If I ever had something for which I thought that accupuncture woudl be betetr than shiatsu, I would pick my acupunctursit by recomendatin from.. my shiatsu collegaues! OK, that's a bit "cheating" because I already have contacts in part of TCM world...
Now, assuming I was somewhere I knew non one, I would
Look on the web and/or the Yellow pages. Web pages give some idea of the therapist as a person. I mean someone with a flashy web site may not exactly be my cup of tea, sinc eI prefer to concentrate on the essential. I am more interested in the healing abilities of the therapist than in his treatment room! But, yes, I want the room to be clean. So bad spelling on a web site would not be a good sign for me (I am not talking about the odd typo). Then I woudl get on the phone and talk to the person. "I woudl a like a session because I have this problem... "and see what the answer is. If I am promissed that it wil be solved afte rone session, I wil NOT book with that therapist. If I am told "a definite maybe" then that's realistic enough for me, so if all else sounds good I will book. Well, of course I would ask for qualifications, unless expliclty mentionned in the advert/web page

Artemis