policies  and  frequently asked questions

Cancellations          Tardiness & Lost Session Time          Expected Conduct          Personal Property 

  Insurance          Gift Certificates          Privacy          Cell Phones

 

• What will happen when I arrive for my appointment? 
• What should I wear?
• What should I do during my session?
• How will my session feel?
• How often should I get a session?
• I've never had a massage before - how long of a session should I book?
• Is there anything that I need to do to prepare for my session?
• Will I be sore after my massage?
• Does acupuncture hurt?
• Are the acupuncture needles sterilized?
• Are gratuities expected?
• Are there medical conditions that make a service inadvisable?

Policies

Our clientele is the best! Although we rarely have to exercise our rules and regulations, we do have a few. These allow us to be fair and effective for all clients and help keep the relationship between therapist and client as professional and therapeutic as possible.

Cancellations
We ask for 24 hours notice if you wish to cancel or reschedule your appointment.
Clients who cancel on short notice, do not call, or do not show up* for their appointment will be charged for the cost of the scheduled appointment cost.**

* Your health and safety are most important to us! In cases of emergency, illness, and inclement weather please let us know as soon as possible, and an exception to this policy may be made.

**Please understand that this is because our practitioners are not salaried and may have turned away other paying clients in order to hold your appointment for you.

Tardiness & Lost Session Time
If you are late to your appointment, your session may have to be shortened, as your practitioner may have another client/appointment directly following yours. The length of your session will be determined by your practitioner and you will still be responsible for the full session cost. If you expect to be late for a scheduled session, please call. If this is your first appointment, please arrive 10 minutes prior to your appointment time so your practitioner can discuss your intake form and any health conditions or special needs with you. If the tardiness is on our part, you will, of course, receive your full time on the table or receive a discounted session.

Expected Conduct
If any behavior on the part of a client is considered inappropriate, including but not limited to off-color comments, sexual innuendo and/or rude requests, the session will be terminated immediately and payment will still be due in full.

Personal Property
We are not responsible for your personal property during or after your visit. We provide a place for you to put your jewelry, purse, coat, etc. within your session room so that you can be responsible for it.

Insurance
At this time, we can only bill insurance for Acupuncture services. Please direct questions about billing to our acupuncturist, Diane Ford, of Acupuncture Center, LLC.

Gift Certificates
Gift Certificates have no expiration date, but are subject to service rate increases.

Privacy
We follow HIPPA guidelines to ensure your privacy.

Cell Phones
For the comfort of other guests, kindly turn your cell phone off or to vibrate.

 

Frequently asked questions

What will happen when i arrive for my appointment?
You get to relax! If this is your first visit, or if it has been over a year since your last visit, you will be asked to fill out an intake form that includes a health assessment. You can do this ahead of time by clicking here to download the form to your computer. At your first and all subsequent visits, you and your practitioner will have a chance to discuss any questions, concerns, or changes, and plan your treatment according to your individual needs. You will be shown to your treatment room where a freshly prepared and comfortable massage table awaits you. Then all you need to do is relax. Enjoy the atmosphere of your room. Experience the relief our services provide.

What should I wear?
Comfortable clothing is best for many of our services. Most massage techniques and quite often acupuncture sessions are most effective with the client unclothed and covered, or draped, with a sheet. This allows the massage technique to be performed directly to the body, or in the case of acupuncture, allows the practitioners access to meridian points. However, your comfort is most important to us! It is entirely up to you what you want to wear. You should undress to your level of comfort. Your practitioner will leave the room while you undress, get comfortable on the massage table, and cover yourself with the sheet used to drape you during your session. Your practitioner will understand and respect your privacy, so be comfortable and enjoy your treatment wearing what you choose.

What should I do during my session?
Some of our clients close their eyes and rest. Some fall asleep. Others like to chat. Your practitioner will follow your lead. Feel free to make yourself comfortable and ask any question you have. There is no right or wrong way to experience our services.

How will my session feel?
Great! Clients report feelings of deep relaxation, looseness in the limbs, neck & shoulders, a feeling of lightness, increased circulation and warmth, a lack of tension/worry and a general feeling of well-being.

How often should I get a session?
The frequency of your sessions depends on your goals, budget, and schedule. Some clients choose once per week, others once per month, some once every three months. If you are unsure what frequency will best benefit you, check in with your practitioner.

I've never had a massage before - how long of a session should I book?
Most people start with a 60 minute massage as it's enough time to cover the entire body. A 30 or 45 minute session is perfect if you only want a specific area or two covered - such as back and neck. And many people prefer to come in for a 75 or 90 minute session which allows time for the full body massage plus extra attention on any problem areas.

Is there anything I need to do to prepare for my session?
It helps to be well hydrated, so be sure to drink plenty of fluids the day before and day of your treatment.

Will I be sore after my massage?
Possibly, but not necessarily. It depends on the type of massage being given and the degree of tension in your muscles. A light massage that doesn't probe very deep into muscles shouldn't hurt. A relaxed muscle will be supple and won't hurt when massaged. Tight muscles may have that "good hurt" feeling with a deeper massage. Sometimes working with an injured area might be painful, but even that should be within the "good hurt" tolerance level. We encourage you to speak freely with your practitioner during the session if you need an adjustment in pressure. A deep massage with tight muscles may leave some residual soreness but that feeling should not last more than a day or two. Again, communication is key to getting your best massage.

Does acupuncture hurt?
If you've never had acupuncture this is an obvious question to ask. Acupuncture needles are extremely fine and usually you will feel a sensation no greater than a mosquito's bite as the needle is inserted. The sensation does vary depending on where the needles are inserted. Once the needles are inserted you may feel some heaviness, tingling, or electric sensation around the needles or traveling up or down the affected meridian, or energy pathway. Very few people say acupuncture hurts.

Are the acupuncture needles sterilized?
Our practice, and the most common practice among acupuncturists in the U. S. today, is to use disposable, individually packaged, stainless steel needles. Needles are not saved and reused for other treatments. They are disposed of in regulation SHARPS containers. This eliminates all risk of contamination.

Are gratuities expected?
The best "tip" you can give is to refer your friends and family to us!
Other forms of tipping are a matter of personal discretion. Tips are never required or expected as we view ourselves as a clinical setting, as opposed to a spa, but any tip will always be appreciated. Some clients tip, some do not. You will get the same level of excellent service whether you tip or not.

Are there any medical conditions that make a service inadvisable?
Yes. That's why it's imperative that we have you fill out an intake before you first session. It is equally important to update your practitioner of any changes in your health before every session. If you are under a doctor's care, depending on the condition, approval from your doctor may be required.