Your first appointment at Acupuncture Kelowna
If you’re new to acupuncture or Chinese medicine, it’s natural to wonder what actually happens in a session. At Acupuncture Kelowna, we understand that healing can feel mysterious, especially when it comes to something as deeply individualized as this. Here's a step-by-step look at what you can expect when you book a session with us.
Booking Your First Appointment
You can book directly through our online booking system, which makes it easy to choose a time that works for you.
If you're coming in for one main issue, book the initial consultation for 1 concern.
If you’re navigating multiple concerns or a chronic condition, we highly recommend booking a 90-minute initial consultation for multiple concerns.
The Intake: Your Story Matters
When you arrive at our Kelowna clinic, we begin with a conversation.
We’ll spend 20 to 30 minutes sitting down together and discussing what brought you in — this is your time to share your story. From there, we explore:
How and when the symptoms began
Key systems like sleep, digestion, urination, appetite, and menstruation (if applicable)
Emotional patterns and environmental influences
Past treatments or diagnoses
This isn't a standard checkbox-style intake. Using Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) principles, we follow the threads of your story and often connect symptoms that might seem unrelated, but are deeply linked in this holistic system.
Diagnostic Tools: Palpation, Pulse, and Tongue
Unlike many modern systems, Chinese medicine relies heavily on touch and observation. Once we’ve talked, I’ll confirm patterns using traditional diagnostics:
Pulse reading at the wrist
Abdominal palpation to find areas of tension or blockage
Tongue observation (sometimes)
These tools help confirm what we uncovered during the conversation, giving us a more complete map of how your body is communicating an imbalance.
Acupuncture and/or Herbal Medicine
Depending on your needs, you may receive:
Acupuncture
I use a hybrid style of acupuncture, blending several systems. One of the core methods I use is abdominal palpation to guide point selection.
I look for areas of tenderness or stagnation in the abdomen
Then choose acupuncture points (often from the elbows or knees down) to release, nourish, or activate healing along the related meridians
You'll then rest on the table for 15 to 30 minutes, letting your body integrate the treatment. The goal is to open communication within your internal systems so the body can do what it’s naturally designed to do — heal.
Chinese Herbal Medicine
If you're not receiving acupuncture or if your case would benefit from additional support, we may design a custom herbal formula.
Herbs are selected based on your unique pattern
Most formulas are taken for 2 to 4 weeks between sessions
They're especially helpful in chronic or complex conditions
Follow-Up and Healing Plans
Most people with chronic conditions start with weekly acupuncture for 4 to 6 weeks, with herbs often added in for deeper support. We’ll reassess as we go and adjust your plan based on how your body responds.
Final Thoughts
At Acupuncture Kelowna, each session is a conversation between you, your practitioner, and your body.
Whether you're exploring acupuncture for the first time, seeking help with chronic illness, or curious about Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, we’re here to walk with you toward balance.