Frequently Asked
Questions

Spirit is defined as the meaning making part of us that expands, quickens, and enlarges how we each understand the self. Spirit involves: mindfulness practices, breathwork, spiritual guidance, connecting with the part of us that that seeks mystery and views with world with awe and curiosity. The spirit is the part of us that animates us and imagines and connects us with meaning and things that matter. It enlarges our personality. The part of us that is connected to all things and is a part of the entire universe. We think of ourselves as being unique, and we are, but there is also a part of us that is a part of everything in the universe.

The Center for the Healing Arts & Sciences offers an integrative approach to mind and body health. We offer a carefully selected complimentary set of services: acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine as well as psychotherapy and mindfulness/meditation/spirituality guidance. We offer products, classes, and workshops to support each of these services which rounds out our integrative approach to care. We are able to refer among us if a different modality of care is indicated and, if you desire to have each of your physicians coordinate care, that can be arranged with the signing of a waiver.

Each of us views life from the lens of a particular worldview, formed by factors such as the time and place of our birth, the dynamics within our family of origin, the larger culture in which we were raised, our biology, each and every experience we encounter through our development, and that unique and universal essence we often refer to as, “spirit.” We, often unaware of the ways that these factors influence our lived experience, approach our lives as if it is the reality, while it is only one version of reality – a personal reality. In many ways our psychology – the name we give the group of thoughts, feelings, behaviors, sensations, perceptions, and mental formations – “creates” our lives. To seek out psychotherapy is to recognize that despite all of our best efforts, and despite often feeling alone in our struggles, we cannot endure this journey of self-awareness alone. We lament, “why does this keep happening to me?” or, “I feel so stuck!” There is a small part of us that knows we need to reach out to others when we feel overwhelmed, after all, we are biologically, psychologically, socially, and spiritually predisposed to connect with others when we encounter the various stressors that are inevitably interwoven into each of our lives. We almost always need others to hold a larger more expansive vision for our lives, to reflect the potential within us, and to help us discover that unique person that we truly are. But first, we begin by unmasking the adaptations developed throughout our lives. We can know that these moments are present in periods of transition and distress.

A skilled psychotherapist creates what is referred to as a container for each of their clients. A felt sense of safety and containment is of paramount importance when a person is choosing to dive deeper into self-understanding and self-knowing. Rest assured that each of our clinicians is professional, able to navigate tough memories and feelings with you, while also being able to healthfully extend caring, attuned, skilled handling of the aspects of your life you present.

We offer different styles of psychotherapy because at different times of our lives, we can require different psychological approaches. There are times it makes sense to inquire of ourselves what lurks in the depths of our consciousness and forgotten memories. There are other times we are in crisis and need a more solution-based strategy to make it through a particularly trying time. There are styles better suited for children vs adults vs couples and so on.

We have made sure we have options that can serve you on a number of levels through any stage of your own life or that of your family.

Our bodies already contain most of the pharmaceutical ingredients we could ever need to self-heal. Does that mean you ignore your western doctor next time they prescribe you a medicine? Absolutely not. Does it mean you should think about activating your own internal healing mechanisms to try to minimize the need for pharmaceuticals and/or offset side-effects that come from them? Absolutely yes.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs, rather than overriding the body’s mechanisms, enhance them and help to bring online its ability to handle imbalances and disorders, mental or physical.

Often whatever ails us requires a multifaceted approach and we aim to have all the care you need under one roof. It is not uncommon for an individual to engage with psychotherapy, for example, only to find that there is some stuck trauma or old emotions that just won’t budge; the acupuncture can help to get these things moving so you can move past what felt like a brick wall holding you back before.

Conversely, someone utilizing acupuncture to deal with physical and/or emotional disturbances might find that the acupuncture has helped ready them to finally deal with a trauma or crisis they had formerly felt resistant to put words to.

Last, but not least, utilizing our mindfulness guidance is like having a personal tutor on board as you step into the driver’s seat of your life. Feel what it’s like to navigate your emotions with grace and live as one embodied aliveness proactively rather than reactively. Our culture is so supportive of our intellect, but sadly that is often to the exclusion of helping us to be fully embodied and integrated humans, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually.

We respect your intuition and choices when it comes to your health. While we have seen beautiful results when folks us our services collaboratively and do, therefore, recommend employing a combination of strategies with clinicians who can coordinate your care, it is no problem at all to use our healing practitioners a la carte.

Absolutely. Anything you share in your session is held in total confidence.

Your first appt with your acupuncturist will be 1.5 hours as there is an extensive intake process as you go over your health history. Returning appts will be about 1 hour.

Your sessions with your psychotherapist will be 50 minutes unless otherwise discussed with your clinician.

Your mindfulness sessions begin with a 60-120 minute session and then, subsequently, are offered in 30, 60, 90, and 120 minute increments.

Our acupuncturists are incredibly gentle and have a tender approach to care. If there is a sensation upon placing the needle, it is short lived (less than 1 second) and actually a good thing referred to as the “arrival of qi” – meaning the needles are working. However, you will not retain needles that are painful. On the contrary, the placed acupuncture pins usually result in a tremendous sensation of calm and relaxation.

Fun fact: Acupuncture needles are tiny – you can fit about 100 acupuncture needles into one medical syringe. And, medical syringes are made with a beveled edge meant to cut through tissue. Acupuncture needles, in addition to being super thin, have a tip that allows them to gently glide through tissue.

Be well hydrated and fed (but not stuffed). Turn off your phone and watch alerts so that once you enter your session, you can focus on you without being interrupted.

If you are able to plan ahead, wear flexible clothes so that we can access all the points we might need. If you are not able to wear flexible clothes or bring them with you. Fear not, if the above is not possible, we have towels to cover you with and the ability to give you privacy while you change.

Take it as easy as you can, within reason, after your session. Continue to drink room temperature water and nourish your body with cooked food (as opposed to cold, raw food). If stressful situations and conversations can be avoided until the next day, that is advised.

Yoga, a walk, or light exercise should be fine 2-4 hours after your treatment, but please avoid vigorous exertions. Vigorous exertions will not hurt you, but might undo some of the work we did during your session.

All you really need to bring is your method of payment. We accept most major credit cards, debit cards, check, or cash. If you need a receipt that will help you to submit your expense to your insurance carrier, be sure to let us know. We can help generate that for you.

Yes, we do accept FSA & HSA cards as payment and we are able to give you the documents you’ll need to seek reimbursement from your insurance carrier.

Mindfulness practices, breathwork, spiritual guidance, connecting with the part of us that that seeks mystery and views with the world with awe and curiosity.