Community Acupuncture
What is community acupuncture?
Community acupuncture offers affordable basic acupuncture treatments in a group setting. Patients will receive acupuncture in an open room designed to facilitate comfort and relaxation with up to six other patients who also are receiving treatments.
New patients and patients who have not received acupuncture from ATOG in the past six months are required to schedule a private initial consultation for an assessment and Chinese Medicine diagnosis. Current patients can transition to community acupuncture at any time without an additional consultation.
Each session will begin with a brief update regarding symptoms followed by needle insertion by the acupuncturist. Patients remain fully clothed during treatment because acupuncture points are limited to the head and extremities. Patients will rest with the needles inserted in a zero-gravity chair for about 30-40 minutes.
Differences between community and private acupuncture?
The main differences between community and private acupuncture are the cost and extent of treatment.
Because community acupuncture treatments are about 50 percent less expensive than private treatments, consistent acupuncture care will be more affordable for many patients.
Community acupuncture treatments will focus only on the patient’s primary symptom(s) as determined through the initial consultation. In addition, these treatments will not include other modalities like cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, heat-lamp therapy or herbal medicine. At the acupuncturist’s discretion, a patient may require reevaluation in a private treatment setting because of changes in their medical history.
What conditions can community acupuncture treat?
Community acupuncture is most beneficial for treatment of general wellness. The following are just a few of the treatable diseases, symptoms and conditions that can be addressed with community acupuncture: stress/anxiety, headaches, back/neck/shoulder pain, digestion, allergies and fatigue.
Complicated conditions that require more discussion and treatment depth are better suited for private acupuncture.
Community Acupuncture Policy
Because community acupuncture involves multiple patients receiving acupuncture in a group setting, time management must be nearly perfect.
To ensure a prompt start time for our community acupuncture sessions, we kindly request patients to arrive at the office 5-10 minutes before their scheduled appointment to allow time to use the washroom and get situated in treatment chairs. Late arrivals may result in not being seen and a charge of $45 if there is not sufficient time or space.
Schedule an appointment
Community acupuncture appointments will be available at ATOG Aurora on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and at ATOG Yorkville on Mondays and Thursdays.
Kristin Eisenschmid, LAc, is the lead acupuncturist for the community acupuncture clinic. All community acupuncture patients are required to complete a consent form affirming their understanding and acceptance that conversations within the community acupuncture treatment room are not private.
To schedule an appointment, call or text ATOG at (630) 299-3464 or schedule an appointment online.