What to Expect

Our Practice is designed for patients seeking thoughtful, results-oriented care for pain conditions and complex health concerns. Many of the patients we see have already tried other approaches and are looking for a more comprehensive treatment plan to help move their condition forward.

We are trusted by physicians throughout the community, and many patients are referred to our practice by doctors and specialists within Michigan Medicine and other healthcare systems.

Who Is a Good Fit For This Practice?

This practice may be a good fit if you:

Have ongoing pain that has not fully responded to other treatments
Are looking for a non-pharmacological approach
Prefer a structured, results-oriented treatment plan
Have been referred by a physician or specialist (although a referral is not required)

Our approach is especially well suited for patients seeking consistent care, clear treatment planning, and long-term improvement rather than temporary symptom management alone.

Your Initial Visit

In most cases, your initial visit will be conducted by Heather, who will perform a comprehensive evaluation and provide your first treatment.

This first appointment is designed to:

Understand your condition in detail
Review prior treatments and medical history
Identify contributing patterns and underlying factors
Establish a treatment strategy tailored to your needs

Following your evaluation, we will discuss recommended treatment frequency and expectations moving forward.

Follow-Up care and Continuity of Treatment

Follow-up visits may be administered either by Heather, or by a practitioner trained directly within this clinical model.

This structure allows for:

Greater continuity of care
Improved appointment availability
Consistency in treatment approach and strategy

All treatment plans are designed and overseen by Heather with periodic reassessment visits performed to evaluate progress and adjust treatment as needed. In many cases, this reassessment occurs around visit number six.

Treatment Frequency and Progress

Most patients begin care with weekly treatments for approximately six weeks before reassessment.

At that point, treatment frequency is adjusted based on:

Your response to care
The nature and duration of your condition
How well your body maintains improvement between visits

Every patient responds differently. Some patients continue with weekly treatments for a period of time, while others transition to treatments every few weeks, monthly maintenance care, or seasonal visits as needed.

Once pain or symptoms become more manageable, many patients choose to continue ongoing maintenance treatments to help support long-term stability and prevent recurrence.

Supporting Long-Term Results

Treatment may also include individualized lifestyle recommendations intended to support and strengthen the effects of care.

Depending on the patient, these recommendations may include:

Movement or stretching guidance
Stress management strategies
Sleep or recovery support
Dietary considerations
Other practical measures to support overall function and healing

Our goal is not simply short-term symptom relief, but helping patients achieve meaningful and sustainable improvement over time.

Chinese Herbal Medicine

In some cases, Chinese herbal medicine may be recommended as part of your treatment plan. Herbal formulas can complement acupuncture by providing ongoing therapeutic support between visits and may be particularly helpful for certain internal medicine, digestive, gynecological, and chronic health conditions. Not every patient is a candidate for herbal medicine, and the decision to use herbs is always made on an individual basis. If herbs are recommended, their use is entirely optional and discussed thoroughly before beginning treatment. Chinese herbal formulas are prescribed separately from acupuncture treatments and involve an additional cost.