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A simple timeline can make a first acupuncture appointment feel far less daunting, from gathering your details to knowing what to watch for afterwards.

Easing first-visit nerves

Feeling a little apprehensive before your first acupuncture appointment is very common. Uncertainty tends to feed anxiety, so knowing roughly what to expect can help body and mind arrive more settled. Thinking of the visit in three stages, before, during and after, is a simple way to prepare.

Before: gathering what you need

• A list of medicines and supplements, including doses.
• Relevant health details, such as recent tests, diagnoses or pregnancy.
• A few notes on what you hope to discuss and how the concern affects sleep, mood or work.

Confirm fees, availability and booking arrangements directly with Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, or the Lane Cove clinic. If you have read information from clinics overseas, keep in mind that session lengths, course structures and booking rules may differ.

During: speaking up is encouraged

Describe the sensations you notice, whether that is warmth, heaviness, tingling or simply discomfort. Ask questions whenever something is unclear. You can request a pause at any point, and Christine will want to know if you feel faint, anxious or uncomfortable.

After: understanding the next steps

Before leaving, check that you understand any advice given and know when and how to report a concern. Many people like to take things gently for the rest of the day and notice how they feel.

Shaping a plan that fits you

During the consultation, it can help to separate the symptom that bothers you from the outcome you would value. That might be less discomfort during a particular task, a better grasp of what seems to aggravate the problem, or knowing when another assessment is worthwhile. It is fair to ask when progress will be looked at together and what might prompt a change of plan.

Settling in at your own pace

A first appointment is as much about getting to know each other as about treatment. Give yourself permission to ask, to pause and to take time deciding what comes next.