Choosing an acupuncturist can be a difficult decision. Many people do not know enough about it to understand what they should look for. In the Syracuse area there are several acupuncturists, but who should you choose and why? The best way to make your choice is to find out as much as you can about your acupuncturist and his/her treatment philosophy. If someone you know and trust recommended that acupuncturist it is always a good start. If you did not get a word of mouth referral the next best thing is to call a few acupuncturists. You will spend a fair amount of time with your acupuncturist, if they do not communicate well over the phone then they probably won’t communicate well in person either.
Education, in my opinion, is an important part of the acupuncture treatment. A good acupuncturist does more than just stick needles in you and then sends you home. They will talk to you about your health issues and educate you about it so that you can make good choices everyday to help promote your overall wellness. Many people assume that the only good acupuncturists are Chinese. Their training is not necessarily superior and if you can not communicate with them well how successful will they be at helping your achieve your goals?
Value is also an important part of the decision making process. Notice I did not say cost, since value and cost are two different issues. This can sometimes be hard to compare unless you go to see more than one acupuncturist. If you have been to an acupuncturist and did not feel like you got value from it then I recommend calling a few others and comparing how they differ. If you have insurance coverage it is also a good idea to verify that an acupuncturist will take your insurance before scheduling your first appointment.
Personality can be a big factor in choosing your acupuncturist. As I mentioned above you will spend a fair amount of time with your acupuncturist so it is important that it is someone you can trust and get along with.
Unfortunately people sometimes have bad experiences with acupuncturists. I’ve heard several disappointing stories from patients who had been to other acupuncturists in the area. It is important that acupuncture is judged on its own merits and not judged because of a bad practitioner. If you had a bad experience at a dentist would you give up on dentistry and oral hygiene completely or find a different dentist? If you are one of the unlucky few people who had a bad experience elsewhere and want to still give acupuncture a try please call me and we can discuss your concerns.
I hope you have found the information on this page and the rest of my site informative. If you think you are ready to take the next step please give me a call at (315) 569-6579 so we can discuss your health goals and answer any other questions you may have.
