Frequently Asked Questions
About Awaken and Bloom
At Awaken & Bloom, integrative care doesn’t mean a big team under one roof—it means receiving personalized, whole-person support from a practitioner who can see the full picture and help you connect the dots.
You won’t be passed around or bounced between providers. Instead, you’ll work directly with a skilled practitioner trained in acupuncture, Chinese medicine, herbal therapy, nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and natural approaches to complex health concerns like hormonal imbalance, digestive issues, sleep problems, and fertility challenges.
When additional support is needed, I’ll help you identify and connect with trusted local professionals—ensuring your care remains coordinated, intentional, and aligned with your goals.
At Awaken & Bloom, I specialize in fertility, hormonal balance, pregnancy, postpartum, and women’s health—but I also support a wide range of health concerns. I regularly work with patients navigating cycle issues, digestive problems, sleep disruption, autoimmune conditions, thyroid concerns, perimenopause, anxiety, fatigue, and more. Whether you’re trying to conceive or simply trying to feel like yourself again, I offer whole-person care tailored to your goals.
From a modern medical lens, acupuncture has been shown to regulate the nervous system, reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and release endorphins—making it a powerful tool for addressing both acute and chronic issues.
From a Chinese medicine perspective, acupuncture promotes the smooth flow of Qi and blood throughout the body, helping to restore balance, resolve stagnation, and support the body’s natural healing intelligence.
While acupuncture is often the entry point, your treatment may also include herbal medicine, nutrition and lifestyle guidance, bodywork, mindfulness tools, or functional testing—depending on your needs. I work holistically, meaning I consider the physical, emotional, and environmental influences on your health and offer a thoughtful, personalized plan at every visit.
These fees reflect the depth of care you receive—beyond what’s offered in most acupuncture-only clinics. You’re not just booking a treatment. You’re investing in a personalized, whole-body plan with expert guidance every step of the way.
Because your care includes more than just acupuncture, each session at Awaken & Bloom is designed to support the whole you—physically, emotionally, and energetically. We combine acupuncture with functional insights, lifestyle medicine, nutrition, herbal support, and personalized strategy to guide your healing journey.
Initial Appointment
Your first visit is a comprehensive 60-minute intake and treatment session designed to uncover root causes and map out a tailored plan for care.
→ $350
Follow-Up Visits
Ongoing sessions are 45 minutes and include acupuncture and integrative support as needed (herbal guidance, lifestyle coaching, nutrition, and more).
→ $225 per visit
Package Options
Many patients choose to purchase a package, which brings the cost per visit down:
Buy 5, Get 1 Free → $1,125 total (6 visits at $187.50 each)
Buy 9, Get 2 Free → $2,025 total (11 visits at $184 each)
I am not in-network with insurance companies and do not bill them directly. However, I’m happy to provide a superbill upon request—a detailed receipt you can submit for potential reimbursement if your plan covers out-of-network acupuncture or naturopathic care. Many of my patients use HSA/FSA funds to cover treatment.
New Patients
Integrative medicine is personalized, root-cause care—and deep healing often takes time. While some patients notice improvement right away, others experience gradual changes over several visits.
During your first appointment, I’ll create a personalized care plan based on your specific concerns, goals, and timeline. Most patients begin with weekly treatments, and in more acute situations, I may recommend sessions twice per week to start. A full course of care can last anywhere from a month to a year or more, depending on how long the issue has been present and how your body responds to treatment.
If you’re unsure about what to expect for your specific case, feel free to schedule a free 15-minute consultation before booking your first visit.
Most people are surprised by how gentle acupuncture really is. The needles I use are hair-thin—nothing like the hypodermic needles used in blood draws or injections. You might feel a slight pinch with insertion, but many patients feel deep relaxation or even fall asleep once the needles are in place.
If you’re ever uncomfortable, I’ll adjust things to ensure your experience is safe, calm, and supportive.
You can schedule your appointment online here by choosing the service that best fits your needs—whether that’s fertility, hormone balance, postpartum care, or general health support.
If you’re unsure which visit type to book, reach out directly or schedule a free 15-minute consultation and I’ll guide you.
Absolutely. If you’re wondering whether this approach is a fit for your concerns, I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation so we can explore your goals and how I can help.
Click here to go to our New Patients page!
Please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. In most sessions, I’ll need access to areas such as your lower legs, arms, abdomen, or back—so anything that allows for easy movement and access works great.
There’s no need to bring anything special. If you have recent lab work, imaging, or supplement lists you’d like to share, you’re welcome to bring them or email them beforehand.
Every body is different. Some people feel calm and sleepy after treatment; others feel alert and energized. Try to avoid intense physical activity or high-stress tasks immediately afterward so your body has time to integrate the effects of the session.
I require 48 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment. This allows me to offer the spot to another patient who may be waiting for care. Cancellations made with less than 48 hours’ notice will be charged the full appointment fee.
You can cancel or reschedule through your patient portal, or by emailing me directly at [info@awakenandbloom.com].
I am a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine with over 16 years of clinical experience. In addition to my master’s degree, which took 3-4 years to complete close to 1000 hours of clinical training, I also completed two additional years of doctoral training in integrative medicine—with advanced education in internal medicine, functional nutrition, endocrinology, and complex reproductive health.
My approach blends time-tested Chinese medicine with evidence-based natural therapies, functional testing (when appropriate), and personalized lifestyle support to help you heal from the inside out.
Safety
Yes—when performed by a licensed and properly trained acupuncturist, acupuncture is considered a very safe form of treatment. Mild side effects like slight bruising, swelling, or a relaxed “spacey” feeling post-treatment can occur, but these are typically short-lived. Serious complications are extremely rare, especially when clean needle technique and high safety standards are followed.
I use only single-use, sterile needles and follow all medical-grade safety protocols to ensure you’re well cared for at every step.
Never. Ever. Every needle I use is sterile, single-use, and immediately disposed of in a sharps container according to medical safety standards. Clean needle technique is a cornerstone of safe acupuncture practice—and I take it seriously.
Yes. I am fully vaccinated and stay up to date with COVID-19 booster recommendations to protect my patients and community.
Fertility
Your first fertility session includes a thorough 75-90-minute intake, where I’ll review your entire health picture—including your fertility journey to date, menstrual cycle history, hormone panels, past treatments, diet, sleep, emotional wellbeing, and more.
You’ll receive a personalized fertility wellness plan that may include acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutritional and lifestyle recommendations, and supportive referrals when appropriate. All treatment is tailored to your unique case—no cookie-cutter protocols here.
Most patients come in weekly for care, though frequency is based on your needs, cycle timing, and goals. Acupuncture is always central, but I may also use additional therapies such as cupping, moxibustion, or bodywork to support your path to conception.
Every fertility journey is unique—and that’s exactly how I approach your care. During your initial intake, we’ll discuss your timeline, cycle history, partner dynamics (if applicable), and health goals to co-create a treatment strategy that fits your needs and stage.
That said, I often recommend a three-month foundational window as a starting point. This is the time it takes for your body to develop and mature the egg or sperm that will be released for conception. During this phase, we’re improving egg and sperm quality, balancing hormones, regulating cycles, and supporting emotional resilience—laying the groundwork for long-term success.
And your goal isn’t just conception—it’s a healthy pregnancy, a thriving baby, and a grounded postpartum. I don’t step away after a positive test—I support you from preconception through postpartum recovery, if you’ll have me.
Because half of the genetic material comes from sperm—and yet, it’s often overlooked. Many people assume fertility challenges are rooted in the person carrying the pregnancy, but male factor infertility contributes to about 50% of cases.
Even if a semen analysis is considered “normal,” that doesn’t always mean optimal. It doesn’t measure DNA fragmentation or epigenetic quality—just like hormone labs don’t fully reflect egg quality. In fact, poor sperm health is now linked to miscarriage risk, gestational complications like preeclampsia, and even stillbirth.
That’s why I encourage both partners to be part of the process when sperm is being used. Whether you’re trying to conceive naturally or going through IVF or IUI, improving sperm health alongside egg quality leads to better outcomes and a stronger foundation for a healthy pregnancy.
Whether you’ve received a diagnosis or you’re stuck in the unknown, Chinese medicine offers personalized, evidence-informed support for a wide range of fertility-related conditions. Here are just some of the concerns I work with regularly:
For Women or Egg-Carrying Partners:
- Advanced maternal age
- Amenorrhea or irregular cycles
- Anovulation or luteal phase defect
- PCOS
- Endometriosis
- Elevated FSH or prolactin
- Hormonal imbalances
- Recurrent or missed miscarriage
- Poor egg quality
- Thin uterine lining
- Immunologic or unexplained infertility
- Fibroids, cysts, polyps
- Unexplained Infertility
For Men or Sperm-Carrying Partners:
- Low sperm count, motility, or morphology
- Poor sperm DNA quality or fragmentation
- Erectile dysfunction or performance anxiety
- Low libido or low testosterone
- Varicocele, orchitis, epididymitis
- Toxic exposure or environmental stress
- Hormonal imbalance
- Unexplained infertility
