YOUR APPOINTMENT
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What to expect from your acupuncture treatment.
Every appointment is centred around you. We’ll begin with a conversation about your health, what has brought you in and what you’d like support with.
From there, I’ll create a treatment plan tailored to you, your health and your individual needs.
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Your First Appointment
Your first appointment gives us time to look at your health in detail and understand what has brought you to acupuncture.
We’ll talk through your current symptoms, medical history and general health, alongside areas such as sleep, energy, digestion and stress. Where relevant, we’ll also discuss your menstrual cycle, hormonal health, fertility journey, pregnancy or stage of life.
If you have any relevant medical investigations, diagnoses, medications or fertility treatment plans, we can consider these as part of the wider picture too.
You don’t need to arrive with everything figured out. The purpose of the consultation is to understand where you are now and decide together what treatment may be most appropriate.
Your first appointment will also include acupuncture treatment.
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Your Treatment
Acupuncture uses very fine, sterile, single use needles placed at carefully selected points on the body.
Your treatment will be individual to you. The points I choose are based on our consultation, your current symptoms and my clinical assessment rather than a standard protocol for a particular condition.
The sensation of acupuncture varies from person to person. You may feel a brief sensation as a needle is inserted, with feelings such as heaviness, warmth or tingling around some points. Many people find the treatment itself deeply relaxing.
Once the needles are in place, you’ll usually rest comfortably for around 20–30 minutes.
Depending on what is appropriate for you, I may also incorporate other Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques into your treatment.
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After Your Appointment
Most people can return to their normal day immediately after acupuncture.
Some people feel very relaxed or a little tired afterwards, while others notice very little immediately.
I generally recommend giving yourself a little space after treatment where possible, staying hydrated and paying attention to how you feel.
We can discuss anything you notice following treatment at your next appointment and adapt your treatment accordingly.
04 —
How Often Will I Need Acupuncture
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment schedule.
How often I recommend seeing you will depend on why you’re attending, how long you’ve been experiencing symptoms and what else may be happening with your health.
Some people benefit from more regular treatment initially. Others may attend around a particular stage of their menstrual cycle, fertility treatment or pregnancy, while some prefer appointments spaced further apart.
Following your initial consultation, I’ll explain what I recommend and why. There is never an obligation to commit to a set number of treatments.
Ready to begin?
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Book your first acupuncture appointment.
Practical Information
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Bray Chamber, 10 Prince of Wales Tce, Bray, Co.Wicklow, A98 A4XO
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Appointments are generally 1 hour although some initial consultations may take up to 1 hour 30 mins
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Wear comfortable loose clothes that you can relax in. Loose clothing can be helpful as acupuncture points are commonly used on the lower arms and legs, but you don’t need to wear anything specific.
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Yes. As a registered member of the Acupuncture Foundation Professional Association (AFPA), treatments are recognised by all major private health insurers in Ireland.
Depending on your individual plan, you may be able to claim back part of the cost of your acupuncture treatment. Receipts are provided for this purpose, and I recommend checking your policy for the level of acupuncture cover available.
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1 hour appointment €70
1.5 hour appointment €90
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We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please provide at least 24 hours' notice.
Appointments cancelled with less notice may be charged the full appointment fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Acupuncture works by stimulating specific points on the body using very fine needles. Research suggests this stimulation can influence the nervous system and the way the brain and body process pain, as well as physiological processes involved in stress regulation, circulation and inflammation.
In women’s health, acupuncture has been studied across a range of areas including menstrual and pelvic pain, fertility and IVF support, pregnancy-related symptoms and symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause.
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, treatment also considers the individual pattern behind your symptoms. This means two women experiencing the same condition may receive very different acupuncture treatments.
My approach brings these two perspectives together — using Traditional Chinese Medicine to guide individualised treatment while remaining informed by current research and our understanding of women’s health through Western medicine.
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Can I have acupuncture while trying to conceive?
Yes. I work with women who are trying to conceive naturally as well as those undergoing fertility investigations or assisted fertility treatment, including IVF.
Treatment is tailored to where you are in your cycle or fertility journey and can be used alongside the medical care you are receiving.
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Acupuncture needles are extremely fine and are very different from the needles used for injections or blood tests.
You may occasionally feel a brief sensation as a needle is inserted or sensations such as warmth, heaviness or tingling once it is in place. Most people find acupuncture comfortable and many find the treatment very relaxing.
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Yes absolutely. Acupuncture can be used alongside conventional medical care.
I’m very happy to work alongside the care you’re receiving from your GP, consultant, fertility clinic or other healthcare professionals.
Acupuncture is complementary to rather than a replacement for appropriate medical investigation and treatment.
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Acupuncture can be used safely throughout pregnancy when provided by a professional qualified practitioner.
Treatment is adapted according to your stage of pregnancy, your health and the reason you’re attending. Acupuncture can offer a non-pharmacological option for supporting a range of common pregnancy-related symptoms.
It may also be used at particular stages of pregnancy for more specific reasons, including supporting the management of breech presentation and preparation for birth.
Sometimes an appointment is simply a welcome opportunity to slow down, rest and have some dedicated time where the focus is on you, the mother-to-be, as well as your pregnancy.
Acupuncture is used alongside, rather than in place of, appropriate antenatal and medical care.
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You’re welcome to get in touch before booking if there is something you’re unsure about.
If I believe your symptoms require medical investigation or another form of care, I’ll always recommend that you seek the appropriate support.
A collaborative approach :
My acupuncture practice is based within Elaine Barry Physio, a specialist pelvic health physiotherapy clinic in Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Elaine is a highly experienced Chartered Physiotherapist with more than 20 years in practice and specialist expertise in pelvic and women's health. She is well known and trusted within the women's health community and I'm delighted to practise alongside Elaine and the wider team.
One of the things I particularly value about being based here is the shared focus on women's health. We each bring different areas of expertise, while recognising that women's health often benefits from more than one perspective. It creates an environment where collaborative care and appropriate referral are part of how we work.
