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Frequently Asked Questions
Are you taking new patients? Yes! We are currently taking new patients. Give us a call or click here to schedule online!
What are the appointments like? When you come into the office we will greet you, have you fill out a few initial intake forms if you have not already done so, and then call you into a private treatment room. In the room, we will discuss your current issues and review your past medical and life history. The goal of this evaluation is to both clarify our picture of you as an individual and also to get on the same page as to what your intentions for treatment are, so we know how to track progress. This will help us to make a precise diagnosis and formulate an appropriate treatment strategy. It is also quite normal to come to the clinic without a specific problem. Many patients have a general goal to work on overall health and well-being. The same methods of questioning will be employed so an individualized treatment plan can be created.
Based on the diagnosis, we will then determine which treatment modalities would be the most appropriate for you. A Chinese Medicine session may include acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, herbal medicine, tuina bodywork, diet therapy, or instruction in movement arts such as qigong or taiji. Meditation sessions will include training and practice in breath work and techniques for mental and physical alignment. CranioSacral sessions will include light-touch manual therapy and unwinding of deep inner body and emotional patterns. Art Therapy will provide guidance in exploring your inner workings and self-expression with a licensed art therapist. Dream Work will allow you to delve deep into the symbolism and meaning of your dreams and unconscious with a certified practitioner. Family Constellation Work will allow you to open up ancestral patterns through work and enactment with two trained practitioners. No matter what the ailment and modality, your practitioner will work closely with you to choose the treatment approach that best addresses your goals while maintaining your own comfort-level and sensitivities.
What are the advantages to an integrative approach? Working together as practitioners creates a more thorough, restorative and long-lasting treatment experience. By bringing together only the most highly-trained, compassionate, patient-focused practitioners, we have assembled a phenomenal team at The Light Clinic. Having multiple minds and eyes in an evaluation is invaluable. Having multiple sets of hands in a treatment is as well. Combining an Eastern and Western approach to health creates incredible opportunities for success and we are driven by results. For more information on our Integrative Approach, click here.
How does Acupuncture work? Acupuncture works by regulating the health of the circulatory system. A Classical acupuncturist is trained to work on both form and the animating movement behind form. The diagnostic skill of the practitioner allows them to identify where a patient’s specific issue lies in space, time and direction. When working on the form of the body (i.e. the tissue layers, the sinews, the circulatory pathways, etc.), the acupuncture needle is beyond compare for its versatility. It can create pathways for circulation and micro-circulation (increased blood and oxygen flow), break up scar tissue and tissue adhesions, and regulate fluid movement (including the lymphatic system). It also works on the nervous system, helping regulate the conduction of the nerves and help train the body to be able to switch from an agitated Sympathetic (fight-or-flight) state to a calm, healing-focused Parasympathetic (rest-and-relax) state. In this manner, acupuncture regulates the 'breath' of the body, the relaxing mechanisms of the body that release and restore blood flow, and the coordination of the body's various physical structures. Most importantly, acupuncture attends to the shen 神. The shen is often compared to the spirit of a person, but its deeper meaning refers to the organizational capacity of a person. When the body works in an organized manner, it is healthy. When there is a disruption to the organization, disease arises. Acupuncture attends to that organization by regulating and restoring circulatory pathways both directly and indirectly. To read more about Acupuncture and Shen 神 click here!
What is the difference between a Licensed Acupuncturist and Dry Needling?
Be careful about getting Dry Needling as this is a mostly unregulated industry and Kentucky law allows for people with absolutely zero training to perform Dry Needling (more on that below) at Physical Therapists' offices. It is not uncommon for us to see patients that have had their pain exacerbated by receiving Dry Needling or have incurred injuries because of it. The main difference between a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) and Dry Needling practitioner is in training and scope of practice.
The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) describes Dry Needling as follows: “Dry needling' is acupuncture. Acupuncture is the insertion of thin solid needles into anatomical locations to treat disease, injury, pain, or dysfunction, and to promote health and wellness. 'Dry needling' is a recently coined name for an acupuncture technique that involves the insertion of acupuncture needles directly into muscles and 'trigger points' for the relief of musculoskeletal pain" (NCCAOM).
Dry Needling is a term that is now used in the United States to try to skirt around licensure and regulatory hoops for practitioners wishing to use some limited types of Acupuncture techniques. Practitioners of Dry Needling, whether Physical Therapists or Chiropractors, have no training or educational requirements in Kentucky other than to self-regulate that they are "competent." This means most practitioners will have 1-2 days or 10-20 hours of training before inserting needles. They have no board examination requirements or continuing education requirements. Even more concerning, a Physical Therapy Assistant with zero training in needle insertion is allowed to do Dry Needling if under the supervision of a Physical Therapist.
At The Light Clinic, we are not at all opposed to other health professionals incorporating Acupuncture into their own practice and in fact we believe there is great potential in it. For the health of our community, however, we believe there should be higher standards put in place as we move forward. "Medical Acupuncture" is a great example. This is how regular MDs as physicians have incorporated Acupuncture into their practice. In Medical Acupuncture, the physician must complete a minimum of 300 hours of Acupuncture-specific training with at least 200 hours through a formal course of study, pass a national board examination through the American Board of Medical Acupuncture, and complete at least 15 hours of continuing education annually. This kind of training requirement, though still much less than Licensed Acupuncturists, leads to a much safer application of needling with far better results.
A Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) has an average of 2,700+ hours of Masters-level training at a nationally accredited school of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and more if completing their Doctorate. In school, they have hundreds of hours of clinical experience and at least 250 actual patient treatments before licensure. They are then required to pass the national board-certification exams in Acupuncture to become licensed by the NCCAOM. In Kentucky, L.Ac.'s are required to complete 15 hours of continuing education annually to maintain state and national certification.
Click here to learn more about NCCAOM POSITION ON DRY NEEDLING
What is Family Constellation Work?
Family Constellation Work is a three-dimensional therapeutic process with trained practitioners that works with dynamics around family, relationship and sense of self. This powerful work helps participants connect with their ancestral lineage, reveal unconscious behavioral patterns and realign with greater health and consciousness. It allows us to break unhealthy pattern so that we can live happier, healthier, more fulfilled lives. The results can be life-changing.
It is good for: anxiety, depression, guilt, illness, sense of belonging, relationships, pain, breaking destructive patterns, trauma, loss, fear, and anything else that comes up in life! Read more about Family Constellation here.
What is Art Therapy?
Art Therapy is a unique and creative way to explore and communicate with the deepest parts of ourselves under the guidance of a Licensed and Board-Certified Art Therapist. It is a wonderful modality for children and adults. Ages 4 and up.Creative expression provides an avenue toward emotional and spiritual well-being, helping us to know ourselves more deeply and explore our complex inner-workings from a non-verbal perspective. Private sessions are available as well as periodic group workshops. Basic art supplies are all included. No previous art experience needed. Good for: mental health, depression, inner conflicts, post-traumatic stress, self Discovery, anger, sleep imbalances, anxiety, stress, inner conflicts, cancer, chronic illness, ADD/ADHD, self esteem, fear, feeling of safety, learning challenges, major life changes. Read more about Art Therapy here.
What is CranioSacral Therapy?
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on approach that releases tensions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve whole-body health and performance. Using a soft touch which is generally no greater than 5 grams - about the weight of a nickel - practitioners release restrictions in the soft tissues that surround the central nervous system. CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease, and it is effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction.* www.upledger.com. Good for: headache, stress, anxiety, depression, central nervous system disorders, emotional balancing, back or neck pain, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic fatigue, dementia, brain or head injury, spinal cord injury, concussion, autism, immune disorders, learning disabilities. Learn more about CranioSacral here.
What is Dream Work? Dream Work is a one-on-one session with our certified practitioner to discuss your sleeping dream world and the message that lie within! Truly life changing. Read more about our practitioner here.
Does your clinic have a Call Button system? Yes we do! There may be a time during the treatment when the practitioner allows the patient to lay in the treatment room and rest. If you ever need us when we are out of the room, you can press the call button and we will come right back in!
Do you take insurance? See our Insurance information page here.
How do I contact you? For clinic or appointment information call us at 502.330.4233. To make a follow-up appointment click here or give us a call! You can also send us an email at: [email protected].