Getting Started
How many appointments will I need?
You can choose to book one of the popular Healthy Life Programs Shannon offers, or you can book your appointments as needed. The number of appointments you need varies depending on your condition.
The Healthy Life Programs offer you a series of 10 visits. The cost of each program includes 8 acupuncture sessions, nutritional guidance, basic herbs and nutritional supplements, and laboratory tests.
Acupuncture is recommended as part of most treatment plans as it is a powerful therapy that can help with many conditions, and adds to the combined effects of herbal medicine, nutrition, nutritional supplements, lifestyle changes, and homeopathy. When using natural therapies, it is this combined effect of therapies that makes the most improvements in health. Acupuncture is best done as a series of 6-8 treatments done every week.
If you choose not to do one of the Healthy Life Programs, or acupuncture, then then you can plan for about 4-5 visits over 6 months. The second visit is about a month after your first, once you’ve received your laboratory results. The third, fourth and fifth visits are usually a month apart. This is an average approximation and varies from person to person.
What do I bring with me?
There are a few documents we ask that you bring to your first appointment, as it will help Shannon use your time together more efficiently. Please fill out the patient intake form that will be emailed to you. And please bring any recent medical reports that you have, along with any medications or supplements you use.
What happens during my appointments?
Your first visit with Shannon will be 1hr 30 min long and will involve a thorough intake and a short physical exam. During this time Shannon will have a chance to obtain valuable information about your current health, your medical history and your lifestyle. You may be asked to complete a series of lab tests before your second appointment (through an independent lab). This will be discussed during your first visit and depends on your unique case. Your health information will then be used to create a custom treatment plan that is tailored to you as an individual.
Once your lab results are complete the rest of your treatment plan is given on the second visit and will incorporate a range of naturopathic therapies best suited to your individual health situation. Shannon uses the following therapies but also will refer out if other treatments are indicated: herbal medicine, acupuncture, lifestyle counseling, massage, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, clinical nutrition, and physical medicine. If you are having acupuncture done, you will start on your second visit.
