Do you take Insurance?

We do not bill insurance directly. Our sliding scale is less than most insurance companies copay for acupuncture. We have receipts available that you can use to submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement. Every insurance provider varies in what they cover for acupuncture. CAP has quite a few patients who successfully are reimbursed with their direct effort.

Do I need to provide income verification for sliding scale acupuncture?

We do not require income verification of any kind. The sliding scale indicates the low and high amounts accepted as payment and you determine what works for you. Only you can decide what you can afford to pay within the sliding scale.

What forms of payment can I use?

We accept cash, checks, credit cards, and FSA/HSA cards.

What if I’m running late or can’t make my appointment?

It is best to call us as soon as possible if you would like to come in but are running late. Please note if you are running more than 10 minutes late or arrive more than 10 minutes late without contacting us, we cannot guarantee we will be able to honor your appointment, and you may instead be instructed to reschedule.

The clinic needs 24 hours notice if you can't make your appointment. This allows others in the community to take your spot if you can no longer make it in. Our late cancellation and no-show fee is $35 for return visits and $50 for first time time visits.

An invoice will be emailed to you the day you miss your treatment. Please send in your payment for missed appointments so that your online scheduling privileges remain active.

Thanks for helping us stay affordable and honoring our 24-hour cancellation policy

Do you treat kids?

Yes! We welcome the opportunity to work with children. Children tend to respond well to acupuncture. If they are alright with needles, we will use needles. If they prefer acupressure, we can also use acupressure or adhesive non-skin-penetrating seeds. We can even show them how to gently massage some of the points. Bear in mind treatments are in a group setting – this can be wonderful for treating you and your child or siblings together. It’s important to remember they will need to be courteous of other clients.

How long is a treatment?

Once the needles have been placed, we will ask you to rest comfortably with them for a minimum of 30 minutes to give the treatment enough time to work. We will be in and out of the treatment rooms every 10 minutes, allowing you to make eye contact with a practitioner if you need anything during this time. Many people, especially those that fall asleep during treatments, report waking up and simply feeling like they’re “done” during this time. Others request an additional 10-15 minutes of treatment time. If there’s a certain time you need to be out the door, we will watch the clock for you and wake you at your desired time.

I’m not feeling well today, should I still come in for a treatment?

If you cannot leave your bathroom or bedroom, please don’t come in.

Do you have an easy to read book about acupuncture, what I get treated for, and what treatments are like?

If you have more questions about what acupuncture treats or what it’s like to get treated (and many people do), check out the award-winning book Why Did You Put That Needle There? available online free in pdf format:

New patient? What to expect:

On your first visit you will need to fill out paperwork, including a health history. Please do this online before your appointment or plan on arriving 5-10 minutes early. We will review your health concerns with you and discuss a treatment plan in the community room. Allow between 45 and 60 minutes for your first visit; subsequent visits will last between 30 to 60 minutes. Returning patients that experience a three year gap or more between visits, upon return will be required to fill out new intake paperwork and pay the one time “first-visit” sliding scale rate.

We are not currently accepting walk-ins; everyone must make an appointment before entering the clinic. We schedule returning patients at 5-10 minute intervals. Please arrive on time for your appointment. Patients arriving later than 10 minutes after their scheduled time may not be seen and have to reschedule.

First visit suggestions:

• If you choose not to fill out our medical intake form online, please arrive 5-10 minutes early to fill out paperwork.

• Wear comfortable clothing. We will need to access your lower arms and legs for treatment.

• Have a little food in your belly. Receiving acupuncture on an empty stomach can leave you feeling tired.

• Bring cash, check, or credit / debit card for payment. If paying cash, please bring exact change. We cannot make change for bill denominations of $20 or higher.

  
  If you must cancel an appointment with less than 24 hours notice, please note there is minimum $35.00 fee.

Does acupuncture hurt?

There are a variety of sensations that are common and even good to feel during acupuncture. These include a dull ache around the needle, a sense of heaviness, tingling, warmth, or a sensation of something moving. Sometimes these sensations can be very strong. That being said, they should not cause pain and keep you from relaxing during your treatment. If anything is too strong or uncomfortable, let your acupuncturist know and we can easily adjust it.

How does acupuncture work?

Acupuncture points are located along “meridians” or “channels”, which closely follow the route of the vessels and connective tissue of the body. The specific placement of tiny needles along these meridians promotes full body circulation and the body’s natural ability to heal itself. This results in less pain, reduced inflammation, and better overall health.

How will I feel during the treatment?

Some people just close their eyes and relax during their treatment, and it’s very common to fall asleep. In fact, we encourage taking an acu-nap if it suits you!

If I don’t fall asleep, is the treatment still working?

Yes, the treatments will still work whether you fall asleep or not.

Can I be treated for multiple things in one visit?

Yes, you can be treated for more than one thing at a time. It’s best to prioritize and let your acupuncturist know the main reasons you wish to be treated. As we work through the main issues, a lot of times the secondary issues also get better!

If I’m coming in for back pain, why aren’t you putting any needles in my back?

Acupuncture works by using meridians, or channels, that travel through your entire body. If you have back pain on your channel, we’ll likely use acupuncture points on your feet that are at the end of the same channel. We can also treat your back pain using microsystems in your ears and hands, balancing methods using other channels, and the list goes on.

Is there parking?

There is a large shared parking lot for patients of CAP Burien and other businesses within the building. There is also an additional gravel overflow to the west of the main parking lot.

Do you offer herbal medicine?

Not at this time.

If I am pregnant, can I get acupuncture?

Yes! Acupuncture can be very beneficial in helping symptoms of pregnancy such as low back pain, nausea and vomiting, headaches, etc.

"I am a licensed midwife at In Tandem Midwifery, in West Seattle. I recommend acupuncture for almost every client we have & love having such a great resource right here in our community. I have seen the benefits of acupuncture for a variety of fertility and pregnancy related issues: help getting pregnant, headaches, low iron/ anemia, hypertension, blood sugars, nausea/ vomiting, fatigue, anxiety, sleep disturbances, muscle cramps, depression, milk supply, energy levels, labor induction, optimal fetal position/ flipping breech babies, increasing labor contractions… and more. Acupuncture is helpful regulating cycles, which can help women conceive. I find that women who receive regular acupuncture in the 3rd trimester of their pregnancy have more efficient labor patterns with babies who are in better positions for an easier birth. I have seen acupuncture help tremendously with increasing milk supply as well as helping with emotional & hormonal imbalance postpartum."

- Taylor Hamil, LM, CPM

Do you treat infertility?

Yes! Acupuncture can be very helpful with fertility.

How often will I need to come?

This depends on what you’re coming in for, how long it’s been going on, and how long you’ve been coming to get acupuncture.  For most things, we encourage you to start by coming in 2-3 times per week.  Overtime, we’ll hopefully be able to space that out, until you eventually only need to come in once in a while for maintenance or tune-ups.

Acupuncture is most effective when done frequently, which is why we may ask you to come in a few times a week in the beginning. We hope that our sliding scale enables more people to do that.

Acupuncture works best when you get as much treatment as you need.

If you have more specific questions that you would like answered, please contact us.