Finding The Right Acupuncturist For You In Burlington, VT
Dec. 5
There are a lot of acupuncturists here in Burlington, VT and we all have something particular to offer. At the point at which you’re researching your options, you’re probably ready for a change. You might be wanting to finally address a chronic illness or injury that just isn’t getting better, or you’re preparing for a big life change like getting pregnant, starting fertility treatments, giving birth, or figuring out what parenthood looks like in your baby, child, or teen’s phase of life. Finding the right fit for you is more important than finding “the Best Acupuncturist in Burlington”. Truth be told, there is no such thing. The best acupuncturist in Burlington, VT is the acupuncturist that you feel more comfortable with, who you “jive” with, who gives you confidence that you, or your child, really can heal from whatever you’re going through.
Top 3 Questions To Ask While Choosing An Acupuncturist
What is your approach to acupuncture?
The answer you get to this question will tell you a lot. For some, a long explanation of Chinese Medicine or acupuncture dynamics is your dream! For others, that wouldn’t be a good fit. Some might want to hear about a collaborative approach that takes your mental, physical, and spiritual health into account. Others might really resonate with the consent-based, trauma-informed approach that we use here for babies, kids, and adults alike. For some, having an acupuncturist who shares your identities: LGBTQ+, BIPOC, immigrant, fat, anti-racist, femme or masculine (to name a few), might be really important to feeling safe and seen.
Ask this question! I promise you’ll be better equipped to make an informed choice.
Do you have experience addressing what I’m coming to acupuncture for?
Now I’m not saying that in order to successfully support you to heal that your acupuncturist needs to have already treated what you’re coming in for. That’s because we don’t treat diseases persay, we treat your particular manifestation and tailor treatment to you. However, for some very long-standing, complex, or severe conditions, it can be helpful for your acupuncturist to have either direct experience working with what you’re presenting with.
Surprising to some, studies show that clinicians get better results within their first five years of practice than they do afterward. Why is this? In your early career as an acupuncturist, you are humble. You know you don’t know everything. You’re curious, thorough, inquisitive. You have most likely built mentorship networks so you have more experienced teachers to go to with challenging cases (I know I do!).
All of this said, listen carefully to how the acupuncturist answers this question and you will learn a lot about how they might approach your concerns.
What is getting acupuncture treatment in your clinic like?
There are so many ways to answer this question. For folks who come from historically marginalized communities or who have experienced trauma, describing the use of informed, enthusiastic consent might be a big factor in feeling ready to book an appointment. For those in larger bodies, learning that the acupuncturist’s table can accommodate 1,500 lbs and that they believe all bodies are good bodies (as we do here!), is key to starting a trusting relationship. For neurodiverse people or parents of neurodiverse kiddos, learning about our sensory-inclusive environment, that we lead with consent, and that the acupuncturist understands and honors neurodiversity, can make all the difference.
Wherever you are in your search for an acupuncturist here in Burlington, VT, I wish you well on finding just the right fit for you.