Your first visit
What to expect at your first appointment at Well-Being Solution Clinic in Barrie, from booking to aftercare.
Before you come
After you book, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to your health history and consent forms. Please complete them online before your appointment.
Eat something beforehand rather than arriving on an empty stomach. Wear loose clothing. Bring a list of your medications and supplements, and any recent test results or imaging.
Your first visit is 60 or 90 minutes. You choose the length when you book.
When you arrive
Our Barrie clinic is at 41 Livia Herman Way. To enter the clinic, please take the stairway on the left down into the basement.
Directions and a map link for both locations are on our contact page.
The assessment
The assessment comes first and takes up a good part of your first appointment. We ask about your main complaint, and then about things that may seem unrelated: sleep, appetite, digestion, temperature, thirst, energy through the day, stress and your cycle. We take your pulse at both wrists and look at your tongue. None of this is uncomfortable.
The treatment
Based on the assessment we use some combination of acupuncture, tui na, cupping, gua sha and moxibustion, and we explain each one before we start. If needles are part of the plan and you are nervous, tell us. They are much finer than most people expect, and we can start with a single needle so you know what it feels like.
Your plan
Before you leave you will know what we think is going on, what we recommend, how often to come, and roughly how long before you should notice a change. If we do not think we are the right care for you, we will tell you.
Afterwards
Drink water and take it easy for the rest of the day if you can. Some people feel deeply relaxed, some feel tired for a few hours, and some feel better straight away. Cupping marks fade over several days. All of this is normal.
Common questions
Does acupuncture hurt?
Insertion is usually not felt. Once a needle is in place you may feel a dull heaviness or a spreading ache, which means the point is active. It should not be sharp. Tell us if it is.
How clean are the needles?
Single-use, pre-sterilized and disposable. They are opened in front of you and discarded after one use.
Do I have to undress?
Only the area being treated is exposed and you are draped throughout. Most acupuncture is done with your clothes mostly on. Tui na can be done fully clothed.
Can I drive home?
Yes.
Do you speak Chinese?
Yes. We consult in Mandarin as well as English.
More answers are on our frequently asked questions page.