Affordable Acupuncture in Center City, Philadelphia
Acupuncture engages the body’s amazing ability to balance itself and return to health. Patients who become aware of this ability tend to feel at once relieved, relaxed and empowered.
Laura Hawley, a skilled acupuncturist in practice since 1998, is committed to helping her patients engage this natural capacity for healing. At Open City Healing Arts, she provides gentle, effective and affordable care for a wide range of disorders and illnesses, using both group and private treatment.
Open Room Treatment
In this model, up to four people are seen together in a quiet room. The acupuncturist moves from one person to another, a brief quiet conversation takes place, treatment is given, and the person rests with the needles in. Patients often drift into a relaxed state or fall asleep. Working in this way, patients can be seen more efficiently, thus lowering the cost of individual appointments while continuing a high level of attention. Group treatment often allows patients with chronic conditions to schedule more frequent appointments if necessary.
There is more than efficiency to this model. A group of people relaxing together in a community setting provides a special environment, like a meditation hall. Sometimes it is more helpful, and more healing, to be with other people than to be alone in a room. Laura has chosen to treat patients on massage tables because of her devotion to the methods of Kiiko Matsumoto, which requires access to points on the abdomen and back. In this way, the Open City model is close to the way patients are seen in Asia or in Chinatown in Philadelphia.
Private Treatment
Treatment in private rooms is also available on Tuesday afternoons, Thursdays and Friday afternoons. Laura has continued this form of treatment at her patients’ request, because it is more appropriate for some patients, and because she enjoys providing it. Laura is an effective counselor, with an MSW, and uses these skills in private sessions when it is useful. The time can also be used for herbal consultation, nutritional advice, or teaching qi gong or simple meditation. Follow this link to learn more about this option. www.acuphilly.com
A Continuum of Care Combining group and private sessions brings the virtues of both forms of acupuncture care together. Some patients may move back and forth between the two models, while some will stay within one model of care. Patients, in consultation with Laura, will decide what sort of treatment is appropriate for them.
Please print and fill the intake packet and bring it along with you to the first appointment, or allow twenty extra minutes before the appointment to fill it out when you arrive.
