What to Expect at Your Visit
At Mackay Acupuncture Natural Medicine, we want you to feel comfortable, informed and cared for from the moment you decide to book.
This page explains what to expect before, during and after your sessions, so you can arrive feeling relaxed and at ease.
Dr. McAuliffe + Dr Bell both practice Neoclassical Acupuncture, a gentle method rooted in classical teachings from 1100 A.D. Often, just one precisely chosen needle is used to address the underlying cause of imbalance—rather than applying a set of points for symptoms. This refined approach allows the whole system to shift with clarity and ease.
Before Your Visit
After booking your treatment, you will receive an email with a secure online New Patient form.
Please complete this form prior to your session so we can make the best use of your treatment time.
To help you prepare for your appointment:
- Avoid drugs, opiates and alcohol on the day of your treatment.
- Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing if possible. If not, no problem — professional draping techniques will be used as needed.
If you have any questions before your visit, you are always welcome to contact the clinic or call our receptionist for guidance.
Your First Session (30 Minutes)
Your first session is 30 minutes. During this time, we gently slow things down, review your New Patient Form, and get to know how you are truly feeling.
We will talk about:
- Your main concerns and what brought you to the clinic
- Your goals for treatment
- Sleep, energy levels and stress
- Digestion and bowel habits
- Emotional well-being
- Menstrual health, when relevant
- Other aspects of your lifestyle that may be affecting your health
In Eastern Medicine, even seemingly unrelated details can offer meaningful insight into what is really happening in the body.
For example, if you come in for recurring headaches, we may also ask about digestion, sleep or your menstrual cycle.
Eastern Medicine Diagnostic Methods
Once we have talked through your health history and current concerns, we will move into Eastern medical diagnostic methods such as:
- Pulse reading for herbal medicine diagnosis
- Abdominal palpation for acupuncture diagnosis
- Palpation along specific acupuncture branches on both limbs for acupuncture diagnosis
These gentle techniques help us understand where your energy is blocked or out of balance, and guide how we plan your treatment.
Your Treatment Plan
Together, we will look at your health through the lens of Eastern Medicine and outline a personalised treatment plan.
This may include a combination of:
- Acupuncture (mostly 1 needle treatments)
- Cupping
- Structural Alignment
We may also offer supportive recommendations such as Eastern herbal formulas, simple dietary guidance or lifestyle suggestions you can integrate at home.
The Acupuncture Treatment
Your session concludes with an acupuncture treatment. Once the needles are placed, you will lie comfortably and rest.
Many people find this time deeply relaxing and may even drift into a light sleep.
Follow-Up Sessions (30 Minutes)
All follow-up visits are also 30 minutes.
We begin with a brief check-in about how you have been since your last treatment, any changes you have noticed, and how your main concerns are progressing.
We then continue with acupuncture and, where appropriate, may include cupping, gua sha or structural alignment as part of your ongoing care.
Each session builds on the last, with the aim of steadily improving your symptoms, supporting your overall well-being and helping your body maintain balance.
After Your Treatment
Because acupuncture and energy work can create a deep sense of relaxation, it is ideal — when your schedule allows — to give yourself some quiet time after your session.
This helps your body integrate the treatment and extend the calm you feel.
After your visit, we recommend:
- Drinking plenty of warm fluids.
- Taking a gentle walk if the weather permits.
- Being mindful of the mental, emotional and physical demands you take on for the rest of the day.
Some people feel lighter and more energised straight away, while others feel very relaxed or a little tired.
All of these can be normal responses as your system adjusts. If you have any concerns at all, please contact the clinic.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
The number of treatments someone requires varies depending on what we are working on, how long the issue has been present, and each person’s unique constitution. As a general guide:
- Acute conditions: 3–5 treatments is ideal.
- Chronic conditions: 6–8 treatments is common. For some long-standing conditions that cannot be fully resolved, ongoing care can help manage symptoms, improve quality of life, and support the body’s natural balance.
Why Treatment Frequency Matters
Acupuncture works cumulatively — each session builds on the one before it.
To gain the best momentum at the beginning of your care, it is ideal to start with two sessions per week for the first one to two weeks.
As your body begins to shift and symptoms improve, we gradually space treatments out:
- Once per week
- Then once every two weeks
- For optimal health, many patients choose monthly Acupuncture treatments for maintenance and long-term support
This progression helps us maintain forward movement rather than spacing sessions too far apart, which can allow symptoms to return or progress to slow.
Supporting Your Healing Between Visits
Part of our treatment plan includes simple things you can do between sessions to support your body’s healing process. This may include lifestyle adjustments, herbal formula support, or gentle self-care practices.
Most importantly, we honour your body’s innate awareness and healing wisdom — and trust that it will unfold in its own timing.
Ready to Book?
If you feel called to experience this style of care for yourself, we invite you to book an appointment and make our clinic your place to rest, relax and heal.
Click here to book online or call us on 0448000957