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    BUILD BALANCE

    Acupuncture • Chinese + Western Herbal Medicine • Self-Care • Nutritional Support • Cupping

    A HOLISTIC APPROACH

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    Stop pain. Strengthen immunity. Manage stress.

    Michele is a licensed acupuncturist and integrative health practitioner who helps people heal the physical and emotional concerns that are limiting their lives. She combines ancient and modern modalities including acupuncture, Chinese & Western herbs, and nutrition to engage the body’s own healing abilities and restore balance. Michele believes the strongest patient-practitioner relationship is a collaborative one, infused with compassion, education, and a healthy dose of humor. Tailoring her treatments to each individual’s unique presentation, she has successfully managed a variety of concerns including:

    • acute and chronic pain 

    • IBS and gut imbalances 

    • anti-aging

    • dysmenorrhea

    • stress & anxiety

    • insomnia

    • fatigue
       

    Michele also enjoys counseling patients on preventive, longevity and self-care practices. You can read more about her background here

    APPROACH

    "When you touch one thing with deep awareness,
    you touch everything."  — Lao Tzu

    SERVICES

    SERVICES & APPOINTMENTS

    Treatment options facilitate healing and provide flexibility to fit your schedule & budget. Personalized treatment plans will vary but acute cases typically require participation in 1–2 treatments per week and ongoing maintenance is maximized with treatment every 3–4 weeks. Generally speaking, the more chronic a condition, the longer the treatment plan. Most patients notice improvements within 4–6 treatments. 

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    ​​The clinic is open Monday - Friday and some Saturdays by appointment.

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    NEW PATIENTS
    ACUPUNCTURE
    MANUAL THERAPY
    LOW-LEVEL LASER ACUPUNCTURE
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    CHINESE & WESTERN
    HERBAL MEDICINE

    A complimentary phone consultation is available to learn more about each other and discuss any questions you may have about treatment. Please note a 15-30 minute Intake Assessment is required for all new patients to give us an opportunity for intake, health history and connection. Contact us to book either of these appointments. â€‹

    Phone Consultation: $0

    Initial Assessment: $30

    Acupuncture is an ancient, holistic medicine that regulates the nervous system, improves circulation and invites the body toward homeostasis and healing. While primarily used to treat pain in the West, it is a full-body medicine that also beautifully addresses internal conditions and mental health. Manual and light therapies, lifestyle recommendations and herbal support are included in 60min and 90min appointments. Learn more

    30 - 90 minutes

    $50 - $135

    Manual therapies like cupping and gua sha improve blood and lymph flow, relieve musculature and relieve pain. Learn more.

    20 - 40 minutes

    $35 - $65

    Low-level light therapy is a powerful non-invasive option that reduces pain and inflammation and speeds healing. Learn more

    15 minutes

    $25

    Receive a personalized program of Chinese herbs, nutritional supplements and lifestyle & dietary recommendations to support your healing journey. Learn more

    30 minutes

    $45

    New Patients

    NEW PATIENTS

    Your initial appointment will include an in-depth review of your health history as well as the primary concerns which have prompted your visit.

     

    Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views the mind, body, and spirit as one, interconnected unit. Symptoms and conditions that may appear unrelated can have an important causative link. The questions we go over may seem more in-depth than conventional medical appointments, but rest assured, they are important to our holistic approach.

     

    Once you are comfortably positioned, your treatment will begin with the gentle insertion of hair-fine, single-use sterile needles. While patients often don't even feel the insertion, it is common to feel a heaviness or slight tingle in the area. Needles are typically retained for 30–45 minutes in a peaceful, relaxing setting. Depending on your symptoms and treatment goals, additional TCM modalities including cupping, gua sha, and herbal medicine may be used.

     

    Please feel free to bring up any questions or concerns you may have before, during, or after treatment—the most successful patient-practitioner relationships are collaborative. 

    PAYMENT & INSURANCE

    • Payment is due at the time of service, unless a prior arrangement has been made. If you are experiencing hardship, let's talk about how we can fit acupuncture into your budget.

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    • I accept credit card, cash, check as well as flexible spending and health savings account cards.

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    • I offer comprehensive insurance billing! I will verify your coverage, submit your claim after each treatment and follow up with the provider if there are any questions about the claim. I will handle all of the paperwork. Claims are typically processed within 60-90 days. If you would like to submit the claim yourself, I can also provide a superbill. 

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    • I am currently out of network with the following plans: United Health Care, Cigna, Great West, Optum Health, Aetna, Blue Cross Anthem and Blue Shield. Please check back for updates! In the meantime I can contact your insurance company to confirm your benefits and file your out-of-network claims.

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    • While I am happy to file and track insurance claims, please remember that your insurance policy is an agreement between you and your insurer and, ultimately, responsibility for payment falls with you, the patient. I do not guarantee that insurance will pay your claim. Any costs for services that are not paid by your insurer are your responsibility. Patients who use insurance will need to provide a credit card authorization which will be kept on file and only used as a last resort to recover unpaid balances. 

    APPOINTMENT TIPS
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    • Complimentary phone or email consultations are available to decide if we are a good fit
       

    • Insurance accepted! If you would like to confirm your insurance benefits prior to booking an appointment, contact me with your policy information and I will get back to you in a couple of days. 

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    • Upon booking, you'll receive an email with a link to complete New Patient paperwork. Please take the time to submit this prior to your appointment. If you are unable to complete this electronically, let me know and we will build it into your treatment. You will also be invited to create an online account with my booking system so you can book and reschedule appointments online. Our Privacy Policy is available here.
       

    • Wear loose-fitting clothing that can be easily lifted to expose arms and legs; many patients like to bring a pair of shorts to change into but gowns are also available
       

    • It is best to have a small meal or snack a couple of hours before your treatment

    Payment & Insurance

    GET IN TOUCH

    Michele M. Cushner, LAc.

    2179 Harbor Bay Parkway

    Alameda, CA 94502

    hello@michelecushner.com

    (510) 474-1004

    Thanks! Message sent.

    CONTACT

    © 2020 Michele M. Cushner, LAc.

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