Download & Print
Prefer paper? Download the new patient packet as a PDF, print it at home, and fill it in at your own pace.
- New patient intake & health history
- Insurance & payment information
- Consent & privacy forms
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Trying acupuncture for the first time can feel unfamiliar — so here is exactly how your first appointment with us unfolds, step by step. No surprises, no rushing. Just a calm, unhurried visit built around listening to you first.
- Plan for about 60–90 minutes
- Forms can be done ahead of time
- Long Beach, CA
Before You Arrive: Your Intake Forms
Every new patient completes a short set of intake forms — your health history, current concerns, and consent paperwork. Filling them out ahead of time means your appointment can start with a conversation, not a clipboard.
Fill Out Online
More comfortable typing? Complete the same intake forms securely online, from your phone or computer, before you come in.
- Takes about 10–15 minutes
- Sent directly to our clinic — nothing to print
- We review it before your appointment
Didn't get to the forms beforehand? No problem at all — arrive about 15 minutes early and you can complete them in our waiting room.
Your Visit, Step by Step
Here is how a first appointment at JP Acupuncture & Wellness typically flows. Not every step applies to every patient — Dr. Pak tailors the visit to what you need.
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Paperwork & Consultation
We begin by going over your intake forms together. You'll describe your concern in your own words — where it is, how it feels, and when it started — along with your overall health history. This conversation shapes everything that follows, so nothing about it is rushed.
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Posture Check If needed
For pain and musculoskeletal concerns, Dr. Pak may assess your posture — how you stand, sit, and hold yourself. Posture often reveals imbalances that contribute to pain in the neck, back, shoulders, and joints.
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New to Acupuncture? First-timers
If this is your first experience with acupuncture, we'll explain what it is, how it works, and what the needles actually feel like (far gentler than most people expect). Ask anything — there are no silly questions.
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Meet the Tools
Before any treatment begins, we'll show you and explain anything we may use — such as electroacupuncture (a gentle electrical pulse through the needles), our indirect moxibustion device (soothing warmth without smoke or direct heat on the skin), and cupping. You'll never be surprised by a tool you haven't seen first.
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Into the Treatment Room
You'll settle into a private treatment room and get comfortable on the table. Depending on the areas being treated, we may offer you a gown to change into — your comfort and privacy always come first.
One of our private treatment rooms — quiet, warm, and ready for you. -
Pulse Diagnosis & Balance Check If needed
For patients who need it, Dr. Pak reads the pulse at your wrist — a cornerstone of traditional diagnosis that offers clues about how your body is functioning as a whole — and checks your body's balance. If posture or muscle imbalance is part of the picture, we may re-check those areas once more before treatment.
Pulse diagnosis helps guide a treatment plan made for you — not a one-size-fits-all protocol. -
Your Treatment Usually 30–40 minutes
Then it's time to rest while the acupuncture does its work. A typical treatment lasts 30 to 40 minutes. We don't rush this part — we take the time your treatment calls for. When we use Pulse Regulating Acupuncture, which includes re-checking your pulse during treatment, a session may run about an hour.
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After Treatment
Once the needles are out, we'll check in: how did that feel? Any questions before you go? Then, if there's a payment or copay, we'll take care of it at the front desk and schedule your next visit before you head home.
Coming to Us Through ASH?
If your health plan is on your insurance card alongside the name ASH — American Specialty Health, your acupuncture benefits are administered by ASH rather than directly by your insurer. It's common, and it changes very little about your visit — but it does involve benefit verification and, for some plans, authorization. Our guide explains how it works, and we verify your benefits before your first appointment so there are no surprises.
Questions First-Time Patients Ask
Most patients are surprised by how gentle it is. Acupuncture needles are hair-thin — much finer than the needles used for injections — and most people feel little more than a brief, mild sensation as each needle is placed. Once they're in, many patients drift off to sleep during treatment.
It depends on your condition and how long it has been present. Acute issues may improve within a few sessions, while chronic conditions usually respond best to a series of treatments. At your first visit, after your consultation and pulse diagnosis, Dr. Pak will give you an honest recommendation — including whether acupuncture is a good fit for you at all.
Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing works best, so sleeves and pant legs can be rolled up easily. If we need access to your back, shoulders, or hips, we'll provide a gown for you to change into — you'll always be properly draped and comfortable.
Yes — please have a light meal or snack an hour or two before your visit. Arriving on a completely empty stomach can leave you feeling light-headed during treatment, and a very heavy meal is best avoided too. A normal, modest meal is just right.
We accept most insurance plans, including many that administer acupuncture benefits through ASH (American Specialty Health). Call us with your insurance information and we'll verify your benefits before your first visit — your coverage, copay, and number of covered visits — so you know exactly what to expect. Self-pay options are also available.
Ready to Book Your First Visit?
We'd love to meet you. Call the clinic or book online — and if you can, take ten minutes to complete your intake forms before you arrive.
Open Hours
Mon – Fri9 AM – 7 PMSatBy appointment only
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