Recovery support · Clearwater, FL
Acupuncture for Cravings and Recovery Support in Clearwater, FL
Auricular acupuncture used as supportive care for cravings, stress, restlessness and sleep — alongside your own recovery program or quit plan. Request an appointment below. HSA and FSA accepted, free on-site parking.
A calm, coordinated approach
The hardest part of changing a habit is rarely the decision. It is the days afterward — the cravings that arrive without warning, the restlessness, the short fuse, and the nights where sleep does not come.
At Acupuncture of West Florida in Clearwater, Dr. Kim Windschauer, AP offers auricular (ear) acupuncture as supportive care during that window. It is used widely in recovery settings for exactly this: taking the edge off, settling the nervous system, and helping people sleep while the rest of the work happens.
This is supportive care, not a treatment program. We do not diagnose or treat substance use disorders and we do not prescribe or change medication. We work alongside your physician, counselor, or program — and we will say plainly at your consultation whether we think we can help.
What we treat
What people come in for
- Cravings and urges during early change
- Restlessness, agitation, or a short fuse
- Trouble falling or staying asleep
- Anxiety and stress that trigger old habits
- Support while quitting tobacco or vaping
- Low mood and low energy during recovery
- Support alongside a counseling or treatment program
Why us
Why patients in Clearwater choose us
- Dr. Kim Windschauer, AP — licensed Florida acupuncture physician with more than a decade in practice in Clearwater.
- Auricular protocols used in recovery settings, delivered in a quiet, unhurried, private room.
- Honest scope: supportive care alongside your program, never a replacement for medical or behavioral treatment.
- A written plan with session count and cost at your first visit — no open-ended packages.
- Convenient Clearwater location at 3001 Executive Drive with free on-site parking.
Our approach
How treatment works
Consultation
A conversation about what you are working on, what care you already have in place, and whether supportive acupuncture is a reasonable fit. Honest answer before you book treatment.
Auricular session
Fine needles at a small set of ear points in a calm, seated session, typically 30 to 45 minutes.
Body acupuncture as needed
Optional supportive points for sleep, anxiety, digestion, or tension, depending on what is hardest for you that week.
Review and taper
Frequent early sessions, then a reassessment and a step-down plan as things settle.
The research
Evidence & guidelines
Auricular acupuncture has been used as adjunctive support in addiction and recovery settings since the 1970s, most commonly as the standardized NADA five-point ear protocol. Research on outcomes is mixed and it is best understood as supportive care for symptoms such as craving intensity, anxiety, and sleep, used alongside counseling, medical care, and recovery programs rather than in place of them.
Areas we serve
Serving West Florida
Patients travel to our Clearwater clinic from across Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay region, including:
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the NADA ear acupuncture protocol?+
The NADA protocol is a standardized five-point auricular (ear) acupuncture treatment used in addiction and recovery settings since the 1970s. It is delivered in a calm, seated session and is used as supportive care alongside counseling, medical treatment, or a recovery program — not as a replacement for any of them.
Can acupuncture help me quit smoking?+
Many people use acupuncture as support while quitting tobacco, most often for cravings, irritability, restlessness, and sleep. Evidence for acupuncture as a standalone smoking-cessation treatment is mixed, so we are honest about that at your consultation and encourage combining it with a cessation plan from your physician or a quit-line program.
Does this replace my treatment program or medication?+
No. Acupuncture here is supportive care. We do not diagnose or treat substance use disorders, we do not prescribe or adjust medication, and we never advise anyone to stop a prescribed treatment. We are glad to work alongside your physician, counselor, or recovery program.
What does a session feel like?+
Ear acupuncture uses very fine needles placed at a small number of points. Most people describe brief pressure and then a settled, drowsy calm. Sessions typically run 30 to 45 minutes, often seated and quiet.
How many sessions do people usually have?+
In recovery settings the protocol is commonly used frequently in the early weeks, then tapered. Dr. Kim will give you an honest plan with a session count at your first visit rather than an open-ended package.
Is this confidential?+
Yes. Your visit and anything you share is kept private, the same as any other appointment at the clinic.
Do you take insurance?+
We are a self-pay practice. We provide a superbill you can submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement, and HSA and FSA cards are accepted. Call 727-490-6060 for current pricing.
Request an appointment
Send your details and we'll call you back — usually within 5 minutes during business hours.
Ready to feel better?
Book a consultation with Dr. Kim Windschauer, AP.
Book Consultation 727-490-6060Visit the clinic
3001 Executive Drive, Suite 150
Clearwater, FL 33762
Mon–Fri · By appointment
Ready to feel better — naturally?
Book a consultation with Dr. Kim Windschauer, AP. We'll listen to what's going on and tell you honestly whether acupuncture can help.
Ask whether supportive acupuncture fits your plan
Book a consultation with Dr. Kim. You will get an honest answer before you book any treatment.