Frequently Asked Questions
Does it hurt? How many visits? Will insurance cover it? Everything people ask before their first appointment at our Clearwater clinic, answered plainly and without a sales pitch.
Start here
If you only read one thing on this page, read these.
Needles are hair-thin — most patients feel little to nothing, and many fall asleep during treatment.
Read the full answer →Most people notice change in 3–6 sessions. You get an estimate up front, not visit by visit.
Read the full answer →Many plans now include acupuncture, and HSA/FSA funds apply. We give you clear pricing first.
Read the full answer →A real conversation and an exam before any needles — then a plan built around your goal.
Read the full answer →What it feels like, what happens first, and how long it takes.
Most people feel little to nothing. Acupuncture needles are hair-thin — far smaller than an injection needle. You may notice pressure, warmth, or a brief dull ache, which is a normal sign the nervous system is responding. Most patients relax deeply during treatment, and many fall asleep.
Dr. Kim talks with you about all of your health concerns first — what hurts, when it started, what you have already tried, and what your daily life demands of your body. Give her as much detail as you can, even things that may not seem connected. After that conversation, treatment begins, tailored to the plan you agree on together.
It varies by person and condition. Many patients notice change within 3–6 sessions. Longstanding issues such as peripheral neuropathy typically benefit from 8–12 sessions over 6–8 weeks. Once your treatment plan is designed, Dr. Kim gives you an approximate number of visits so you are never guessing.
At every visit your practitioner asks questions and makes observations. That information is used to identify the nature of one or several co-existing patterns — which is what the treatment is then built around.
Your physician should be nationally certified and licensed by the state in which they practice. Ask about certifications, experience with your specific condition, and how progress will be measured. Don't be afraid to ask questions — your comfort should be your doctor's priority.
What we actually do in the treatment room, and why.
Neuropuncture® is a neuroscience-based form of acupuncture that uses nerve and motor-point targeting, often paired with electrical stimulation, to influence how the nervous system processes pain and function. Rather than chasing symptoms, it works on the mechanism behind them. Dr. Kim is a Certified Neuropuncturist®.
A complete menu of services that work as individual treatments or pair together as part of one plan:
Traditional Chinese Medicine has been cultivated through 5,000 years of continuous application. Treatments are structured not only to relieve current symptoms, but to address the root of the imbalance — reducing the likelihood that the symptoms return.
SAAT (Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment) is a non-invasive auricular protocol designed to help retrain the immune system's response to a specific allergen. It is most often sought for alpha-gal syndrome after a lone star tick bite. Dr. Kim trained directly under its founder and is one of the few certified SAAT providers in the country.
Yes. Acupuncture is used alongside conventional medical care, not instead of it. Never stop a prescribed medication without speaking to the provider who prescribed it — and tell Dr. Kim what you're taking so your plan accounts for it.
What patients most often come in for — and what the research supports.
Most definitely. Stress and anxiety activate the body's fight-or-flight response, while acupuncture stimulates the opposing rest-and-digest, or parasympathetic, system. In this way an anxious mind is quieted.
It certainly does. Acupuncture activates the production of both serotonin and dopamine — the brain's “happy chemicals” — and stimulates the body's own naturally occurring opioids, which not only regulate pain but are partly responsible for managing emotional response. In this way, acupuncture can help balance mood.
Yes. Acupuncture works in conjunction with conventional methods to stop smoking, and also as a stand-alone treatment. It is beneficial in reducing cravings and inducing relaxation.
These are two of the most common reasons patients come to us. Acupuncture is recommended as a first-line, non-drug option for chronic low-back pain by the American College of Physicians, and Neuropuncture®'s nerve-targeted approach is used for numbness, tingling, and burning in the hands and feet — including diabetic and chemotherapy-related neuropathy.
Progress is measured, not guessed at. Dr. Kim sets a specific goal with you at the start — pain level, sleep quality, function, or symptom frequency — and re-checks it as you go. If the plan isn't producing change, it gets adjusted or she'll tell you honestly that acupuncture isn't the right fit.
Trying to conceive, pregnancy, labor, and the months after.
Acupuncture during pregnancy is considered safe with few risks. Those risks are minimized when treatments are provided by a trained, licensed acupuncture physician who uses appropriate point selection and proper technique.
Acupuncture for both male and female infertility is a commonly recognized complementary treatment for couples trying to get pregnant. Pairing regular treatments with dietary supplements has been shown to support fertility, and many fertility clinics recommend acupuncture alongside conventional treatments such as IVF and IUI.
During the nine months of pregnancy there is so much going on inside the mother's body that her qi is easily disrupted — which looks like morning sickness, nausea, and heartburn. Later in pregnancy, the growing fetus can cause low back and pelvic pain as well as fluid retention. Regular acupuncture treatments are effective in relieving these symptoms.
During labor, acupuncture can be used for pain relief, as a calming technique, and to keep contractions going if labor slows or stalls. It may also shorten the duration of labor as it helps the mother's mind and body balance. Studies have shown women who had acupuncture during labor reported less pain and significantly higher levels of relaxation than those who did not.
One of the greatest difficulties many new mothers face is post-partum depression. Acupuncture not only increases levels of serotonin and dopamine, but may also help restore a neuroprotective protein that is depleted in those experiencing depression. It has also been shown to increase milk production for women seeking lactation support.
The practical details — cost, scheduling, and finding us.
Many plans now include acupuncture benefits, particularly for pain. HSA and FSA funds can be applied to treatment. Call us at (727) 490-6060 and we'll walk you through your options and give you clear pricing before you commit to anything.
No referral is required in Florida. If you already have a diagnosis, imaging, or lab work, bring it — Dr. Kim coordinates with your physician whenever it helps your care.
Plan on about 45–60 minutes for your visit; the first appointment runs a little longer because of the consultation and exam. Request an appointment online or call the clinic directly.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing that can move above the elbow and knee. Eat something beforehand — don't come on a completely empty stomach — and bring a list of your medications, supplements, and any recent imaging or labs.
Acupuncture of West Florida · 3001 Executive Drive, Suite 150, Clearwater, FL 33762. We serve Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and Tampa, with free on-site parking. Get directions →
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If your question isn't here, it's probably a good one. Send it over or call the clinic — you'll get a straight answer about whether we can help, at no cost and with no obligation.
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