Question 1

Where did you receive your acupuncture training?

Accepted Answer

Roxanne earned her Doctorate Degree in Acupuncture from Pacific College of Health and Science (San Diego). She earned her Master's Degree in Acupuncture from New England School of Acupuncture (NESA) at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) in Worcester, MA at the top of her class. She is fully licensed to practice acupuncture through the Board of Registration in Medicine in Massachusetts and is a Diplomate of Acupuncture, board-certified through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).
 
Roxanne's acupuncture experience includes assistantships and internships at the following clinics:
 
Laurel Wellness, Watertown, MA
Acupuncture Connections, Framingham, MA
UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veteran's Hospital, Bedford, MA
The New England School of Acupuncture Student Clinic, Newton, MA
The New England School of Acupuncture/MCPHS Student Clinic, Worcester, MA

Question 2

How exactly does acupuncture work?

Accepted Answer

There are a number of theories for the mechanisms by which acupuncture works. Below is a sampling of some of these concepts, simplified:
 
1.) Stimulates production of endorphins (the bodies feel good chemical messengers)
 
2.) Stimulates circulation, allowing for oxygenation of blood, removal of toxins from the body and healing
 
3.) Activates the immune system, as the body responds to the micro-trauma of the skin being needled
 
4.) Activates the parasympathetic system (the "rest and digest" branch of the nervous system), helping to counterbalance the sympathetic system (the "fight, flight or freeze" branch of the nervous system)
 
5.) Regulates the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, which controls the human stress response via the central nervous and endocrine systems
 
6.) Reduces inflammation by releasing chemicals that calm allergic and overly-active immune responses
 
The overarching theme is that acupuncture stimulates the body in order to regain its ideal level of balance (aka homeostasis). It activates those beneficial functions that may be sluggish and de-activates responses that may be keeping an individual from experiencing their full health potential. And for this, its applications are incredibly far-reaching, treating the symptoms of most ailments you may imagine. When the body is in balance, symptoms of all sorts are lessened or eradicated completely.

Question 3

Do you have an acupuncture specialty?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! Mental and emotional wellness, stress management, and spiritual connection are all specialities at this clinic. We also cater to needle-sensitive patients by using highly gentle needling styles, few needles and/or non-insertive methods. Additionally, we specialize in creating a number of options for the environment in which you receive treatments - be it private one-on-one sessions, private sessions with a loved one, and semi-private or group acupuncture in our community room.
 
Your practitioner views mental and emotional wellness as a top priority for any kind of healing. Her educational background includes degrees in Social Services (A.A.), Mental Health & Human Services (B.S.), Counseling Psychology (M.A.), Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.S.) and specialized trainings in Hypnotherapy. In fact, her philosophy on health suggests that the origin of most imbalances start in the more subtle energies of the individual, beyond the physical body. Therefore, she focuses much of her treatments on addressing these levels of relevance. In addition to focusing on mental/emotional wellness and stress management, she is highly passionate about supporting individuals seeking greater spiritual connection.
 
A misconception with acupuncture is that you must have "problems" in order to seek treatment, however, acupuncture is an AMAZING tool towards enhancing an already healthy lifestyle. Most of us are affected by stress in one area or many, and our treatments can help mitigate the unwanted side effects of participating in this modern world.

Question 4

What do the acupuncture needles feel like? Do they hurt?

Accepted Answer

The acupuncture needles used at Bliss Body are among the thinnest and most high quality on the market. Your practitioner uses a minimal needle approach and is known for her incredibly gentle style of acupuncture. That said, every person experiences needling differently. You may or may not feel when the needles are inserted. It is common to feel sensations once needles are in place (tingling, heaviness, itching, achiness, etc. are all possible sensations - and also good signs of a healing response!), but any painful sensations may be easily remedied by adjusting or removing the needles. You are an active participant in your session and it is our goal to support your health goals without unnecessary discomfort. We encourage lots of open communication about how you are experiencing acupuncture, as this helps us better tailor treatments to suit you.
 
Generally speaking, acupuncture is tolerated exceptionally well and is a very relaxing experience, with virtually no unpleasant side effects.
 
You may also opt for non-needle treatment of acupuncture points as an alternative!

Question 5

How many acupuncture treatments will I need?

Accepted Answer

​Treatment plans vary from weekly or monthly maintenance visits when your health is in good balance, to recommendations of multiple sessions per week for acute or long-standing, chronic conditions. You will receive frequency of visit recommendations at your initial appointment.
 
It's important to remember that we require maintenance as human beings. If you lead a particularly stressful lifestyle or have symptoms related to something you are exposed to on a regular basis, treatments may need to be more frequent to keep you in tip-top shape!

Question 6

What is the best way to schedule an appointment?

Accepted Answer

The best way for a new patient to make an appointment is submitting the contact form below or emailing us at blissbodybalance@outlook.com.
 
Contact Form(https://www.blissbodybalance.com/contact)
 
You will receive an invite to join the patient portal, where you will find the required paperwork to complete before your first appointment.
 
Once an established patient, subsequent appointments may be scheduled in person or through the patient portal/email.
 
We do not schedule appointments by text, and phone calls may take up to 2 business days to be returned, so we highly recommend email as a means for contact and scheduling.

Question 7

What forms of payment do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept cash, all major credit cards, Venmo or PayPal at time of service.

Question 8

Do you accept insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We currently accept Blue Cross Blue Shield and Mass General Brigham Health Plan as an in-network provider.
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In addition, we accept any insurance plan that has out-of-network provider coverage.
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Every insurance plan is highly individualized and we strive to uncomplicate the process by helping determine what types of conditions are covered by your plan, as well as number of allowable annual visits and any out-of-pocket costs there may be, if any (i.e. co-pay, co-insurance, deductible).
 
Please click the insurance verification link below and fill out the associated form to verify if your plan covers our services. We will get back to you as soon as we retrieve your coverage information (usually no later than 3 business days).
 
Insurance Verification Form(https://portal.holbie.com/form/BBL/BBL)
 
In the event your insurance does not cover the services you are looking to receive at our practice, you may also consider using a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flex Spending Account (FSA), should you have a plan that covers acupuncture services.
 
We have a number of very affordable options for acupuncture at our clinic, some of which may cost less than an insurance co-pay, so please don't be deterred if your insurance plan doesn't provide adequate coverage. We do our best to make sure every person has access to acupuncture services.

Question 9

What are your office policies?

Accepted Answer

You will receive a fully detailed copy of our office polices when you complete your initial paperwork. Some important policies to note are as follows:
 
Appointment Cancellations: If you are unable to give 24-hour advance notice of a cancellation or are a "no-show", you will be charged the full amount of the scheduled session. (Emergencies will be handled on an individual basis)
 
Late Arrivals: If you are a late arrival, your session will be shortened so as to accommodate others whom may have appointments following yours. You will still be charged for the full session. (Please plan accordingly so that you will arrive on time)
 
Holidays/Weather/Emergencies: There are times your practitioner may not be available due to vacations or holidays. We will inform you of these occurrences well in advance. In the event of an emergency or inclement weather, we will do our best to inform you in a most timely manner.

Question 10

What safety protocols are in place at your clinic?

Accepted Answer

We have always held to the highest standards of cleanliness in our clinic. We are a medical practice and your practitioner is licensed through the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine.
 
We request that if you are exhibiting flu-like symptoms or have a known contagious illness or exposure to such, that you refrain from coming in for treatments until your symptoms have fully resolved. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our clinic and community safe!

FAQs