Jonathan Shubs
Acupuncture Lausanne
How I work
There is no fixed script, but a first visit usually unfolds like this.
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We start with you
I ask what brings you here, and I listen. Take as long as you need.
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Getting to know you
I ask about what brought you in, and about your health in general. Chinese medicine is holistic, so we take every part of your experience into account to understand the underlying issue. That is why some questions may seem unrelated to your symptoms. Often they are not. I am also curious about you as a person: where you grew up, how you live, what your days are like, and what brings you joy. I practise Compassionate Inquiry®, the approach developed by Dr Gabor Maté, and it shapes how I listen.
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The treatment
Then I invite you into the treatment room, and you lie down. I may use some of the diagnostic tools of Chinese medicine, which can include reading the face, feeling the abdomen and taking the pulse. I place the needles and leave you to rest for 30 to 50 minutes, depending on how long we have talked.
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Where we go from here
Afterwards you get dressed and we sit down again. We talk about what comes next, and whether you would like to continue. Some people come for acupuncture alone. You can say as much or as little as you like.
Common questions
Does it hurt?
As the needle goes in, you may feel a slight sting, like a mosquito bite, or a dull sensation. After that, you shouldn't feel anything. If you do, just tell me, and I'll adjust it so you're comfortable.
What happens at the first visit?
It lasts about 80 minutes. It begins with listening: you tell me what brings you here, as much or as little as you like. Then comes a health assessment and an acupuncture treatment, and afterwards we talk about next steps together.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on each person. Acupuncture gives the body information that needs reinforcing over time. We talk about it together after the first visit.
Is it covered by insurance?
Most supplementary health insurance plans reimburse acupuncture sessions. I am recognised by ASCA and RME, and a member of NVS and APS-MTC. Please check with your insurer.
Do I have to choose between acupuncture and Compassionate Inquiry®?
No. Some people come for acupuncture alone, others also want to talk. We decide together, based on what's present.
Are sessions in English?
Yes, in English and French. The clinic is on the 5th floor, with a lift and no steps.
“Be patient toward all that is unresolved in your heart, and try to love the questions themselves.”
“Who can make muddy water clear? Let it be still, and it will slowly become clear.”
Ready when you are.
There is no wrong place to begin.