Clinic Policies

We are committed to providing you with a professional, safe, and therapeutic experience. We appreciate your respect for our time, policies, and procedures. Please review the policies below and feel free to let us know if you have any questions. 

Scope of Practice

Journey to Wellness practitioners provide services within the scope of their professional licenses, training, and certifications, including acupuncture, massage therapy/bodywork, Thai bodywork, Reiki, and applicable ancillary therapies.

Our practitioners do not diagnose Western medical conditions or advise patients to discontinue or change medications or treatment plans prescribed by their medical providers. When a condition or concern requires evaluation or treatment outside our scope of practice, we may recommend that you consult your physician or another appropriate healthcare provider.

We are happy to collaborate with other members of your healthcare team when appropriate.

Health Information & Changes

Please provide complete and accurate health information on your intake forms and inform your practitioner of any changes to your health, medications, pregnancy status, injuries, surgeries, diagnoses, or other conditions that may affect your care.

Certain health conditions, medications, illnesses, injuries, or other circumstances may require us to modify, postpone, or avoid particular treatments or recommend medical evaluation before proceeding.

Your practitioner relies on the health information you provide to determine whether treatment can be provided safely and appropriately.

Patient Rights & Responsibilities

You have the right to a clean, safe, comfortable, respectful, and professional treatment environment and to be treated with dignity and without discrimination. Journey to Wellness strives to create a welcoming and compassionate space where people of diverse ages, backgrounds, cultures, identities, abilities, and life experiences feel valued and respected.

We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate accessibility, communication, privacy, and comfort needs, including the needs of individuals with physical, visual, or auditory impairments. We will respect your name and pronouns and use professional, non-sexualized language. Please let us know of any specific needs or accommodations that may help you feel safe and comfortable receiving care.

You are responsible for providing accurate and complete health information and for communicating your treatment goals, preferences, concerns, and changes in your condition. We ask that patients also respect our practitioners, staff, other patients, clinic environment, and policies.

Consent & Treatment Communication

Your practitioner will review the planned treatment with you as appropriate and obtain consent before treatment. You may ask questions, request modifications, decline any technique or area of treatment, or stop treatment at any time.

Please communicate during your session if anything feels uncomfortable or if you would like changes to pressure, positioning, temperature, draping, products, techniques, or other aspects of your treatment.

Your practitioner may modify, postpone, or discontinue treatment when a health or safety concern, contraindication, inappropriate conduct, or other circumstance makes continuing treatment inadvisable.

Privacy

Journey to Wellness respects the privacy and confidentiality of your personal and health information. Information is maintained, used, and disclosed in accordance with our Notice of Privacy Practices and applicable law.

Professional Boundaries & Draping

All treatment is provided within appropriate professional boundaries. Sexual conduct, sexualized behavior, harassment, or requests for sexual services are strictly prohibited and may result in immediate termination of the session and/or the therapeutic relationship.

Appropriate draping is used during treatments requiring clothing to be removed. Only the area being treated will be uncovered as necessary, and your privacy and comfort will be respected.

Treatment may appropriately involve areas such as the chest/pectoral region, abdomen, low back, hips, or gluteal region when clinically relevant and with your consent. Genital areas are not treated.

Some acupuncture points may be located near sensitive areas. Your practitioner will discuss these with you as appropriate and obtain consent before proceeding.

You may decline treatment of any area or request additional draping or modification at any time.

Minors

A parent or legal guardian is responsible for providing medical information, consent to treatment, and payment. We will also seek the minor's assent before and during treatment as appropriate. A parent or legal guardian may remain in the treatment room and is encouraged to do so during the first visit. After the first visit, the parent/guardian and minor may decide together whether the parent/guardian remains in the treatment room. A parent or legal guardian must remain in the clinic suite while the minor is receiving treatment. 

Caregivers

When a caregiver or legally authorized representative assists with a patient's care, we will work with the patient and caregiver as appropriate while respecting the patient's rights and ability to participate in decisions about their care. When another person has legal authority to provide consent or health information on the patient's behalf, appropriate documentation may be requested.

We will seek the patient's assent and participation whenever possible. If a patient requires assistance with dressing, undressing, transferring to or from the treatment table, or repositioning, the caregiver is responsible for providing that assistance. Journey to Wellness practitioners are unable to lift or transfer patients.

Please let us know in advance if the patient may have difficulty getting on or off the treatment table so that we can reserve our adjustable-height table when available. A caregiver may remain in the treatment room and must remain in the clinic suite when their assistance may be needed.

Appointment Arrival & Late Starts

Your scheduled time is the start time of your session, so please arrive a few minutes early for your scheduled appointment time to allow for a calm, relaxed, and unrushed experience. This allows time to use the restroom and discuss any health changes or treatment preferences before your session begins. If you arrive late, your service may be shortened to keep us on schedule. You will still be charged the full rate for your scheduled appointment. 

In-Session Communication & Clinic Environment

You are welcome to talk, ask questions, or rest quietly during your treatment. Please feel comfortable speaking up at any time about your comfort, treatment preferences, or anything you would like modified.

Because more than one patient may be receiving care in the clinic, we ask everyone to help maintain a quiet and peaceful environment. Please silence your cell phone while in the suite and limit calls during treatment whenever possible.

General Communication

Appointments and required forms are managed through the Journey to Wellness patient portal, Noterro. Appointment reminders are generally automated; please do not reply directly to automated text or email reminders.

To contact the office, please call or text 847-750-4325 or email jen@gojourneytowellness.com. Other care-related communication, appointment availability, or resources may also be sent electronically. Please let us know if you have a preferred method of communication.

Cancellation/ Rescheduling / No-Shows

A minimum of 24 hours' notice is required to cancel or reschedule an appointment.

Cancellations or rescheduling requests made with less than 24 hours' notice, as well as missed appointments, may be charged:

Acupuncture: 50% of the scheduled service fee
Massage Therapy/Bodywork: 100% of the scheduled service fee

We understand that illness, emergencies, and unexpected circumstances occur, and exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.

Please do not come to your appointment if you are experiencing fever, vomiting, diarrhea, a known contagious illness, or other symptoms that may make in-person treatment inappropriate. Contact the office as soon as possible so we can determine whether your appointment should be rescheduled. If you are unsure whether you should attend, please contact us before your appointment.

Journey to Wellness may occasionally need to reschedule an appointment due to practitioner illness, emergency, unsafe conditions, or other circumstances beyond our control. We will provide as much notice as reasonably possible.

Payment

Payment is due at the time services are provided. We accept cash, check, electronic payment methods, Journey to Wellness gift certificates, and applicable prepaid Journey to Wellness service credits or packages. 

Gift Certificates

Journey to Wellness gift certificates do not expire and may be used toward eligible services at the practice. The original purchase value of a gift certificate will not be reduced due to non-use or the passage of time.

If a gift certificate was purchased for a specific service and the price of that service later increases, the certificate will retain its original purchase value and the recipient may apply that value toward the current price of the service.

Gift certificates are non-refundable and are not redeemable for cash except as required by law. Gift certificates may not be combined with other promotional offers unless otherwise stated.

No Tipping Policy

Journey to Wellness maintains a no-tipping policy for all services. We consider acupuncture, massage therapy, and bodywork part of your healthcare and prefer that you use those funds toward the care you need.

If you would like to support our practice, referrals and reviews are always appreciated.