INNERHEALTH Acupuncture & Counseling, Angela Pfaffenberger, Ph.D., LAc.

Chronic health problems can be a bewildering experience. You know you need help, but you don’t know where to turn for it and the choices you have to make can feel overwhelming. We understand that for many of our clients this may be their first foray into complementary medicine. We seek to establish a relationship with you where we both work together to achieve the level of health you want. We take the time to listen to you and understand your concerns. We take the time to answer your question - about procedures, what to expect, and how it works. We want you to feel confident about your choices and about our services.
 
Acupuncture treats the underlying condition as well as the presenting symptoms. It is a holistic system of healing that is over a thousand years old and has been supported by an increasing amount of scientific research. Hairfine needles are inserted into specific acupuncture points, which usually cause no discomfort. Clients describe the treatments as profoundly relaxing. If you are interested in receiving Chinese herbs or food supplements we will include those aspects into the treatment plan.

Client-centered psychotherapy is associated with the humanistic tradition in psychology. The treatments emphasize exploring what is personally right for you and address questions pertinent to motivation and change processes.

The combination of acupuncture and counseling provides a particular promising combination of modalities. Clients can receive counseling or acupuncture alone if they wish, or in combination during the same visit.

If you have questions about our services, feel free to call and ask to speak to the provider. Angela Pfaffenberger is available for brief phone consultations. 

 

INNERHEALTH Salem offers a community service day, including free weight loss acupuncture treatments on January 18th, 2010.
Appointments are required: 503 364 3022
The weight management program at INNERHEALTH does not emphasize diets, calorie reductions, or meal replacements. We do not believe that there is any one way of losing weight and maintaining the weight loss that is correct for everyone. We consider you a unique individual, and we evaluate together with you what would be a promising approach for you. We consider what has worked for you in the past, and why you feel you have previously failed to maintain the weight loss.

The weight loss program at INNERHEALTH is a multimodal treatment program. First, we assist you with counseling to address the above-mentioned issues. Second, we include acupuncture, which has shown to suppress appetite and reduce weight regardless of dietary adherence. Third, we discuss lifestyle issues, including food supplementation, exercise, sleep, and social support. We are committed to assisting you in changing the way you view your weight and the role of food in your life on a long-term basis. We want you to make a change that will allow you to maintain the bodyweight you always wanted.

If you are interested in reading a scientific study demonstrating the effect acupuncture has on weightloss, please click on this link:
http://www.medicalacupuncture.org/aama_marf/journal/vol14_2/article6.html

INNERHEALTH accepts most insurance plans. The length of the program and the associated costs are dependent on several factors, including how much weight you intend to use, and how severe the emotional problems are that you wish to address. Please call for further information; we offer free consultations to help you determine if this approach is right for you.

 

The treatment for nicotine dependence at INNERHEALTH is innovative in as far as it combines the benefits of acupuncture with the empirically supported strategies of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Both modalities are offered to the client in each session. The entire treatment strategy is based on recent research in regard to what works best for assisting individuals in their efforts to stop smoking. This research has shown that multiple modalities, when used concurrently, produce noticeably better results than any of their component parts.

Our approach is based on the evidence that acupuncture affects the neurotransmitters and consequently reduces cravings and anxiety. Clients can expect to feel more relaxed and confident about their results. CBT is an approach that teaches clients to work with their minds and engages them as active partners in the healing process. Usually the therapist will describe different exercises to the client, of which the client chooses one exercise to carry out as a homework assignment. Learning to become more actively engaged with their inner worlds enables clients to maintain abstinence and prevent relapse.

We encourage clients to start the treatments when they feel ready to quit and commit to this change in their lives. The program consists of 2 office visits a week for 3 consecutive weeks. We usually schedule treatments for Mondays and Thursdays, or Tuesdays and Fridays. The fee is $375 for the complete course, and it is payable at the first treatment. No refunds are given if the client terminates early. However, if a client attends all treatments as planned, $50 will be refunded following the final treatment. This policy is based on evidence that clients stay in the program if they are rewarded for it, and staying in the program is associated with achieving positive results.

If you have questions about our program, please call 503 364 3022 and ask to speak to Angela Pfaffenberger, Ph.D.