Community Acupuncture

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While there are many types of acupuncture, there are only two main clinic models within the field: private practice and community. The majority of clinics in America are private practice, meaning patients receive treatment on a massage table in a room by themselves. Community acupuncture has its benefits, though! 

The biggest draw of community acupuncture is usually its cost. Some community clinics are nonprofits that operate on donations, but even those that are for-profit aim to keep treatments affordable. Many charge a sliding scale for appointments, meaning patients pay what they can within a range, and what patients pay has no impact on the quality of the treatment.

Acupuncture usually gets the best results when visits are more frequent at first, but the costs of private practice may prohibit someone from coming in as often as is recommended. With a sliding scale system, patients have the ability to adjust how much they pay based on their budgets and come in as often as they need. 

Most Licensed Acupuncturists choose to make a career in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) because of the desire to help people feel better. Those who practice community acupuncture specifically believe that everyone - regardless of socioeconomic status - should have access to TCM's healing power. 

Another hallmark of community acupuncture is its group setting. Battling health conditions can feel isolating, and spending time with others who are also on a healing journey - even without interacting with any of them - can be reassuring. For those who are lonely or lack a support system, community clinics offer a way to be around others in a comfortable space.

Group treatment areas also mean patients can intentionally come in together, for instance by scheduling back-to-back appointments. Spouses can have a "health date," friends can share a new experience, and parents and children can carpool to save time in their schedules.

Finally, because community clinics don't have rooms that they need to turn over, treatments can last as long as a patient needs. An hour is often recommended to give the body plenty of time in the "rest and digest" state, but if someone doesn't have (or want) a full hour, treatments can be as little as 20 minutes in length. 

Although every community clinic is different, many are set up with a relaxed, informal atmosphere. While private practice often feels like a spa or medical office, community acupuncture treatments usually take place in reclining chairs where patients can lean back to take a nap or stay upright to read or meditate. This can be especially comforting for people who are afraid of doctors' offices or are nervous about trying acupuncture for the first time.

There are a few circumstances in which private practice might be a better fit than community acupuncture, but the emphasis is on "might" because some community clinics have setups that offer these and there are some private practices that do not:

• If a patient needs to undress to reach acupoints
• If a patient requires extra modalities such as gua sha or cupping
• If a patient would benefit from testing like lab work and/or more intensive monitoring of a health condition
• If a patient's insurance provides 100% coverage for acupuncture treatments

Because there can be so much variation, it's best to read through an acupuncture clinic's reviews and website to learn about what they offer. 

The Licensed Acupuncturists who choose to practice community acupuncture go through the same schooling (Master's degree), the same training (hundreds of clinical hours), and the same testing (multiple board exams) as those in private practice. The community model allows them to charge less for their treatments, making acupuncture more accessible to a larger population.

Affordable pricing, shared healing experiences, and approachable spaces create an ambiance of welcome and coziness at community clinics that is often lacking in medical offices. Private practice has its benefits, but for many, community acupuncture is enough to address health concerns without causing extra financial stress.

This post was originally published in December of 2016 and was updated in October of 2025.