Does acupuncture hurt?

Most people are surprised by how little they feel. Acupuncture needles are hair-thin — nothing like the needles used for shots or blood draws. You might feel a brief pinch on insertion, then a sense of tingling, warmth, or heaviness as the needle settles. Most patients find the experience relaxing, and many fall asleep during treatment.

Does Fascial Counterstrain hurt?

No — quite the opposite. Fascial Counterstrain is a gentle, low-force technique that works with your body's natural tension patterns rather than against them. There's no deep pressure or forceful stretching involved. Many patients describe it as one of the most comfortable hands-on therapies they've tried, even when it's addressing deep-seated, long-standing tension.

What's the difference between Fascial Counterstrain and myofascial release?

Both work with the fascia, the connective tissue that surrounds your muscles and organs, but the approach is different. Myofascial release typically uses direct pressure and stretching to release restrictions. Fascial Counterstrain instead positions the body into a place of ease to allow the nervous system to reset the tension response at its source. These approaches are often combined along with acupuncture depending on what the body needs.

How many sessions will I need?

It depends on what's being treated and how long it's been going on. For acute issues, many patients notice meaningful change within 3 to 5 sessions. Chronic, long-standing conditions usually take longer, since treatment works to retrain patterns built up over months or years.

What conditions do you treat?

Berkley Acupuncture treats chronic pain, sports injuries, migraines and tension headaches, TMJ and jaw pain, digestive issues, women's health concerns, chronic fatigue, and general stress and anxiety.

Is acupuncture covered by insurance in Michigan?

Many insurance plans offer partial coverage for acupuncture, though it varies by provider and plan. Berkley Acupuncture provides superbills that patients can submit for HSA or FSA reimbursement or out-of-network benefits.

What should I expect at my first visit?

The first visit starts with a conversation about health history and goals, followed by a physical assessment and treatment in most cases on the same day. First visits typically run longer than follow-ups to allow time for this.

Where is Berkley Acupuncture located, and what areas do you serve?

Berkley Acupuncture is located at 36700 Woodward Ave, Suite 30, in Bloomfield Hills, MI, and regularly serves patients from Birmingham, Royal Oak, Bloomfield Township, and the surrounding metro Detroit area.

How is Berkley Acupuncture different from other acupuncture clinics in the area?

Most acupuncture practices offer acupuncture alone. Berkley Acupuncture combines acupuncture with Fascial Counterstrain and myofascial therapy as three complementary approaches under one roof. Fascial Counterstrain in particular is rare in metro Detroit, since few practitioners are trained in it.

Acupuncture & Multi-Modality Pain Care in

Bloomfield Hills, MI

When acupuncture alone hasn't worked, we go further — combining acupuncture, myofascial therapy, and Fascial Counterstrain to find what other treatments missed.

SCHEDULE ONLINE

Call Now 248-210-1895

More Tools Than a Typical Acupuncturist

Most acupuncturists offer one tool. We bring several — acupuncture, myofascial therapy, cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, and Fascial Counterstrain — combined based on what your body actually needs, not a single fixed protocol.

This matters most for patients who've already tried physical therapy, chiropractic care, or standard acupuncture and still haven't found lasting relief. We don't just treat the symptom in front of us — we look for what's actually driving it, which often means addressing fascia and connective tissue that other approaches don't touch.

Conditions We Treat

CTA:See All Conditions We Treat

How We Treat the Root Cause, Not Just Symptoms

Acupuncture helps by reducing inflammation, improving circulation, and calming an overactive nervous system. When pain is tied to deeper restrictions in the fascia, we add Fascial Counterstrain — a light-touch technique that drains inflammation directly from connective tissue. This combination is why patients who didn't get full relief from acupuncture or bodywork alone often see results here.

What to Expect at Your First Visit

We start with a real conversation — your symptoms, history, and what you've already tried. From there, we build a treatment combining the right tools for your specific pattern, not a one-size-fits-all session. Most patients leave their first visit with a clear sense of what's driving their pain and a plan going forward.

Real Patients. Real Results.

“After experiencing chronic migraines and persistent tingling on one side of my body, I had a frightening incident with numbness and tingling that spread across my face and entire left side. I was initially diagnosed with a possible mini-stroke, but I wasn’t convinced. A friend recommended Matt, and after just a few sessions, my tingling and numbness completely disappeared.

Matt’s expertise in overall body health and wellness goes far beyond just acupuncture and bodywork. With regular visits for maintenance, I’ve never felt better, and the numbness and tingling have never returned. I recommend Matt to anyone and everyone I know who has any health issues, and I can’t express enough how grateful I am for the way he’s helped me.
”

— Jenn S

“I have been going to see Matt for 15 months consistently. I cannot describe the relief his sessions have given me with my neck, back and hips. It’s not just Accupuncture, he does incredible body work as well. I have a spinal fusion and have been seeing a chiropractor, massage therapy and PT for the past 30 years. I finally found someone who actually gives me relief and I am so happy. Not only is Matt excellent at what he does, he’s also an incredible person!”

— Kristy K

“I highly recommend Matt!
I brought my elderly mother in to see Matt for FCS (Fascial Counterstrain) treatments after mom broke her femur and was not regaining the ability to walk more than about 20 feet despite lots of physical therapy.
Matt helped her a lot. The orthopedic doctor had diagnosed mom with a “contracture” (tight muscles) in her injured leg which would not allow her knee to straighten all of the way which was why she could not walk far - but they had no treatment for this contracture problem. Additionally, her leg was still swollen 6 months after the injury/surgery. After 1 treatment with Matt, the swelling went down significantly. After just a few treatments, mom’s leg/knee began to straighten. This allowed mom to start walking again. Now mom can walk 1/4 of a mile which isn’t bad for an 84 year old who had a major leg fracture! Thank you so much Matt!

I also saw Matt myself for a few sessions for Fascial Counterstrain for a tight & painful neck. He really helped my neck tightness and pain.”

— Erika K

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Berkley Acupuncture different from other acupuncturists? We combine acupuncture with myofascial therapy and Fascial Counterstrain, treating the connective tissue and root cause, not just the symptom.
Is it covered by insurance? We're out of network with insurance, but provide a superbill with all necessary codes so you can submit for reimbursement yourself. We also take HSA cards.
How many sessions will I need? Most patients notice improvement within 1–4 visits, though chronic or long-standing cases may take longer.

Serving Bloomfield Hills, Berkley, Birmingham, Royal Oak, Beverly Hills, Franklin, Bloomfield Township & Troy, MI

36700 Woodward Ave, Suite 30, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304

Start Your Healing Today

Schedule Online / Call Now: (248) 210-1895

your first visit

Learn More About What To Expect On Your First Visit →

blogs

Explore Articles & Read FAQs →