Group therapy and lack of personalized approach

I recently visited the Sandton Acupuncture Centre for the first time, having booked a session with Mr. Wang. Unfortunately, my experience did not meet the expectations set by the positive reviews I had seen.

Despite booking an appointment, the session felt more like a “first-come, first-served” situation, which left me questioning the purpose of scheduling ahead. The consultation itself was very brief, lasting less than 10 minutes, with only a quick inspection and minimal conversation. The therapy that followed felt impersonal, as I was placed in a group therapy setting with multiple beds separated by sheets, which diminished the sense of personalised care.

Moreover, I did not experience any noticeable relief from the session, which was disappointing given the high cost, comparable to specialist rates where one typically receives a full hour of focused attention. The overall approach felt more like a “one size fits all” PLACEBO therapy rather than a tailored therapy.

It seems that at this centre, regardless of whether your issue is pain, stress, or spasm—each of which typically varies significantly based on the underlying cause—the solution appears to be the same: few needles + max tolerated electroacupuncture and a quick round of joint manipulation!!

It's almost amusing how their website proudly claims that "each person is unique, so the unique circumstances of each patient affect their overall well-being," yet in practice, it seems the one-size-fits-all approach of blanket treatments is the real star of the show.

In light of this, I believe the centre could benefit from offering more individualised attention during consultations and avoiding a blanket approach to therapy.