Most people arrive not quite knowing what to expect. That’s fine, it’s part of what the first visit is for. This page will walk you through exactly what happens, from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave, so you can come in with nothing to worry about.
VISIT US
Your First Visit
Before you come in
There’s nothing you need to prepare, bring, or do beforehand. No forms to download, no referral required, no need to stop any other treatment you’re receiving. Just book a time and arrive.
First visits are available at lunchtimes throughout the week and on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. If these don’t suit, get in touch. We will do our best to accommodate you.
Wear something comfortable. Loose clothing makes the assessment easier, though many people come straight from the office and that’s perfectly fine too.
When you arrive
The practice is on the ground floor at 81 Carrington Street. Look for Shop 50 (next door to Archie and Co Hairdressers).
When you come in, you’ll be welcomed and given a short health history form to complete. This covers your reason for visiting, any relevant medical history, and what you’re hoping to get out of care. It takes five to ten minutes and is the basis for our conversation.
The conversation
The first thing we will do is sit down with you and listen.
We’ll ask about what brought you in, whether that’s a specific pain, a persistent feeling, something a GP mentioned, or simply a sense that your body isn’t quite right. We’ll ask about your history: what you’ve tried before, how long things have been the way they are, and what matters to you in terms of how you’d like to feel.
There are no wrong answers and nothing you need to minimise or explain away. People come to Lifewise for very different reasons. We are happy to meet you where you’re at and help from there.
This conversation typically takes fifteen to twenty minutes. It shapes everything that follows.
The assessment
Once we have a clear picture of your history and goals, we’ll carry out a spinal and nervous system assessment. You’ll remain fully clothed throughout.
The assessment looks at how your spine is moving, where tension patterns are being held, and how your nervous system is currently responding. We use gentle touch and observation. There are no X-rays taken during this visit (though we are able to request them for you should they be necessary), and nothing painful happens at any point.
We’re looking for the story your body is telling, independent of the one you’ve just described. Often the two align. Sometimes the body is holding something the person hasn’t fully aware of.
Your first session
In most cases, we will offer a gentle hands-on session in the same visit.
You’ll lie face-down on a padded table, fully clothed. We will make a series of light, precise contacts along the spine, at the neck, the tailbone, and other key points. The contacts are specific and intentional, not forceful. Most people describe them as surprisingly gentle.
These contacts aren’t pushing the body into a new position. They’re more like a precise signal, an invitation for the nervous system to notice where it’s been holding tension and begin, at its own pace, to release it. Many people notice a deepening of the breath, a softening in the shoulders, or a quiet sense of settling that’s difficult to describe but immediately recognisable.
Brief pauses between contacts give your body time to process and respond. The session continues until your body signals that it’s complete. This typically takes between 15 and 20 minutes for a first visit.
After the session
In most cases, we will offer a gentle hands-on session in the same visit.
We will check in with you at the end and let you know what we observe, where your nervous system is holding tension and how it responded during the session. We’ll also ask you what you were aware of and describe the next steps.
We’ll give you an honest picture of what a course of care might look like for your situation, including how frequently he’d suggest coming in and roughly over what period. You’re not committed to anything at this point. This is information to help you make the right decision for yourself.
Many people notice something in the hours following their first visit: a fuller breath, looser shoulders, a night of unusually deep sleep. Others notice very little at first, and the change builds gradually over subsequent visits. Both are completely normal.
The effects of a session continue working in the body for some time after you leave. If you can, a quiet afternoon or evening after your first visit is a good idea.
Common Questions
No. You can book directly. No GP referral or specialist letter is required.
No. The care at Lifewise is specifically designed to be gentle. The most common response during a first session is surprise at how light the touch is, and how much the body responds to it.
Yes, in most cases it will feel very different. Network Spinal uses gentle specific touch with no harsh cracking or crunching. If you’ve been put off by a previous experience, please mention it when you arrive we will take that seriously.
No. You remain fully clothed throughout the assessment and the session.
Allow around 60 to 75 minutes for your first visit. Follow-up visits are shorter — typically 15 to 20 minutes.
Of course. You’re welcome to bring a partner, friend, or family member.
Ready when you are
There’s no obligation after the first visit and nothing you need to decide in advance. Just come in, have the conversation, and see how it feels.