Initial Consultation
Your practitioner will discuss your typical daily light exposure, sleep patterns, mood fluctuations, and specific concerns you hope to address. They may ask about your work environment, screen time, morning routines, and seasonal patterns. This conversation helps establish a personalized approach, as individual light sensitivity and circadian timing vary widely. Your practitioner will explain how light influences your body's natural rhythms and clarify realistic expectations for light exposure practices.
Treatment
Light therapy sessions typically involve sitting near a specialized light source—commonly a 10,000 lux light box—at a comfortable distance, usually 16–24 inches away. Sessions generally last 20–60 minutes, often positioned during morning hours to align with circadian biology. You can read, eat, or engage in other activities while receiving light exposure; direct eye contact with the light source is typically avoided. Your practitioner may adjust session timing, duration, or light intensity based on your response and goals. Some sessions may focus on environmental optimization—discussing ways to increase natural light exposure throughout your day through window placement, outdoor time, or light-blocking reduction in evening hours.
After Treatment
Most people experience no discomfort after light exposure, though some report mild eye strain or temporary mood elevation initially. Your practitioner may discuss practical integration into your daily routine and provide guidance on consistent timing. They will offer suggestions for supporting circadian alignment through meal timing, exercise scheduling, and evening light reduction. You may be encouraged to notice and track subtle changes in mood, energy, or sleep quality over the following days and weeks.
Follow-up Sessions
Following initial sessions, your practitioner typically schedules check-ins to monitor how you're responding and adjust your light exposure protocol as needed. These may occur weekly or bi-weekly initially, then extend to monthly or as-needed. Your practitioner will help you distinguish between effects from light exposure and changes from other lifestyle factors. As you establish consistent practices, in-office sessions may decrease in frequency while you maintain independent light exposure routines at home, with periodic practitioner guidance.