What happens in a New Patient Appointment?

I will ask questions about your health history, family health history, and your current reason for seeking care.  I am gathering this information to help me to understand what have been and currently are stresses on your nervous system.  I will take a scan to asses your posture and then check your full spine to help determine what areas are under load and decreasing the flow of information in your body.  After I have a picture of what is happening in your system I will address the areas that are under stress.

Will you “pop” or “crack” me?

I love adjustments and I love them when they are applied appropriately and in complete connection to your body’s needs.  I do not adjust segments that are holding tension or are locked because your body has created that tension to keep you safe and I have no desire to override your body.  In my experience this type of “overriding” the body’s defenses leads to more defense not less.  When I do manually adjust (use my hands to help a joint move) I do so in the places where your body is already exploring movement and I am there to help find even more.  In this way the adjustments get to be gentle and they are working WITH your body and its intelligence.

How many visits do I need?

I will develop a treatment plan for you based on the state of your spine and nervous system.  If, for example, you have had chronic pain for 30+ years, the treatment plan will be different that someone who has jammed their thumb yesterday.  This has to do with how long we have been operating with a level of compensation and identification with a symptom.  Often the nervous system will release long held tension, but we will continue to reinforce it because that is our familiar state of being.  A large part of treatment then is not just addressing the symptom but how we have familiarized ourselves with it.

Can you just give me some exercises to fix my pain?

I love exercise and finding ways to help people connect with their bodies so that they can be empowered in their own care.  So yes, I will give exercises.  In terms of getting to the root of what caused the symptoms or dysfunction in the first place, that is best addressed through actual contact on your spine in the office.

What is nervous system care?

All of the tissues in our bodies—bones, ligaments, muscles, tendons, organs, etc.––are under the control of our central and peripheral nervous system (brain and spinal cord).  While there are lots of amazing approaches that address the peripheral tissues, I like to look at the cause of the symptoms.  The spinal cord, for example, gets twisted, shortened, and holds tension when we experience things in life that are more than we know how to process.  Think of when you experience fear—your tailbone likely tucks under and your neck shortens.  This is not bad when we are able to unwind the patterns and bring ourselves back into feeling safe—but often these patterns stick and we grow less adaptable to challenging situations as a result.

When you work with me I am noticing these patterns in your spinal cord and helping you to unwind them.  This happens through light touch and bringing your awareness to the places that are holding tension.

How does any change happen with light touch?  If I can’t feel it then nothing is happening.

Often we are accustomed to forceful treatment when we have symptoms.  I can say that from personal experience I have sought out the most forceful and aggressive treatments for my body because I thought they were the only thing that could/would help.  It makes sense when there is big pain, we often look for big intervention.  And yet often what our bodies most want and are in need of is actually the opposite.  Sometimes after a hard hit what we most need is a gentle touch. In gentleness we are able to find connection where we have become numb or disconnected. 

What are group visits?

We do not live in isolation (even the most isolated among us) and we do not heal in isolation.  We are always in an exchange with the other beings we share this planet with.  So while we absolutely have individual pain, we also have collective pain.  When we are treated in a group setting we get to benefit from the people around us as they find connection in their bodies.  So each person’s discoveries and wins contribute to the greater good in the room and beyond.  In this way healing and recovery happens more efficiently and effectively than in private sessions.  Group care is its own special format that augments and furthers the healing process in an unique manner.

What are the benefits of this type of care beyond symptom relief?

As your nervous system unwinds from patterns of defense and tension, more vitality becomes available.  With a functioning nervous system we are able to move through the complexities of life with ease.  Areas that people experience the most change in are: ability to connect to self and others, and more joy and satisfaction in those connections; ability to connect to fear and uncertainty with more grace and trust in oneself; ability to process complex emotions; ability to process complex thoughts and more ease in mental function; greater connection through spiritual body and increased bandwidth to navigate spirit and soul in a body; greater ease and pleasure in the experience of being in a body; better function of organs and systems in the body—improved digestion, sleep, immune function, etc.  These are a few examples of changes commonly experienced through this type of care, but the list goes on.

Why Chiropractic?

“While other professions are concerned with changing the environment to suit the weakened body, chiropractic is concerned with strengthening the body to suit the environment.” 

– BJ Palmer

We are living in an ever changing world and to continue living well we must grow and adapt along the way. Chiropractic is one of the most effective approaches I’ve found to accessing greater vitality for a better human experience.