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Dive into the vibrant world of chiropractic care through a Polyvagal Lens with ”The Informed Chiropractor.” Hosted by Dr. Don MacDonald, this illuminating series explores chiropractic’s vitalistic and salutogenic models through the insightful lens of the Polyvagal Theory. Each episode offers a blend of engaging interviews with industry experts and personal reflections on chiropractic’s foundational principles. Here, we unravel the keys to human health, wellness, and innate potential, bridging the time-tested truths of chiropractic practice with cutting-edge neuroscientific understanding of the Polyvagal Theory. Whether you’re a seasoned chiropractor seeking to refine your approach or a student eager to tap into the roots and future of chiropractic care, this podcast promises to enlighten, challenge, and inspire. Join us on a transformative journey as we explore the nuances, challenges, and triumphs of a practice dedicated to unlocking the body’s inherent vitality through the quest for Safety through a Polyvagal Lens.
Episodes
Wednesday Jun 03, 2020
Wednesday Jun 03, 2020
On today’s show, Dr. Don is joined by Dr. Sheila Bonnett. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in the field of Kinesiology from the University of Saskatchewan. Then she attended Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas, TX and graduated with honors in 2008. Following a Chiropractic Pediatric internship in Australia, Dr. Sheila started practicing in Saskatoon and now runs her own practice, YXE Chiropractic.
Dr. Sheila makes a promise to treat you with passion and compassion and has a strong focus on optimizing health and vitality in the community. She discusses her journey to chiropractic medicine and the mentorship she was able to receive while studying at Parker College.
Later, Dr. Sheila takes us through the process of opening her clinic and what it will be like post-COVID-19. If you are in the process of reopening, have you taken the time to evaluate your values and principles? If so, are you operating from a place of alignment in your business?
Key Takeaways:
- How Dr. Sheila came to the chiropractic profession. [1:42]
- How her experience in multiple practices as a C.A enabled her to build strong relationships in the Saskatoon chiropractic community. [6:00]
- The indispensable experience of mentorship she had at Parker College. [11:10]
- The disparate experiences of students in different schools. [15:19]
- The renewed importance of education and communication as chiropractic services were delisted by the government. [18:51]
- Understanding the importance of client flow. [28:25]
- Recovering from burnout after childbirth. [29:45]
- Self reflection for performance and relationship improvement. [35:45]
- Post-COVID-19 reopening strategies. [38:14]
- Words of inspiration for re-opening. [46:25]
Wednesday May 13, 2020
Wednesday May 13, 2020
On today’s episode, Dr. Don is joined by Dr. Michelle Ariette to offer a little bit of inspiration and positivity, especially to those clinics about to re-open. Dr. Michelle graduated in 2002 from Life West and has had 3 separate practices, all seeing consistent growth. Based in Rockland, California, she began her journey to the chiropractic profession after suffering an injury in high school. How has she kept her upbeat approach during the pandemic?
Dr. Michelle takes us through her journey from school to discussing her experiences setting up 3 practices. She then tells us how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting her current practice and mindset along with what she is doing to talk openly with her clients during this time.
How are you preparing for your practice to re-open if the pandemic closed it? Dr. Michelle recommends looking at your mindset and focusing day to day on your goals. What can you do to help your returning clients?
Key Takeaways:
- How Dr. Michelle Ariette came to chiropractic medicine. [2:20]
- What led her to choose Life West and her experience there. [6:34]
- Building her first, second and third practice. [9:34]
- How she has weathered the storm during COVID-19. [11:53]
- The importance of having a growth energy and mindset. [13:40]
- The regulations for practices open during the pandemic in California. [19:45]
- Being open with clients about the pathogenic model. [21:44]
- Seeing how lockdown has affected client’s health habits. [27:00]
- Tips on keeping up momentum and a positive mindset during dips. [28:54]
- Words of inspiration. [35:00]
Wednesday Apr 22, 2020
Wednesday Apr 22, 2020
We welcome two guests in today’s episode: Crystal Dwyer Hansen and Mark Victor Hansen. After crushing it in real estate, Crystal became a wellness coach and a clinical hypnotherapist. Mark is a mentor of Don’s and co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul, a series which has sold over five hundred million copies worldwide. A husband and wife team, they have co-written a new book titled Ask!: The Bridge from Your Dreams to Your Destiny.
Crystal and Mark take us through how they came to write their new book. Crystal explains the two types of people that she sees in the world and what separates them, conveying why the couple knew they had to write this book. Afterwards, Mark shares a story to provide advice for chiropractors who are worrying during the pandemic.
The couple encourages everybody to make a plan for when we can start working again. How can you build a better connection with your patients? That is such an important thing to think about so that you can serve your patients in the best way possible.
Key Takeaways:
- How Crystal and Mark met each other. [2:42]
- Scaling down while working together. [9:55]
- What inspired Crystal and Mark to write their new book. [14:27]
- Advice for chiropractors to overcome fear imposed by COVID-19. [17:58]
- Additional content that purchasers of the book receive. [23:28]
- Resisting self-sabotage as a chiropractor and expanding dreams. [26:43]
- Words of wisdom for thinking about clients during the pandemic. [31:18]
Wednesday Apr 15, 2020
Wednesday Apr 15, 2020
In this episode, Dr. Don is pleased to welcome one of his biggest mentors to the podcast. It’s Dr. John Demartini, who is thanked immediately for everything he has taught Dr. Don. This includes some advice that is especially relevant now during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Demartini explains the story of how a backpacking trip in South America allowed him to realize his desire to become a human behavior specialist.
We hear about the division between certain segments of practitioners and Dr. Demartini’s opinion on this. He says that chiropractors who do not use objectivity will not be able to govern a patient; instead, they’ll be subjectively letting the patient run them. Dr. Demartini then shares some wisdom on how chiropractors can deal with the stress that this pandemic may bring into their lives. Even COVID-19 is a situation that can be greatly eased with your own objectivity towards it.
For those who wish they had prepared better for COVID-19, Dr. Demartini tells us things we can start doing today to be better prepared for the next emergency. He proceeds to describe The Breakthrough Experience, which is an educational program that Dr. Demartini has hosted over one thousand times.
Key Takeaways:
- Dr. Demartini’s journey into chiropractic. [2:50]
- Vitalistic chiropractors versus evidence-based chiropractors. [9:04]
- Controlling the chaos as a chiropractor during the COVID-19 pandemic. [16:43]
- Current opportunities to communicate with and care about your patients. [20:41]
- The link between saving money and improving self-worth. [24:07]
- How to save more money in your business. [28:52]
- The Breakthrough Experience with Dr. Demartini. [33:24]
- Dr. Demartini’s upcoming book. [39:15]
Connect with Dr. John Demartini:
https://drdemartini.com/
Connect with Dr. Don
https://www.thevitalityshift.com/
Facebook: The Vitality Shift for Chiropractors
Wednesday Apr 01, 2020
Wednesday Apr 01, 2020
Dr. Don is joined for a second time by Mike Michalowicz, entrepreneurial expert and author of multiple financial guidebooks. Mike and Dr. Don spoke in a previous episode, Increase the Vitality of a Chiropractic Business with Mike Michalowicz, on giving chiropractors the tools to eradicate debt and to increase profitability. Today, Mike is discussing the business hierarchy of needs and sharing information from his new book, Fix This Next: Make the Vital Change That Will Level Up Your Business.
Mike and Dr. Don also discuss current events, specifically issues that are arising from forced closures due to COVID-19 and what business owners can do to make the most of this. Don’t sit at home and wait for this to pass. Mike recommends, among other ideas, creating online training videos for clients and staff or preparing for a surge of clients looking to make up training when businesses reopen.
Mike’s new book is available on April 28th online on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. If you’re looking to get a head start, check out his website at fixthisnext.com for evaluation software to evaluate your business before the book release.
Key Takeaways:
- Mike’s take on the biggest challenge for entrepreneurs. [2:10]
- The businesses hierarchy of needs. [5:10]
- Examples Mike has seen of other businesses that had to scrap focusing on the top of the pyramid and get back to basics. [8:26]
- Mike links his other books back to the hierarchy and explains how it all blends together. [10:36]
- Recommendations for chiropractors who may have to close for a couple of weeks due to COVID-19. [12:30]
- Recessions as a jumping off point for new businesses. [18:10]
- Mike’s important words for entrepreneurs. [21:29]
Connect with Mike:
https://fixthisnext.com/
https://mikemichalowicz.com/
Connect with Dr. Don
https://www.thevitalityshift.com/
Facebook: The Vitality Shift for Chiropractors
Wednesday Mar 18, 2020
Wednesday Mar 18, 2020
In cognitive sciences, stress is implicated in 90% of all chronic illnesses yet many doctors aren’t willing to make that diagnosis. Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and mental illness top the charts worldwide for debilitating physiological issues with little being done to get to the root cause. The healthcare system is failing people leaving chiropractic care to lead the way in removing subluxations to get the body back into working order. To discuss pertinent research on the topic of complete care, Dr. Don welcomes returning guest and long-time mentor Dr. Michael Hall to the podcast. Dr. Hall is an expert who facilitates seminars in improving function and increasing brain health. He describes various research papers that focus on the connection between subluxation and brain function, lung capacity, chronic forward head posture caused by electronics, and more. This fascinating conversation offers chiropractors the opportunity to refocus their message beyond adjustments and toward treating the whole human.
To register for our Gold Coast Shift Unplugged event in Australia, please go to https://www.trueconceptsseminars.com/gold-coast/
Key Takeaways:
- How just getting out of a chair and walking can increase your health. [2:02]
- Dr. Hall shares the research that demonstrates how chiropractic care can repair damage caused by excessive stress. [8:33]
- The importance of self-care for chiropractors. [18:48]
- How chiropractic adjustments affect the prefrontal cortex. [22:49]
- Dr. Hall unpacks an article regarding chronic forward head posture and how it affects lung capacity and brain function. [23:26]
- The message chiropractors need to share about the benefits of adjustments. [32:18]
- Addressing clinical research papers can assist chiropractors in identifying underlying causes of practice member's pain. [39:38]
Learn More:
Wednesday Mar 04, 2020
Wednesday Mar 04, 2020
Most chiropractors know what they need to do to grow their practice but hesitate when asked why they don’t take the needed steps to do it. The number one reason chiropractors don’t grow is that they are afraid of objections and rejection.
If you spend energy pushing towards goals that you are unsure of, it can burn you out and you may stop setting goals altogether. But it's a vicious cycle you can mentally and emotionally overcome. In this episode, Brandi and Dr. Don discuss the common barriers and deficits many chiropractors gave voice to at the recent Shift Unplugged event.
Brandi shares ways to desensitize fear, resources for self-guided learning opportunities, and information on how you can be part of future Shift Unplugged events and masterminds.
To register for our Gold Coast Shift Unplugged event in Australia, please go to: https://www.trueconceptsseminars.com/gold-coast/
Key Takeaways:
- Brandi recaps the benefits of having 600+ years of chiropractic experience from the Phoenix Shift Unplugged event. [1:15]
- Most people know what it takes to grow their practice but they don’t know how to overcome the barriers to do it. [7:37]
- To adapt emotionally you must be physically strong and this is where the self-care pyramid becomes important. [15:09]
- Masterminds are designed to help chiropractors to get clear about what they want and then build the strategies to get there. [16:40]
- Brandi offers resources from influencers who can help lay the groundwork for making true change. [23:12]
- Dr. Don and Brandi discuss upcoming True Concept Seminar events around the globe. [26:24]
Learn More:
Wednesday Feb 19, 2020
Wednesday Feb 19, 2020
Shifter and guest speaker at Vitality Shift events, Dr. Ben Purcell joins Dr. Don to discuss the biggest transformations he experienced after joining the Vitality Shift program and switching to the life model.
His practice in Bathurst, Australia has doubled its growth over the past two years, and he is a vital part of our mentorship program. He describes the challenges he faced as he tried to create new habits that better align himself, and his practice, into exactly what he wants. Dr. Ben has evolved his practice into an enduring center of wellness.
After listening to this episode, you will understand why it is important to be open to changes and know your premise, how the life model benefits the lives of practice members in a way pain-based care cannot, and how taking full responsibility for yourself and your actions can transform your practice.
To register for our live event in Australia, please go to: https://www.trueconceptsseminars.com/gold-coast/
Key Takeaways:
- Dr. Purcell describes how he overcame challenges in his practice by taking full responsibility for his actions. [4:54]
- Real transformation occurred for Ben when he transitioned from pain-based care to the life model. [10:51]
- The importance of the adjustment. [21:16]
- Understanding their personality style can help chiropractors become aligned with who they want to be. [30:59]
- Why taking care of your personal health ultimately takes care of your practice. [37:50]
- Dr. Purcell shares his takeaways from 2019 King’s Cliff Vitality Shift. [45:48]
Learn More:
Wednesday Feb 05, 2020
Wednesday Feb 05, 2020
Dr. Don digs deep into the archives to find this important podcast previously published as What Does Money Have To Do With It?. This 50th episode in the Breaking the Underdog Curse series is co-hosted by Brandi MacDonald. It is imperative to revisit the necessary topic of money and finances several times throughout the year because once you get your money in order it makes everything in your practice easier. If you are stressed about your finances it can be difficult to give ideal recommendations. And, if you get your money under control, objections become less of an issue.
After listening to this episode, you will hear how two very different upbringings impact a person’s financial future and how to change your mindset around the value of money.
Key Takeaways:
- Examples of the many ways money controls our lives. [9:09]
- Dr. Don and Brandi share their personal financial histories and how it affected their betrothment. [12:15]
- The income to debt ratio and how it affects chiropractors. [24:27]
Learn More:
Wednesday Jan 22, 2020
Wednesday Jan 22, 2020
Dr. Don heads south and drops into New Zealand to speak with Dr. David Comely of Total Health Chiropractic in Wellington. Dr. Comely has been in practice for 13 years, has two practices with 7 chiropractors and is part of the Vitality Shift program. When he adds new associates — mostly new graduates — into his practice he prepares them for the mental, physical, and emotional stressors they may experience by working with them on their headspace. He wants to make sure they are clear on their why, their values, and their technique.
After listening to this episode, you will have a solid strategy for adding associates to your practice, what type of training to use with new associates, what to consider when contemplating adding new locations, and tips on how to avoid burnout associated with growing a practice.
Key Takeaways:
- David shares his experiences with chiropractic throughout his life and why he embraced chiropractic as a career. [2:39]
- At New Zealand Chiropractic College, David was able to get the perspective of many different teachers. [6:50]
- David started his chiropractic career as an associate but he had a vision for what he wanted his own practice in Wellington to look like. [12:09]
- How David built up his practice after starting from scratch in a new city. [17:51]
- When David was seeing 100 practice members a week and still running the business, he knew it was time to hire associates. [24:09]
- When hiring associates David uses these strategies to help them be their best. [29:10]
- Advice from David on how to avoid burnout. [40:10]
- Tips for chiropractors to stay happy and healthy in their Vitalistic practice. [46:55]
Learn More:
Total Health Wellington Chiropractic