The Informed Chiropractor Podcast

Chiropractic Bouncing Back from the Pandemic with Dr. Dave Hansen

We are welcoming Dr. Dave Hansen for his second appearance in today’s episode. Dr. Hansen just had a record-breaking month in July despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This episode is geared towards finding out what has made Dr. Hansen bounce back and break records during this difficult time.

Some key components of his success were the high demand for chiropractic services after re-opening, which we hear about in detail. Dr. Hansen, however, stipulates that the first half of the year was not so fun.

Dr. Don and Dr. Hansen to go on to discuss how they handle integrating new employees to the team and how hiring a chiropractic associate have helped both themselves and their practices.

Key Points:

• How Dr. Hansen reached his results [3:33]
• The reasons to hire a CA and the impact it can have on your practice [6:05]
• A good lesson for a lot of people from Dr. Don [10:52]
• How Dr. Hansen and his new CA are handling the practice [11:42]
• Did hiring a CA force Dr. Hansen to become more engaged in the front? [13:35]
• Keys for hiring new employees in the chiropractic world [15:05]
• Managing the front and letting go to focus on making adjustments [18:02]
• The importance of recognizing burn out [18:58]
• How Dr. Hansen is focusing more on self-care in recent months [19:50]
• Hansen’s journey on changing his mindset [23:03]
• The “feeling” issue experienced by Dr. Hansen and his progress on correcting it [25:06]
• Words of inspiration from Dr. Hansen [28:13]

You can listen to the previous episode featuring Dr. Hansen here.

For more details on the Vitality shift of the Rewire Mastermind visit https://www.thevitalityshift.com/ 

Focusing on What You Really Want with Dr. Helen Cox

On today’s show, Dr. Don is joined by Dr. Helen Cox. Dr. Helen runs the Tri-Chiropractic practice in Lethbridge, Alberta. A graduate of Parker University in 1998, Dr. Helen has been in practice for 20 years.

Beginning by taking us through her journey to chiropractic practice, Dr. Helen gives us an honest look into dealing with the struggles of single parenting while trying to establish a career. She also tells us about dealing with health issues, burnout and rediscovering her passion.

Now running for ACAC Council, Dr. Helen is looking to help people make a shift in their own lives towards speaking their truth and being unafraid to do so. You have the ability to shape your practice the way you want it to be and you have the power to prevent negativity in your practice. Just focus on what you truly want.

Key Takeaways:

• How Dr. Helen came to pick Chiropractic Medicine as her major. [1:44]
• What drew her to studying at Parker. [3:06]
• The benefits and impact of Parker Seminars. [5:33]
• Building a practice amidst being a single parent and health scares. [7:43]
• Growing her practice: Focusing on sincerity and relationships. [9:23]
• Beginning the vitality shift. [12:10]
• Evolving her chiropractic philosophy. [14:00]
• Overcoming imposter syndrome, knowing what you want and going for it. [15:39]
• Experiencing burnout and how Dr. Helen protects herself from it now. [17:47]
• Dealing with re-emerging health concerns amidst COVID-19. [19:19]
• What led to running for leadership. [23:10]
• Finding your own truth and living in your purpose. [24:50]
• Words of inspiration for new practitioners or those feeling burnt out. [27:51]

The Chronic Pain of COVID-19 with Brandi MacDonald

It's a time for Chiropractors to grow not retract!

In today’s episode, Dr. Don is joined by his wife, Brandi MacDonald, who co-owns South Side Chiropractic in Edmonton, Alberta. She is also a professional speaker, author, and coach. Brandi explains how the current pandemic is similar to an injury to the body and how we essentially went into shock and feared the unknown. COVID-19 can be related to a phase of chronic pain where the body still needs to recover from the injury itself.

Dr. Don explains how this is an important time to not take your foot off the gas as much, as it feels like you should when it comes to your practice. Dr. Don asks Brandi how to regain our energy to put into our practices, and she weighs in on how to adapt to restrictions and health procedures.

Key Takeaways:

• The fight or flight and fight or freeze response. [5:40]
• The “ready” position and how it affects the various professions. [6:58]
• Focusing on the upside of the trauma brought on to your practice. [10:47]
• How South Side Chiropractic was affected by the pandemic and how they had to resort to a critical patient-only basis. [12:04]
• How having a family can drastically affect your practice as childcare has been limited or shut down in various areas. [15:45]
• Brandi explains how she believes what you allow into your space can help you to pull through and regain energy. [19:35]
• Some activities that can help to take your mind off things and shut your brain off. [21:06]
• Social distancing and how Dr. Don conserves energy on his off days. [24:22]
• Surge capacity, open hours, and how minimizing your hours can actually be more beneficial. [25:57]

A Vitalistic Approach to Chiropractic with Dr. Jason Hollingsworth

On today’s show, Dr. Don is joined by Dr. Jason Hollingsworth. Dr. Jason runs the Back to Health practice in Strathmore, Alberta with his wife Dr. Heather Russell. A graduate of Western States Chiropractic College, Dr. Jason has been in practice for 20 years.

 

Discussing his path to chiropractic practice, Dr. Jason also tells us how he met his wife at school after they had both deferred a year. He discusses their journey to a more vitalistic approach to chiropractic wellness and overcoming burnout after changing their approach.

 

Dr. Jason also takes us through the reasons he has become more involved in the politics of chiropractic practice. Currently running for ACAC Council, he believes it is time for the different approaches of the chiropractic discipline to be less divided and wants to encourage us all to become involved on a more united front. What can we accomplish when we collaborate?

 

Key Takeaways:

• How Dr. Jason arrived at practicing Chiropractic Medicine. [1:30]
• Meeting his wife and business partner through school. [4:35]
• The path to their own practice. [6:15]
• Developing their vitalistic approach. [9:06]
• Growing their practice from the ground up. [12:32]
• How their community involvement has strengthened the practice. [13:48]
• Burnout: What caused it and how did they cope with it? [14:30]
• What helped turn their finances around? [16:55]
• How Dr. Jason became involved in politics. [21:00]
• The importance of fostering unity in the chiropractic community. [24:40]
• Words of inspiration for those starting out or feeling burnt out. [26:58]

Selling Your Chiropractic Practice and Starting Over with Dr. Naomi Mills

On today’s show, Dr. Don is joined by Dr. Naomi Mills. Originally from Aberdeen in Scotland, Dr. Naomi studied at the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic in Bournemouth. Until recently, Dr. Naomi owned a practice in the UK.

 

Joining us 2 years on from her first appearance on the show, she discusses the drastic shift she has made. Last time she spoke to us she had just finished building and opening the clinic of her dreams. Today she has left that clinic behind and moved to Scotland to start again.

 

Self-reflection and understanding where her values truly lie played a huge part in this decision. Naomi takes us through how she came to the decision to sell, what the process was like, and where her future lies. During the lockdown, you also have the opportunity to look at where you are and ask yourself what am I working so hard for?

 

Key Takeaways:

• How Dr. Naomi came to the decision to leave her ‘dream’ practice. [2:20]
• The work involved in creating her new vision and how she took action. [7:15]
• The process of selling and facilitating the transition for her clients and new owners. [9:28]
• Letting go of emotional ties to evolve. [11:34]
• What Dr. Naomi has planned for the future once lockdown is lifted. [13:20]
• Her involvement in the future opening of The Scottish Chiropractic College. [16:37]
• What plans she has for the curriculum she would like to teach. [18:53]
• How fellow chiropractors can support the college in its opening. [21:04]
• Tips for finding inspiration and understanding your values during the lockdown. [22:40]

Work/Life Balance as a Chiropractor with Dr. Ali Miller

Dr. Don is joined today by Dr. Ali Miller from Bolton, Ontario. Ali’s mom had always suffered from headaches until she began to see a chiropractor, and that’s when Ali saw a shift in her mother’s well-being, sparking her interest in chiropractic. Ali also has a love for children and wanted to be able to gear her profession towards a branch of pediatrics. Ali is a graduate of the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CNCC) in Toronto, Ontario.

Dr. Miller now operates her own practice out of  Bolton, Ontario as Family Health Chiropractic & Wellness. She has also undertaken a certification from the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) for pediatrics and pregnancy. Dr. Don and Dr. Miller discuss how she juggled getting married, becoming a mother, and attending chiropractic school.

Later in the episode, Dr. Miller discusses how she balances her career and family life, as well as how she avoids burnout and becoming overwhelmed. To close out the episode, Dr. Miller gives us her daily motto “swim your own race” and tell us how she uses that in her daily practice before sharing some more parting words of wisdom.

Key Points:

• How Dr. Miller got into the chiropractic profession [1:50]
• Miller’s advice for current chiropractic school students [4:52]
• How to balance being a mom and juggling chiropractic school [9:37]
• Finished your board exams? Here’s what you can do next [11:01]
• Growing a practice and the ups and downs of the growth cycle [16:10]
• A journey through chiropracting [22:04]
• Miller’s involvement with the Canadian National Alliance for Chiropractic (CNAC) [24:42]
• Dealing with COVID-19 restrictions in the medical profession in Ontario [28:06]
• Parting inspirational words and advice from Dr. Miller [28:44]
• Don shares his opinion on the difference between knowledge and wisdom [30:15]

Reopening Your Clinic After COVID-19 with Dr. Sheila Bonnett

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]

Positivity During a Pandemic with Dr. Michelle Ariette

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]

Ask! with Crystal Dwyer Hansen and Mark Victor Hansen

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]

Preparing for the Next Pandemic with Dr. John Demartini

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