Dr. Steven Franson from The Remarkable Practice said something years ago that I fought before I finally got it.
Chiropractic is for everyone. I am not everyone’s chiropractor.
When you’re new and fired up, the answer to “can you help me?” is always yes. Every symptom, every age, every presentation. Yes. That’s not wrong early on. But at some point the answer has to change, and not because you care less. Because you’ve gotten really good at one thing, and being the best at one thing means you’ve stopped pretending to be the best at everything.
Here’s how that plays out in my office.
For every case type we see, there are three things I’m looking for. Three indicators. I call it the triangle.
For kids with brain development challenges, it goes like this.
First is nervous system adaptability. Is this kid’s nervous system stuck in fight or flight? Can they shift states or are they locked in one? This is the subluxation conversation. This is what every neurologically based chiropractor should be asking on every patient.
Second is cranial function and airway. Cranial imbalances, tongue function, mouth breathing, compensation patterns, CSF flow. This is the deeper work most chiropractors don’t touch. If you want to learn what we actually look for here, https://thecranialdoc.com/training.
Third is brain development trajectory. Did a nervous system stuck in fight or flight during development create deflections off the normal path? Retained primitive reflexes aren’t the problem. They’re the indicator that the system was stuck, and that the brain had to adapt around it. That shows up in how kids learn, regulate, socialize, and develop.
One indicator only? I’m probably not the right provider.
Just nervous system stuff, no cranial findings, no developmental deflection? A good chiropractor can handle that for a fraction of what I charge. Cranial only? Dentist with an expander, craniosacral therapist, speech and language pathologist. Any of those work. Brain development piece with nothing else showing up? Go to OT. Go to the pediatrician. I mean that.
But when two out of three show up? Three out of three?
Nobody else is looking at all of it at the same time.
The nervous system drives the cranial dysfunction. The cranial dysfunction feeds the developmental deflections. The developmental pattern keeps the nervous system locked. Every provider these families saw before you handled one piece and handed them back. That’s why they’ve been to four or five offices before they call yours.
When all three are in play, you’re not just a good option. You’re the only one connecting the dots.
Figure out your triangle. Know when to say yes and when to send them somewhere cheaper. And when all three show up, say so clearly, charge accordingly, and do the work.
Chiropractic is for everyone. I am not everyone’s chiropractor.
Thanks Dr. Franson for that one.