If you've never experienced upper cervical care before, it's completely reasonable to wonder what you're walking into.

Here's what you can expect in my office.

We start with your story.

I want to understand what brought you in, what symptoms you're experiencing, how long they've been happening, how they affect your life, and what you've already tried.

We discuss testing and imaging when indicated.

Starting with infrared thermography as functional nervous system testing, we establish if your system is struggling to balance and therefore, heal. Depending on your presentation, next may include cervical spine X-rays. I'll explain what each test is intended to assess and its limitations.

We review the findings and discuss your options.

I want you to understand what we've found, what it may mean, and whether the findings support proceeding with care. This approach isn't for everyone, at this initial exam we discover if it's right for you.

We establish a plan based on your individual needs.

If care is appropriate, we'll discuss recommendations, expectations, costs, and how we'll monitor your progress.

It's my goal is that you leave understanding your body, the next step and why we're considering it for your journey.

Your first appointment is about understanding your health and deciding whether this approach makes sense for you.

If you've ever felt dizzy, off-balance, or like the world is moving around you, you know how unsettling it can be.

Vertigo, lightheadedness, balance problems, and vestibular migraine can feel different and have different underlying causes.

In some cases, structural dysfunction in the neck at the brainstem level and dizziness occur together. Researchers have proposed that altered sensory information from the neck may contribute to dizziness in certain people, but neck tension alone doesn't prove that the neck is responsible.

That's why I don't assume that every person experiencing dizziness needs an upper cervical adjustment.

I want to understand what you're experiencing, when it happens, what makes it better or worse, and whether your history and examination findings suggest that upper cervical care may be appropriate.

Some chiropractors work with the entire spine, while others specialize in particular regions or approaches.

Upper cervical chiropractic focuses specifically on the uppermost part of the neck, where the skull meets the cervical spine. Why? Because the brainstem sits here, the brainstem being of the most powerful impactors on your health.

In my practice, I use a specific approach to evaluate this region, including a detailed health history, examination, functional nervous system testing and imaging when clinically indicated.

These findings help me determine whether upper cervical care is appropriate and to inform how I approach care.

My technique emphasizes specificity, a precise, 'less is more' approach, rather than routinely adjusting multiple areas of the spine.

The goal isn't to say one style of chiropractic is right for everyone. It's to help you understand the approach you're receiving, why it's being recommended, and how we'll evaluate your progress.

You deserve to know what's being done, why it's being done, and what we're looking for along the way.