By Dr. Devon James, DC, Within Reach Healing, Hinsdale, IL
Integrative wellness means different kinds of care work together, for one person, under one roof. At Within Reach Healing in Hinsdale, that includes chiropractic, physical therapy, pelvic floor therapy, massage, facials, yoga, sound healing & life coaching. I talked about how we got here, and why I have zero protocols, with Matt Kosterman on Season 3, Episode 3 of his podcast, The Permission Slip.
You can also listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Why Put So Many Practitioners Under One Roof?
Because people will not drive to the referral. During COVID I got very busy, and patients wanted me to hold every part of their care. I can do a lot of things, but I would send someone to the best person I knew and hear that it was too far. Or, as Matt put it, because reasons.
So I had a thought: it is very hard to argue with me when the best person I know is right next door.
My first office was under 500 square feet. Our space in Hinsdale is about 2,900, with a movement room for yoga & sound healing, an aesthetics room, and a whole lot of people who are very good at what they do. It also means we get to tag team. I am not your girl for a rehab program, and I will say so. Dr. Cassidy is.
Who Is on the Within Reach Healing Team?
- Dr. Cassidy Mangan, PT: orthopedic physical therapy & pelvic floor therapy
- Jalen Rosinski, LMT: massage, craniosacral therapy, hot stones & cupping
- Genevieve Menard-Ackerman, LMT: deep tissue, myofascial, prenatal & sports massage
- Ingris Paredes, LMT: massage & muscle testing
- Dejiah Lee: mindful facials
- Tracy Parker: life coaching
- Haley Marcin: sound healing
- Julie Shramovich: yoga
- Diane Kuknyo: BioScan
What Is Applied Kinesiology?
Applied kinesiology is a clinical assessment system that combines manual muscle testing with neurological, structural, biochemical & functional evaluation. It is one of the foundations I started with in chiropractic school, and it is still one of the tools I use to figure out what is going on with a person.
In applied kinesiology, every muscle has its own little story. Take the psoas, which is tight on most of us because we sit all the time. It is a deep low back stabilizer. In this system it is also tied to the kidney meridian, water is its main nutritional need, and the kidney's main emotion is fear. So when a psoas is unhappy, I have several places to look besides the psoas.
I loved muscle testing as soon as I found it, mostly because I personally do not enjoy being wrong. If someone comes in with back pain, why would I not test the low back muscles, the abs & everything connected to them? Then I put that together with what you told me on your intake form. It is the worst intake of your life. It runs about 14 pages. Please do not print it.
Why Is There No Single Protocol for Low Back Pain?
There is no single protocol because the same symptom can have very different causes in different people. People ask me what I do for low back pain. My answer is: who is the person that has it? I can think of 99 different reasons someone might have low back pain.
I have zero protocols. What I have is a toolbox, somewhere around 17 or 18 techniques at last count, and each person's body points to which ones make sense that day. Even kids in the same family come in with entirely different experiences. If I had the one thing that fixed everyone, think how wealthy I would be.
It is also why my toolbox keeps growing. When I get stuck with someone, I go learn something new, or I walk them down the hall to someone who already knows it.
Can Emotions Show Up in the Body?
In my experience, yes, and it is annoying every time. I once had a low back issue of my own, and the practitioner helping me laughed when I finally connected it to something emotional. He pointed out that I had cried at my last visit and that none of my symptoms made neurological sense. He had known all along. He was just waiting for me to catch up.
People start crying on my table and apologize for it. I tell them it is all right, I have the face for it. Here is what I told Matt, and what I tell my patients:
"Nobody is ever too much for me, and everybody is always enough for me."
The things you least want to tell anyone are usually the things that make you more lovable. You will not shock me. You are welcome here as you are.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Devon James a chiropractor?
Yes. Dr. Devon James is a licensed chiropractor in Hinsdale, IL. Some patients come in for an adjustment, and many visits also draw on applied kinesiology and a wide range of other techniques.
What is muscle testing?
Muscle testing is a hands-on assessment in which a practitioner checks how a muscle responds to resistance. In applied kinesiology, those findings are considered alongside a patient's history and other information.
What happens at a first visit with Dr. Devon?
You complete a detailed intake form, go over your history, and Dr. Devon uses muscle testing to decide where to focus. There is no set protocol, so each visit is built around the person in the room.
What is the difference between life coaching and therapy?
Therapy often takes a deep dive backward. Coaching starts with where you are now and looks at what you can do from here.
Who should I see first at Within Reach Healing?
If you are not sure where to start, book with Dr. Devon James. She will look at the whole picture and point you to the right person on the team.
Where can I watch or listen to the episode?
Dr. Devon James is the guest on Season 3, Episode 3 of The Permission Slip with Matt Kosterman, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Where is Within Reach Healing located?
Within Reach Healing is at 15 Spinning Wheel Rd, Suite 225, Hinsdale, IL 60521, and serves families from Oak Brook, Clarendon Hills, Western Springs, Burr Ridge, La Grange and Downers Grove.
Come See Us in Hinsdale
You do not have to figure out which kind of help you need before you walk in. That is our job, and support is Within Reach.