Chiropractic faqs
What qualifications and experience do you have?
Dr. Shawn has been in practice as a licensed chiropractor (DC) for over 5 years. Prior to that he was a certified athletic trainer (ATC) for 3 years and a certified personal trainer (CPT) for 4 years. He has worked with patients in their 90’s and as young as one month old. He has also worked with professional triathletes, hockey players, golfers, factory workers, truckers, accountants, office workers, and stay at home parents. Through the years, he has worked with people of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds.
What techniques do you use in your practice?
We use the following techniques:
- A diversified manipulation technique based on manual adjustments, drop table adjustments, and activator adjustments.
- Additional manual therapy techniques as an adjunct or as a standalone treatment. These techniques are dry needling, cupping therapy, and scraping therapy.
- Therapeutic exercise as an adjunct or as a standalone treatment. The exercises are used to increase mobility, strength, and athleticism (which is useful even if you are not an “athlete”).
- Passive therapies as an adjunct to the techniques above. I offer spinal decompression, intersegmental traction, and electrical muscle stimulation.
Do you offer a free initial consultation?
Yes, we offer 15 minute free consultations.
What conditions do you commonly treat?
We treat people from head to toe. The most common conditions we see include:
- Low back pain (acute & chronic)
- Sciatica
- Knee pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Neck pain (acute & chronic)
- Headaches & migraines
- Shoulder impingement
- Golfer & tennis elbow
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction
Is chiropractic care covered by insurance?
Yes, to an extent. We are in network with most major health insurance carriers, however, each insurance plan and carrier is different. What treatments are covered and what they cost will vary. Insurance benefits will be reviewed and all costs associated with care will be discussed PRIOR to treatment.
What should I expect during the first visit?
Intake paperwork, consent forms, & insurance verification.
- The boring stuff. Takes 10-30 minutes and can be done online ahead of your first visit
Initial consultation
- 15 minutes talking about any concerns you are dealing with, what you are looking to get out of care with us, and figuring out if what you are dealing with is something we can help you with.
Examination
- A 15-30 minutes in depth exam to further evaluate you and your problems to determine what is causing your problems and where the problem is.
Treatment or Referral
- 10-30 minutes of treatment which will be determined by you and Dr. Shawn based upon the findings of the consultation and the examination
- If at any point during the consultation or examination we discover something that may be a contraindication to treatment, we will refer you out to receive further testing (x-ray, MRI, CT scan, lab work, etc…) prior to treatment.
Are X-rays or other diagnostic tests required?
Not in most cases. However, if at any point during the consultation or examination we discover something that may be a contraindication to treatment we will refer you out to receive further testing (x-ray, MRI, CT scan, lab work, etc…) prior to treatment.
How many sessions will I need, and how often?
It varies. Every patient and every condition is unique so the treatment plan must also be unique. Here are a few of the many factors that go into a treatment plan:
- Patient preference
- Patient availability
- Cost
- Length of injury
- Severity of injury
What are the costs of treatment, and are payment plans available?
Costs will vary depending on what treatments are performed.
For those NOT using health insurance to pay for services:
- First visit ranges from $60-$160
- Following visits range from $30-$100
For those USING health insurance:
- Costs will vary drastically between different carriers and different plans.
- Insurance benefits and all associated costs will be reviewed PRIOR to any treatment.
Are there any lifestyle or activity restrictions during treatment?
Potentially. We believe the human body to be very strong, resilient, and adaptive. We also believe we can get you back to doing the activities you love because life’s too short to settle for anything less. With that being said, if the activity you love is making your problems worse, we may have to modify what or how much you are doing, and in some cases stop doing it until we can gradually reintroduce you to it.
Counseling FAQs
What can I expect from Counseling?
Counseling is a process of exploring your inner world, deepening your understanding of yourself, while developing skills and strategies for navigating the world, all while reducing the overall impact that symptoms have on your functioning.
What can therapy help with?
Therapy can help with emotional regulation, interpersonal difficulties, life transitions, grief, mental health diagnoses (anxiety, depression, ptsd, etc.), and more. Therapy is meant to help improve overall quality of life.
How much does it cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on insurance plans. The best way to know how much you will pay for your sessions is to contact your insurance provider and ask about your benefits for mental health care. Our mental health services are considered in network with most Blue Cross Blue Shield, Health Partners, Aetna, Medica, United Behavioral Health and United Medical Resources. For those not using insurance, an intake therapy appointment costs $200 and subsequent sessions cost $175.
How will I know if it’s working?
Therapists and clients determine goals they are working towards together early on in the process. These goals should be reviewed periodically to help measure if progress is happening. Often progress is therapy occurs in small increments instead of a big moment or change. This is most readily seen in evaluating behaviors changes, emotional reactivity, and overall perceptions of one’s own capabilities.
How long does it Take to help?
The length of time someone is in counseling really depends on a few factors; their goals, the frequency of their sessions, participation in sessions, and implementation of skills/knowledge outside of sessions to name a few. For some people a few weeks of therapy feels like enough and others choose to participate for years.
IFS. CBT. EMDR… what do those things mean?
These are different types of therapy modalities that therapists use in their sessions. This includes how a therapist conceptualizes a clients presenting problem, ways to approach therapy goals, and interventions. There is not a right or wrong, better or worse, modality, just what the therapist is competent in and is most effective for the client. A lot of therapists use a combination of modalities.
Can you prescribe medication?
No. Mental health therapists (LPC, LPCC, LICSW, LCSW, LMFT) cannot prescribe medications due to having no medical training.
Do I need a diagnosis to get care?
Insurance companies require that clients receive a diagnosis from the DSM in order for their services to be covered by their health insurance. If you choose to use insurance, you and your therapist will discuss a diagnosis appropriate for your presenting symptoms.