Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Flannigan.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a medical doctor. I became a certified nurse’s aide at 16 and an EMT at 18. It was in the middle of my undergraduate studies that I began contemplating chiropractic school over medical school due to my own experiences. I suffered from migraines for many years. I did all the treatments, and nothing helped, like the chiropractic adjustment! And that’s where my journey began.
In my late senior year of undergrad at South Dakota State, my father was diagnosed with cancer. During my education in chiropractic school and acupuncture studies, I was able to bring in some recommendations for alternative treatments along with his medical treatments. He went from having a short life expectancy with his diagnosis, to living for 6 more wonderful years. Having his medical team’s approval of the alternative treatments was huge!
I had the ability to intern under some amazing docs while at Northwestern Health Sciences University who all had their own specialties whether in acupuncture, nutrition or pediatrics. This gave me such a beautiful and wide foundation. I have added a blend of all of these different techniques and knowledge to my daily clinic practices 12 years later.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have definitely been struggles and bright spots! Working with my patients is the easy part, honestly!! Balancing home life and work life, taking time for myself (why is this so hard, ha!), and all the in-betweens is the most challenging. You definitely learn who is in your corner supporting you and pushing you, and who is not. This can be a hard and unexpected lesson to remove those naysayers from your circle. Pulling yourself up and fighting for your passion can feel defeating at times BUT is essential for success!
Covid brought so many unknowns, especially with how we operated as a clinic. The requirements were constantly changing, but we navigated through! In a bright spot, it brought me into the Honu Healing House where I operate my office. It is a group of kick-butt women that are all focused on helping and healing people as a whole. In the space along with myself is, Sojourn Counseling Group and Aj’s Relaxing Touch massage. We have an amazing referral base in one location. This has truly been a blessing to myself and my patients.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business?
It was my vision, and my passion, to provide a clinic that focuses on the whole person, not just pain. I opened Renew Chiropractic with the dream of renewing the person to their entirety. The entire body is connected…mind, body, and soul. When in pain or discomfort, this releases our “unhanppy” hormones which then affect our mood, which affects everyone around us. I want to flip that switch off for my patients.
We have become disconnected, in a sense, to our whole selves. The big question I strive to get to the bottom of is the why….why my patients are having pain, headaches, anxiety, constipation, etc., and correcting it. Being located in the Honu Healing House with mental health counselors and massage therapy is unlike anything we have in our area, allowing us to truly offer whole-person care.
I am a certified acupuncturist and perform gua sha, cupping and craniosacral techniques. We also offer ionic detoxing and an array of nutritional and health products. Being able to offer my patients different techniques gives them more opportunities to heal themselves. It’s usually not just one treatment, like the adjustment, that is needed. Whether I can offer them help, or we find the right compilation of care, is our main goal. We have numerous conversations with patients on diet, sleep habits, stress, workstations, etc. I can adjust a patient all day every day, but if we don’t correct inflammation, poor posture and so on, we are not making any changes with their overall health. Just a short-term fix.
My favorite cases are patients that come in stating, “I have done x,y,z and nothing has helped”. That tells me something is being missed. When said patient walks back into my office with tear-filled eyes stating that for the first time in years, they feel better is what keeps me going day after day!
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along my journey is that it is a constant journey. Once you think you have things figured out, they change. Being flexible, determined and comfortable with being uncomfortable is necessary! Sometimes you feel alone along the way and honestly, for me, that was my biggest time in personal growth. Uplift those around you and they will lift back. Positivity and compassion are a boomerang!!!
Contact Info:
- Website: renewchiropracticwillmar.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/renewchiropracticwillmar/
Image Credits
Tiffany Photography
