When coaching newer chiropractors, I commonly encounter various manifestations of a “lack of self-confidence.” 

This often comes from linking their intervention (adjustment) with the desired outcome (relief) in a linear, cookbook-like formula. 

Naturally, if you’ve agreed to treat symptoms (medicine)—rather than the process of reviving the self-healing capacity of the body (chiropractic)— this can set you up for doubt and uncertainty.

“Will my adjustments produce the relief patients want? And can I do it before the patient loses patience with me?”

While rarely spoken aloud, this is a common narrative running silently in the background with each new patient.

Because they neglected to be fully forthcoming with the patient.

Because they ignored to inform the patient that chiropractic doesn’t treat symptoms as medicine does.

Because they overlooked explaining that chiropractic adjustments simply make the body whole so symptoms don’t need expression.

Patients seek outcomes. But you deliver a process.

“And just how do I explain that I don’t treat the very reason they’re consulting my practice!?!”

Once you embrace this distinction, and recognize its significance and implications, the mechanics are fairly straight forward.

During your PreCare Interview, after establishing rapport, the patient is asked to explain their reason for consulting your practice. If, based on their explanation, they seem to be a good candidate for chiropractic care, when it’s your turn to speak you might say something such as…

“You’ve come to the right place. We hear this all the time. While not a guarantee, helping resolve health issues like yours is practically routine around here. I think you have every reason to be hopeful that we can help you.

“But to do so, we will not be treating your symptom. That would be the practice of medicine. By the way have you tried a medical approach to this?”

Obviously you would only ask this if, during the course of their explanation they didn’t mention any medical solutions they may have tried. Most patients exhaust medical solutions before consulting a chiropractor—even if only an over-the-counter analgesic. That’s why they’re in your practice.

To be clear, this isn’t about bashing medicine! It’s merely to clarify the distinction between an allopathic approach they’re familiar with, and the vitalistic approach that honors the self-healing capacity of their body that you’ll be providing. You might continue…

“Instead of treating your symptom, we will be addressing the likely underlying structural and neurological cause of your symptom. Rather than fooling your body so you can’t feel the pain, we help normalize the function of your spine and reduce nervous system interference so your body will not need to express this symptom that’s brought you here.”

In other words, you listen, assess, affirm, offer hope, and explain.

You’re off to a great start. But your communication duties are far from over. This notion that you won’t be treating their symptom will need to be repeated again and again in countless different iterations throughout the course of their care. You’ll be reminding them countless times that you don’t control the speed of their recovery—they do.

All this while you remain confident and unshakeable, knowing that adding energy at opportunity times and places to reduce nervous system interference ALWAYS is a good thing. And promises to accomplish the outcome everyone is seeking—you just don't know when. The speed of their recovery reveals more about them, then you.

Bill Esteb, a passionate chiropractic advocate since 1981, brings a fresh perspective to the profession as Patient Media’s creative director and co-founder of Perfect Patients. With 13 insightful books examining the doctor-patient relationship, he inspires chiropractors worldwide as a chiropractic speaker, through his chiropractor coaching program, and consulting. Since 1999 Monday Morning Motivation has been emailed weekly to over 10,000 subscribers, sparking breakthroughs across the chiropractic community.

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