Dr. Cassy, where have you been?
When our son Vendovi was born in 2018, we were owner-operators of four insurance-based chiropractic clinics on Oahu. We started to notice some concerning behavior when Vendovi was 2 years old. My gut was telling me that something was wrong. When we asked our pediatrician about it, she said he would grow out of it. With running a company and raising a little one, we were, to say the least, a pretty stressed-out family. Having already attended the first certification program at the Focus Academy, we turned to Dr. Amy Spoelstra, the founder and pioneer of the Brain Blossom™ work. The light she shed on his behavior was life changing. For the first time, we had our WHY. I thought, “Other moms need this info too. I HAVE to do this work. If not me, then who?” However, I was a participating provider with many insurance companies at the time. Insurance companies require that care can only be administered if there is pain or dysfunction. This neuro-based work is about restoring, healing, and bringing back nervous system balance and function. We couldn’t make that new model fit in with the old model. So, in 2023 we sold the company. We rested. We recovered. I studied in the Focus Academy. But if I was going to see kids with challenges, shouldn’t I see infants to help prevent some of these challenges from occurring in the first place? And if I was using that logic, shouldn’t I take care of pregnant women to create the best in-utero growth environment possible? Since then, I have been on a journey with a deep dive into pregnancy and pediatric care. I am still learning more and more every day!
Why can’t I find the location on google?
The location is a temporary part-time home-office in a residential neighborhood while we look for the perfect brick and mortar location. For privacy reasons, we reveal the address directly to our patients once they have booked. We are 1-mile from Koko Marina Center in Hawaii Kai, East Oahu.
Why don’t you have a phone number listed?
Work-life balance! After a decade of keeping a phone by our sides and answering on weekends and holidays, we realized that for our next endeavor we would have an easy online contact and scheduling system. Don’t worry, we want to talk to you as much as you want to talk to us; we will get right back to you! You can also schedule a free 15 minute consultation by zoom by clicking on the "Book Now" button in the Header. Just email us if you want contact sooner.
Do you take insurance?
We are not participating providers with any insurance company and we do not bill insurance companies directly. Health insurance does not pay for preventative or supportive care, but we all need it! We want to put together a care plan for YOU that is not dictated by what someone else says you’re allowed to have. We offer flexible payment plans and reduced fees for family plans . . . We are here to help families! We CAN provide a superbill for our patients to self-submit to their insurance companies for possible reimbursement. We also accept Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts which allow you to spend your pre-tax dollars at the office of a healthcare provider.
Is Mama Bear Chiropractic just for moms and keiki?
NO! The sooner in life you address a problem, the better the outcome will be- that’s why the focus of this operation is pregnancy and pediatric care! The world has gotten exponentially more stressful in just one generation. If your nervous system is stressed out, this is the place for you. My quintessential definition of ‘Mama Bear’ is: A person who takes care of everyone else before they take care of themselves. It’s the person who worries the most. It’s the person who must solve the big problems. It’s the person who has to keep putting one foot in front of the other no matter how tired. We understand and we are here for you.
What are secondary conditions?
You may be experiencing secondary conditions that are symptoms of a primary condition called “Neurostructural shifts” or subluxation.
Here is a list of secondary conditions that are common:
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Headaches and migraines
- Sciatica
- Joint pain (e.g., shoulder, knee, hip)
- Muscle tension and stiffness
- Whiplash injuries
- Sports injuries
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Arthritis
- Postural issues
- Numbness or tingling in the limbs
- Scoliosis
- Pregnancy-related discomfort
- Digestive issues (e.g., acid reflux, constipation)
- TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders
- Fatigue and low energy levels
- Insomnia or sleep disturbance
- Stress and anxiety management
- Posture Core muscle pain, discomfort, or weakness (abdominal and lower back muscles)
- Spinal muscle pain, discomfort, or weakness
- Neck muscle pain, discomfort, or weakness
- Hip muscle pain, discomfort, or weakness
- Shoulder muscle pain, discomfort, or weakness
- Leg muscle pain, discomfort, or weakness (quadriceps, hamstrings, calves)
- Pelvic floor muscle pain, discomfort, or weakness
- Gluteal muscle pain, discomfort, or weakness
- Abdominal muscle pain, discomfort, or weakness
- Upper back muscle pain, discomfort, or weakness
- Arm and forearm muscle pain, discomfort, or weakness
- Ankle stability and strength
- Balance and coordination
- Joint mobility and range of motion
- Ligament and tendon health
- Spinal discs
- Spinal nerve function
- Overall musculoskeletal alignment
- Body mechanics and movement patterns
Do I need a referral or a diagnosis for the Brain Blossom™ program?
Unlike some therapy programs, we do not need a referral from your doctor to be able to do this work. If you or your child has a diagnosis, we are definitely interested, but we know that a person is more than just a sum of diagnoses. We look at the big picture through objective measures and we know that ALL behavior is a window into the brain. With a comprehensive clinical exam and a functional brain assessment, we will know if this program is right for you or your child.
Can we see you without doing the Brain Blossom™ program?
Absolutely. The Brain Blossom™ program starts by tilling the soil with JUST chiropractic care. We add the other pillars of the program as we see brain readiness; but this is not required! A lot of kids and adults see major changes before they even get to Pillars 2 (gut healing) and 3 (brain based games and exercises). We think this is pretty great because you can always start the Brain Blossom™ program later if we think it would be a good fit.
But what if my child is already "healthy"?
Health is measured by how well the body is functioning, not by how we feel. If your child is feeling great, we are happy for them! However, what we see on the outside does not always match what we see on the inside. We would love the opportunity perform an assessment with the Subluxation Station to obtain an objective measurement of their health. At Mama Bear Chiropractic, when it comes to your family's health, we don’t guess, we test!
If myself or my child start chiropractic care, does that mean we have to keep coming forever?
Following our recommendations for corrective care, we perform a re-examination to evaluate progress and offer appropriate next steps in someone’s health journey. Most people in our office choose to continue with some kind of neurological and nervous system support with chiropractic care such as a protective care or maintenance care plan. This is usually a less frequent plan of up to 1x a week. And for kids we HIGHLY recommend continuing to support their brain and body during development! This is a unique time in their life where support now can make a positive difference on their future and their entire life!