What to Expect [FAQ]
Thank you for your interest in attending Tree of Life Health & Wellness
We are honoured that you’ve chosen us as a partner on your journey back to health, and we look forward to beginning that journey with you. We are an application-only practice, which means that before we can book your consultation we need to collect some information from you. We do this to make sure that you are a good fit for the practice and that we are well-placed to serve you best and meet your expectations.
Overview Of How We Work
We have a unique and detailed approach at Tree of Life which is likely to be different from anything you’ve previously experienced. Your first two appointments with us will last about an hour and half an hour, respectively.
- Dr. Tim is a fully certified Advanced Biostructural Correction (ABC) Practitioner, who also holds a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the Western States Chiropractic University in America.
- Advanced Biostructural Correction is NOT chiropractic care, it is a unique method that is practised by many different types of health care practitioners.
What to Expect in Your First 2 Visits
Your first appointment will be your initial consultation where your Structural Correction Practitioner will perform a thorough assessment of your spine/complaint.
We will assess in detail your spine, posture, muscle function, neurology, and lifestyle factors.
Your second visit will be a Report Of Findings where you will receive the information that you need to know about your case; what we have found, what can be done to help, and roughly how long it will take to heal.
Please review the following to indicate that you meet the basic requirements:
- I am willing to wait if necessary until the second session to begin treatment (unless in severe pain).
- I am interested in correcting the underlying causes to my health/spine problem(s).
- I understand that Tree of Life specialises in the Advanced Biostructural Correction™ (ABC™) method which is not a chiropractic technique (see above).
What To Expect
We know that seeing a chiropractic-type practitioner for the first time may make some a bit nervous. Many don’t know what to expect. Here are some common questions we receive, but feel free to reach out if you have any others. We’re here to help and to do our best to ease any concerns you may have.
FAQ
What should you do to prepare for your first ABC™ visit?
It’s important to shower or bathe and wear loose, clean clothing. If you wear a hoodie, make sure to have a lightweight top underneath as we will ask you to remove the hoodie during the examination and treatment. We will only lift portions of clothing to see specific areas like your back or knees. You won’t need to change into hospital gowns.
What will happen on my first ABC™ visit?
During your first visit, we will have a face-to-face consultation where we will discuss your symptoms, medical history, and treatment options. We will also explain how postural mechanics work and how our treatment can help. A physical examination and treatment session will also be done on the same day.
How many treatments will I need?
The number of treatments you will need depends on your goals, posture, and pain level. Most people experience significant relief within 6-12 weeks, with many feeling improvement after the first treatment. It can take up to three years or more to fully restore body alignment and function. We recommend a 4-6 week course initially (depending on frequency of visits), with a reassessment at the end of this period to help determine next steps.
There is no pressure to continue treatment beyond what you want or need.
After the initial course of treatment, there are different options available to suit your budget and goals. Visit the pricing page for more information.
Will the treatment be painful?
The majority of people experience no pain whatsoever. Some may experience no more than occasional short-lived discomfort which usually disappears by the end of the session.
What conditions do you treat?
Technically, we don’t treat any conditions directly. What we do is treat the key mechanical problems in the body, and as those improve, your body deals with the conditions naturally on its own.
A wide range of problems can be helped by Advanced Biostructural Correction, far more than most people realise due to the nature of how it works. Patients have reported many unexpected improvements to their health and body function as well as the expected ones. One fairly common one experienced by many is improvement in mood and energy.
In addition to things like back and neck pain, headaches/migraines, we can also help with sports injuries, “trapped” nerves (e.g. sciatica) and often many injuries involving the foot, ankle, shoulder, elbow and wrist, as most of these are ultimately secondary to other issues.
It is also worth pointing out that arthritic pain is likely to have come about due to poor posture, so many people with this diagnosis have also experienced great success with treatment.
I know someone who has a problem, but I’m not sure if you can help.
If you have friends or family who are suffering from any of the conditions listed above, do tell them about the clinic. We will always consult with you first (either by phone or in person) to make sure this is the right type of treatment for you.
For a more detailed explanation of the healing process, see the Treatment& Recovery Process page.
Understanding Why You’re In Pain
This Spine 101 video will help you understand things we will discuss during your appointment.