“Think for a moment how, across the world, someone’s life has just changed – irrevocably, permanently, and not necessarily for the better – and everything that was once so steady, so reliable, must now find a new way of unfolding.”
~~ John O’Donohue
A car accident can be that life-altering moment. It arrives without warning, and in an instant the body, mind, and nervous system are thrown into shock. One moment you’re driving through a familiar intersection, and the next you’re trying to make sense of what just happened, wondering how something so sudden can rearrange everything you counted on.
I know this experience firsthand. In December 2021, just two days before I was meant to open my new clinic in Sedona, a woman sped through a red light and collided with my car. I remember the sound, the jolt, the confusion afterward. I remember looking over and feeling immense relief that my dog was still alive. I had been in Sedona only a short time, and suddenly I was injured, shaken, sore, bruised, and facing a long recovery. With the right support, I did heal—but the experience changed the way I show up for people navigating their own recovery.
It deepened my devotion to helping others reclaim their bodies, their confidence, and their sense of safety after a motor vehicle accident.
Car accidents disrupt life in ways that aren’t always visible. There are the obvious injuries—whiplash, headaches, neck pain, back strain, joint trauma—but there are also the quieter layers: difficulty concentrating, irritability, disrupted sleep, feeling “off,” emotional overwhelm, and a nervous system that never quite settles. Even mild brain injuries can create cognitive fog, memory lapses, and a sense of disconnection that affects work, relationships, and daily routines.
One of the most important things I’ve seen in my practice is that early care makes a meaningful difference. The sooner the body receives support—physically, neurologically, and emotionally—the lower the risk of long-term complications. Prompt treatment helps prevent small misalignments from becoming structural patterns and helps the nervous system unwind before it becomes stuck in a protective loop.
At Portland Holistic Medicine in NW Portland, I draw on more than 25 years of clinical experience to help patients heal after vehicle accidents. My approach is comprehensive and tailored to the individual. Treatments may include acupuncture to calm the nervous system and reduce inflammation; myofascial release to ease muscular tension; craniosacral therapy to support the head, neck, and spine; homeopathy for trauma recovery; and nutritional counseling to reduce inflammatory load and support tissue repair.
I work closely with other trusted professionals—chiropractors, massage therapists, physical therapists, osteopathic physicians, primary care doctors, and attorneys—so that each patient has a complete team. Recovery from an accident is rarely a one-modality journey. It requires coordination, communication, and care that honors the physical, emotional, and energetic aspects of healing.
If you’ve been in a motor vehicle accident, your priority should be restoring your health so you can return to the life you had—or the life you want to create. You don’t have to navigate the healing process alone. My role is to help guide your recovery, support you physically and emotionally, and connect you with additional resources when needed.
If you’re ready to begin healing, I welcome you to reach out to Portland Holistic Medicine at 503-241-5094. I would be honored to support you on the path forward.