You started your career with a degree in business. What led you to pivot and go back to school to be a chiropractor?
I played competitive volleyball for about 10 years, leaving me with chronic pain. I had been seeing a traditional chiropractor since my teens. But it wasn't until I had finished with my undergrad and was ready to be starting my life that I stumbled upon chiropractors doing these really weird techniques. I had always thought that chiropractors just cracked and popped your spine and made you feel good temporarily. Then I stumbled upon one doing this strange and bizarre technique. Once I started receiving care at their practice, that’s when everything started changing in my body. My physical pain went away. My neck and back stopped constantly hurting. It was life-changing. Not only was my body healing, but I found an outlet for my lifelong fascination with the human body. And that’s when I found myself going back to school to become a chiropractor.

I know you do something special with the skull. You're like one out of 350 in the world that are trained for this. Can you tell me about that?
I also do another technique called Cranial Facial Release, which is balloon-assisted adjusting. This is where I insert a small balloon into the nose. It helps to adjust and shift your cranial bones and open up your breathing passageways.

What are some symptoms that I might need my face adjusted?
This technique helps people breathe better. So if you’ve ever broken your nose or fallen and had a head injury, you might not be able to breathe out of one side as effectively as you should. Your symptoms might be recurrent sinus infections, headaches or sinus headaches, sleep problems, hyperactivity, and more. It can even help with better brain function as well.

What's your superpower?
I’m usually pretty sensitive to what people are feeling. I’d say I’m empathic.

With Covid, many business people have found themselves pivoting. How have you found yourself pivoting to realign your business for the future?
Crazily enough, right before covid hit, I decided to buy a practice and do hands-on chiropractic work. Coincidentally I had already been working on creating a virtual program before the opening of my office. My vision has always been to be able to help more people across a wider range of places and areas that they might need help with. So, I’ve created virtual programs around people’s health. One of them is a 5-day challenge that helps people in the areas of mindset, their body, nutrition, goals, and putting it all together. It inspires you to look at these areas and evaluate which areas you really need the most work in. From there I offer a program specific to their goal.

In addition to my virtual programs, I also offer functional medicine and work with people remotely to help them optimize their health.

What advice would you give to your early 20-something self?
Figure out what you really want to do. What really lights you up? You should do that. If you don’t know what that is, just be adventurous and try different things. Don’t pursue something you think you have to do or what your parents think you should do. It’s so important to pursue your own interests. If you’re doing something that you find fascinating, when the going gets tough, it’s that deep-seated interest that will give you the strength to keep going.

What’s a favorite quote that you run in your head a lot?
“This too shall pass.” I know that’s not very inspirational, but there have been some tough times lately that really make it relevant to today. Whatever’s going on that seems really difficult right now, just know that this too shall pass.

What is something you want everyone to know about health and wellness?
That’s a big rabbit hole we could go down! But if we have to talk about one thing and one thing only, for most people it’s a lack of energy. Most of the time that’s what’s causing some other ailment to go on. So, if we can figure out what’s causing us a lack of energy then we can start solving that problem. Is it a toxin, a bug, our diet, a sleep issue? If we can start solving that problem, however slow it is, then our life will start to turn around. When we’re stuck, in any area of our life, it’s so important to seek help. Take an inventory of your life to see what you need to work on. I guarantee you, there is a coach out there that can help you in whatever areas you want to improve.

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about your practice?
Yes! Whether you live here in Denver or are out of state, I’m always available for a free foundational medicine consultation to see if it’s a good fit for working with me. This is where I’ll chat with you to see where your problem areas are and if I can’t help you, at minimum, I’ll be able to provide counsel on the type of provider you should seek out as your next step.

Dr. Michelle MacCarthy specializes in Network Chiropractic Care and Cranial Facial Release. Her practice, Wellness Rhythms Chiropractic, is located in Denver, Colorado.