The door to the chiropractic room clicks shut, Dr. Jones turns around to face me, and I am immediately at ease in the warmth of her welcoming smile. In my 10 years working alongside chiropractors, acupuncturists, naturopathic doctors, and massage therapists, I’ve come to experience many different approaches to bodywork. At a minimum, you want to know you’re in the hands of someone who knows their stuff. Ideally, you find someone who’s generally pleasant to connect with and skilled. But when you’re lucky, you find yourself in the care of someone who recognizes your humanity and approaches you with true compassion – in addition to being easy to connect with, highly skilled and knowledgeable. Dr. Tracey Jones is the latter, and we are so fortunate to have her practicing at The Wellness Center.
Our discussion was full of insight and laughter. I left feeling inspired and eager to get on her treatment table and was offered her usual closing: a healing hug.
A Natural Healing Approach to Back Injury
Dr. Tracey Jones is a Doctor of Chiropractic, now in her 18th year of practice. “I have this connection to natural healing,” Dr. Jones explains. “Always, since I was a child, I remember not really wanting to take medication, wanting my body to heal naturally…I’ve always been drawn to it.” Her interest led her to a degree in kinesiology from the University of Boulder before a series of back injuries led her to chiropractic medicine.
“I was a pre-physical therapy major in college when my initial back injury happened, so I knew how to take care of it myself. I did all of the things and it took a very, very, very, very, very long time. I reinjured it again some years later and someone recommended I see a chiropractor. So I did and lo and behold within a week, I could tell the difference. Within 2-3 weeks, my back pain was completely gone!” Dr. Jones went on to tell me the chiropractic treatments were not only pain free but her recovery required no medication or surgery. “Just the power of the body’s ability to heal.” She adds, “When I found chiropractic care, that’s when I said, ‘okay this is it, this is the path forward.’” She went on to pursue her prerequisites from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Florida before graduating and launching her practice.
Spinal Maintenance with a Family Practitioner
Over the last 18 years, Dr. Jones has established herself as a Family Practitioner. Roughly half of her practice is helping folks recover from motor vehicle injuries or slip and fall injuries. The other half of her practice is much broader. She works with men, women, and all ages from infants to seniors. Similar to a primary care provider, she explains, “I don’t necessarily have a specialty in chiropractic. There’s pediatrics, sports, functional medicine, and all different types. If I feel a patient would benefit from that kind of care, then I have no problem in referring.” You can think of her as the first line of defense for musculoskeletal issues. “This body we’re in requires a team effort from all healthcare providers,” she explains. For those who wish to start with a gentle and non-invasive option, begin here.
“People generally come to me because something hurts,” Dr. Jones says. “And that’s fine. But chiropractic isn’t just about ‘let me fix it.’ A lack of pain is not an indicator of good health. Once you get out of pain, we need to talk about maintenance and what does that look like? We have maintenance for our teeth, we have maintenance for our heart, we have maintenance for our hair. We have maintenance for everything but a lot of people don’t realize you need maintenance for your spine. Your spine holds the nerves to every part of your body, including your brain. So, you need to care for that. It’s important.”
Auto-Accident Injuries & Slip and Falls
Of course, there will be times when you need emergency care. “I tell patients all the time, if by chance, let’s say you fall and you hit your head, you’re going to have a big gash in your head. There’s nothing I can do about that gash. You’re going to have to go into the ER. You’re going to have to get that gash taken care of. You may need meds. You may need stitches. But then you’re going to have to come see me because you have probably done something to your neck and back.”
Dr. Jones explains that recovery from an injury is often a longer process than anticipated. Let’s say you’ve been in an auto-accident. This may mean you’re dealing with a more complex set of injuries. Whiplash impacts everything from the neck to the low back. Often collision accidents involve knee and shoulder injuries from impact and seat belts. This recovery process will require more frequent visits and more attention to detail. Dr. Jones is unique among providers in that she offers extremity adjustments and can tend to shoulders, knees, wrists, etc. as well as the spine. Another trait that sets her apart in injury recovery care is her depth of experience. She knows the ins and outs of working with lawyers and insurance and she’ll ensure the T’s are crossed, and the I’s are dotted for legal and medical documentation.
Gentle & Effective Care
What I found to be truly striking about Dr. Jones during our discussion was how tangible her compassion is for those in her care. Before we met for our interview, I’d heard clients saying things like, “I felt so safe in Dr. Jones’ room,” and “I was able to release things with her that nobody’s ever released before because I’ve never felt that safe or comfortable.”
When I asked her about this, I immediately understood why patients were responding this way to her approach. “I’m touching people,” she explains. “And when you touch people, you have to be compassionate because that’s a sacred space for me to touch you. I’m not just sitting here talking, I have to put my hands on you. If you think about when people touch you, you allow touch you when you feel safe. This is more than just a handshake, I’m entering into your personal space, and that engagement needs to be compassionate. I have to come with caring intention and energy. There’s an honor in which I feel…how would I say this? Privileged. I feel privileged and honored my patients allow me to help them heal and get rid of some of ‘that stuff.’ So, yeah, I’m intentional about being compassionate. I’m intentional about caring for my patients.”
A Gem Among Doctors
Dr. Jones brings an approach that is not only humanizing and caring, but effective. The spine is key to your nervous system. To adjust the spine, to touch the body, is to impact the nervous system. When we feel soothed in the presence of a practitioner, our bodies are better able to receive the healing benefits of their work. We leave feeling lighter, less pained, and more grounded in our own bodies.
Dr. Jones is a gem among doctors and body workers. She is skilled and experienced. She can support you with general maintenance for longevity, improved mobility, and overall well-being. She can support you on your path to recovery after auto-accidents, falls, and injuries. She works with all ages and genders and is experienced enough to know how to adapt her care to each unique body and its own unique needs. She works seamlessly with other healthcare providers, lawyers, and insurance providers to create the most supportive team for your care possible. She’s a delight to be in the treatment room with and she always ends a session by offering a healing hug.
The Wellness Center is holistic health center in the Glendale, Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. We offer therapeutic massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic care. We are a small, local, woman-owned business supporting the health of local community for more than 25 years.