Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Jennifer McCleary.
Hi Dr. Jennifer, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I moved to St. Louis after college when I was just 23 years old. I came for one reason, to go to back to school and become a sports chiropractor. I stumbled across the profession when actively searching for a post graduate path and fell in love with the profession from the outside. My intrigue was that I found a profession based on applied anatomy and physiology which I have been fascinated about my whole life. It also emphasized the powerful capabilities of the human design for self regulation and healing. I couldn’t help but notice how happy the patients were at the offices I shadowed. They seems to be happy to be there and even more pleased when they left. I had never experienced a doctor’s appointment where people walked out of the door so upbeat and content. The word “patient” took on a new meaning for me and reframed what healthcare should be. It wasn’t solely about pain or injury it was about healing and being at your best. I wanted that.
I was fully immersed chiropractic school from 2002-2006. I began acupuncture courses on the weekends and I went to my first international sports competition as a exiting chiropractic student. Somehow found time to work as track coach in the spring and I develop a network of relationships that I can look back and see the relevance today. These people were in a wide range of industries from construction, non-profit, local government, legal, healthcare, fitness, and higher education and many became mentors and friends. I hear people say that St. Louis can be a difficult place to meet people, but that has not been the experience for me. I have had so many people to take me under their wing, and that was the primary reason I stayed in town up on graduation to start a private practice. Although my time is so much more limited than when I first started out I still make it a priority to network. This is a great way to give back. Plus, the people of St. Louis are what got me started and keeps me going.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not always been a smooth road, but that is the nature of entrepreneurship. My first major struggle was getting off the ground before almost running out of my start up capital in the first 12 months. Once I began to build momentum, things got much easier but it took about 4 years before I felt like I was truly comfortable in my business. The second major hurdle was running out of steam. Eventually I was running two location and over seeing a handful of employees. I was also teaching graduate courses at night and serving on the board of a local non-profit. I was faced with wanting to level up what I was doing as a sports chiropractic clinician, but consumed with the day to day operations. I could not do it all. When I took the time to audit my commitments and my long term goals, some things no longer aligned. I decided to let some things go. I required me to move into one central location (which is how I got to Clayton). I started taking more on more rehabilitation specific certifications and sports chiropractic opportunities again. This transition also allowed me to have the time to focus on having a family of my own. There have been a number of other challenges along the way. Some you expect like staffing changes, or economic ups and downs. Others you would never expect like the COVID pandemic. My current challenge now is not having enough time to do it all! Being a mom is my hardest and most rewarding role yet, but that fire for the way I am serving my community is still hot. I am a sprinter inside and out so I move fast. That also means I have to be intentional about taking time to recharge. There no doubt I work hard, but self care is layered into my every day. It is more than making time to get a massage or an adjustment. It includes the many little habits that I do more regularly like journaling, day dreaming, singing, laughter, supplements, mindfulness, organization strategies, lifting heavy, learning something new for fun. We all have a collection of puzzle of pieces that make us feel whole. That thread of wellness along with being driven by purpose to inspire others is what carries me along. Despite specific obstacle I have found you handle them pretty much the same, one day at a time. It helps to be resourceful, organized, and determined.
As you know, we’re big fans of Triad Sports & Family Chiropractic. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I have been in private practice as a chiropractor for 19 years where I provide holistic healthcare options for those looking to be the best version of themselves. Some of our primary services include: chiropractic care, soft tissue work, acupuncture and dry needling, corrective exercise plans, and nutrition. We address pain and injury, underlying movement dysfunction and recommend strategies for optimal performance. Some people have called me Dr. Bones or The Body Mechanic which I feel that this is such a wonderful compliment from the mechanistic view point but the laws of physics also apply down to a cellular and even molecular level. By working with individuals through a vitalistic lens I acknowledge the adaptive nature of the body and uniqueness of what each person may need to heal.
I feel one thing that really sets me apart is the space that I have created for safety and connection. I have found that I attract people of all walks of life who have a desire for healing on some level. I treat each person as an individual while still seeking common ground in what makes us human.
Most recently I decided to take on a new venture and open a wellness center, Flow State Holistic Health. I brought the best of what the community has known as Triad Sports & Family Chiropractic with me but now have room for other holistic services in one space. We have multiple modalities of body work, assisted stretching, therapeutic massage, energy work, and shamanic healing. There is also a movement studio for classes and trainings. We are also adding on functional medicine and mental health offerings soon. People can learn more about holistic healthcare options and living a life in flow by visiting www.flowstateholistichealth.com
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My parents should be at the top of the list because they are my biggest cheerleaders. They not only believed in me from the start but also loaned me some of the money I used to open my doors in 2006. Beyond that I have had so many supporters it is hard to name them all without leaving someone important out. I will say every person who has taken the time to do an online review is a supporter. Those willing to sit down over coffee and be vulnerable about the struggles of small business is a supporter. The practitioners willing to trade services that keeps me mentally and physically strong is a supporter. Those who wrote letters of recommendation for jobs and opportunities in sports are supporters. Anyone that has given me a platform to speak and reach the community is a supporter. All of those that considered me or my services on any level are supporters.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.triadchiropractic.net
- Instagram: @triadchiro_drj
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jennifer-mccleary-6604513/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/triad-sports-and-family-chiropractic-clayton-2
- Other: https://www.flowstateholistichealth.com/
