Meet Rebecca of Thrive Chiropractic Center

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca.

Hi Rebecca, 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?
While my story as a business owner is relatively short, everyone’s story truly starts at the beginning because we are who we are as a result of all of our experiences and how we choose to respond to them. I’ve always been driven with a need to succeed. That, along with perseverance and discipline are all important pieces. I’m most proud of the courage, honesty, integrity, curiosity and love that I’ve shown for myself and others on my journey. Those qualities are what really got me to where I am today.

So where am I? Currently I am a chiropractor, owner of Thrive Chiropractic Center in Grand Rapids, MI, wife, mother of 4, hobby gardener, and sourdough enthusiast. I started my chiropractic career as as an associate in 2015. I stayed at my first position for all of 3 months before I realized that practice was not a good fit for me. I gave my 2 week notice with no other job lined up with the fall back plan of going back to being a barista if necessary. Thankfully I was able to secure a new position with a wonderful practice for the next 2 years before the previous owner of Thrive planted a little seed about an opportunity to join her practice. After 6 years, she decided to transition to full time homeschooling and parenting and I transitioned to owner in August of 2023.

My favorite part in this journey started last fall. In November of 2024, the stars aligned just so and I began training with another doctor that I’ve admired for years. Dr. Marcia Schaefer founded the Schaefer Protocol which focuses foundational health essentials and redefines the meaning of health. While this protocol applies to every human, Dr. Schaefer has utilized this protocol in her office with couples experiencing fertility challenges. Her work is writing a new narrative regarding the causes of infertility and the office recently welcomed the 182nd protocol baby. Later this year, Schaefer protocol consulting will be available with me right here in Grand Rapids.

They say the first 2 years in business are the hardest. Since I haven’t yet seen my 3rd year, I will say that I hope the hardest parts are behind me! The first year felt like jumping in without knowing how to swim.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My education was in anatomy and physiology of the body, not a business so stepping into to role of owner and CEO was an immersive experience. I had to learn as I went. Countless hours were spent making phone calls to the state, IRS, insurance companies, banks, merchants, software, and other entities that are crucial to the infrastructure of a medical facility. I had to learn how the cash flowed through the office, learn the budget, learn how to read and understand the books. Medical insurance alone could be a months long course. As expected with a purchase, I dealt with employee turnover. When I purchased my practice in August, there were 6 employees. Two left in the first month, another in November, and another in December. To top it off, I was seeing approximately 600-650 patients per week and keeping a household afloat at home.

My original plan in the first few months was to hire a second chiropractor as the doctors are the biggest support to the business and my overhead demanded significant income. My associate started in November, experienced health challenges 2 weeks into employment, came back until the end of January before putting in her notice. I haven’t quite found the appropriate words to describe how utterly gutted I felt. My plan for success was shattered. Little did I know that it was a minor blip and a pivotal point in my future as a chiropractor and business owner.

As I course-corrected for said plan, my friend and fellow massage business owner, shared with me that a local yoga studio owner was in the process of creating a collective to support mothers from the preconception period through postpartum. Time was precious and I wasted none. I met with Heidi the week following my associates notice. The space was still just a vision in an old bi-level building with an atrocious floor plan. The space would be taken down to the studs, reconfigured to suit our needs, and then filled with a handful of professionals who specialized in prenatal and postpartum care and self care. It resonated perfectly with my niche and my whole body felt this was meant to be the next step.

I signed that week. February – August of 2024 was a blur of working with banks, construction crews, and friends and family as we constructed the new space while also packing up and moving from the old space. It stole time from my husband (who also started a new job that July). It robbed my children of my time and attention.

Making the move was a risk. It wasn’t too far, but it proved to be far enough. My patient visits started to fall as patients I saw at the old location realized the drive just didn’t fit into their life anymore. For a time I was concerned for the life of my business. Because of the choices I made, I essentially bought a business and also have had to build a new one. Sometimes I question my choices, but ultimately come back to knowing that every event and challenge along the way had a divine purpose and was a necessity in helping me evolve. All of life is an opportunity to learn so that we can use that knowledge for our future trials.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Thrive Chiropractic Center?
There is a plethora of ways that chiropractors practice and the longer I’ve practiced and experienced life, the more specific I’ve gotten. I specialize in the preconception period, pregnancy, and pediatrics. These populations deserve training beyond what we’re given in school and is where I choose to spend my time in continuing my education. I am Webster certified. Webster technique is a method of evaluating the sacrum and surrounding structures so that we can deliver a specific adjustment and work with surrounding the soft tissues. In doing so, we’re creating balance in the pelvis, which is the baby’s home until they come earthside. This technique has earned a reputation for “turning breech babies.” The truth in this statement is that we do often (but not always!) observe that babies oriented in the breech position will shift head down when space is created through alignment. Webster technique is well-known by our birth community here in Grand Rapids and OBs, midwives, and doulas will frequently refer their patients to Webster certified chiropractors.

My default technique is largely manual- that is, the stereotypical “pop and crack” type of adjustment. However, my goal is always to meet my patients where they are and have them feel safe and comfortable in my space. We always have a discussion on their comfort level when it comes to technique.

This leads to infant adjusting. Infants are adjusted with the gentlest fingertip pressure and no “popping or cracking.” I am so grateful for the opportunity to see so many newborns. Few things fill my cup as full as moms who bring their babies to their second appointment and tell me they have a completely different baby. Having been in that postpartum period a few times, I KNOW the drill. Rest, eat, sleep, hydrate AND feed baby, change baby, burp baby, rock baby, wash bottles, locate pacis, do laundry, cook food, clean house, chauffer older children, and the list goes on. For those moms who have fussy, gassy, spitty babies who latch poorly and can never be set down? I truly don’t know how they survive without chiropractic care for their infant.

So why is the adjustment helpful? Simply put, adjustments help the body to return to a state of ease. In a perfectly functioning healthy human, all bodily process should be working at their highest potential. For a baby, sleep should come easily, eating should come easily, and digestion and elimination should come easily. These are all a result of a properly functioning nervous system which serves as communication pathways from brain to body and body to brain. As chiropractors, we observe that the body will adapt to stresses which can lead to subluxations. Subluxations have potential to disrupt communication and therefore disrupt normal function. This translates to discomfort and symptoms. Tension, decreased range of motion, poor latch, spitting up, constipation, general fussiness, and the list goes on. Adjustments address the subluxations and often result in babies who are comfortable, calm, and content.

My goal is to create a safe and nurturing space where patients feel seen, supported, and inspired to heal. My approach is never about fixing people—it’s about meeting them where they are and offering the breadcrumbs that guide them toward their own transformation.
Driven by a love for whole-body wisdom and a desire to empower women navigating hormonal imbalances, fertility challenges, or simply feeling stuck in their health journeys, my work goes beyond adjustments. It’s rooted in compassion, transparency, and trust—because I believes healing is most powerful when it’s chosen, not imposed.
Whether you’re seeking answers your doctors haven’t found, a deeper connection with your body, or a guide who will walk beside you rather than pull you along, I’m is here to hold that space—gently, powerfully, and with love.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Trust. I think the way each of us defines success is unique to all of us. While I do strive for financial security, success for me means that I’m able to balance my time and energy between my business and my family while continuing to honor my needs and stay grounded. Small business ownership is not for the faint of heart. It can eat you from the inside out if you let it. For me, the key has been trust in the journey. Trusting that there will always be enough. Trusting that that the trials are the lessons. Trusting myself.

This isn’t blind trust. I still have observe metrics and tangible things and I consistently have to check in with myself to make sure that the current course is still in alignment. Trusting myself means I fundamentally know that what’s in alignment to me in this moment has a purpose. I am always right where I need to be.

Pricing:

• Initial consult + adjustment- $120
• Adjustment- $50
• Preconception consulting- TBD!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thrivechirocenter.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivechiropracticcenter/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thrivechirocenter
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/thrive-chiropractic-and-wellness-center-grand-rapids