Healing and Strength

06/30/2025

Perhaps the most challenging aspect of Counterstrain Mastery is having to unlearn--to let go of what wasn't working and drove us to Counterstrain in the first place.

To learn to identify dysfunctions as expressions of inflammatory stasis acting in our physiological systems via neural convergence at the interneurons frees the Counterstrainer from rigid protocols and allows them to explore the cues from our bodies with uncanny precision.

I could not be prouder of this amazing group that just completed the periosteal module of the Counterstrain curriculum. I'm happy to have served as a Teaching Assistant (TA) alongside the amazing Dr. Holly Christy as we guided this talented group.

Ensuring that the newer students embrace the Counterstrain principles without getting overwhelmed, while challenging the more experienced ones to hone their skills is a game of finesse, one I will never stop fine-tuning. I always come out of those events a better therapist.

Thank you all for the amazing opportunity. Looking forward to continue assisting you in future classes.

Coach Izzy

05/30/2025

That neck was rigid with almost no rotation or side-bend. But neck treatment was barely 10% of the treatment.

The remaining 90% of the work was in the thoracolumbar area--the junction of the thoracic and lumbar segments. There wasn't any magic or secret formula that took me there, but rather, the Counterstrain diagnostics process. It blows my mind how much this amazing therapeutic modality has evolved, making our treatment not only more powerful, but also longer-lasting.

Years ago I would've started with the cervical area, and justifiably so since there was so much rigidity and hypertonicity there. How things have changed! Even after all this time, I tend to question where the diagnostics process takes me, but it's been so reliable and accurate that I've learned to remove my opinions and just trust the process. The results only cement this trust.

What an amazing time to be a Counterstrain therapist! 😀😀😀

05/12/2025

It is a unique feeling, as though the elation of discovery and grief for a good friend mingled. The week is demanding but the rewards are priceless. There's a reason I continue returning to the unembalmed full-body and brain dissection course hosted by The Jones Institute year after year. I have yet to find another learning experience that opens my eyes to so many possibilities, and maybe, just may be ...

Well, please explore my latest post to find out.

https://healing-and-strength.com/maybe-just-maybe/

04/07/2025

The first steps in the journey of becoming a Counterstrain Therapist can be overwhelming. Not only are the classic paradigms of manual therapy shattered but one must also develop a brand-new set of skills to implement this modality to its full potential.

I remember those early days, and I also remember the key role the Teaching Assistants (TAs) played when my confidence faltered. They addressed my questions, guided me when I hesitated, but also knew when I could be on my own. Their expertise made each class a revelation.

How amazing to find myself in that role now. This first weekend of April 2025 gave me the chance to guide aspiring Counterstrain Therapists in the nuances of the spinal ligaments module. I could see myself through them and I loved seeing their eyes light up when my direction gave them A-Ha! moments. I was deeply moved when I received a Thank You card and a gift of chocolates from one of the students in the last day of class. Moments like this fuel me to keep learning and improving.

This experience is rewarding in many aspects. Dr. Holly Christy was the lead lab instructor and her wisdom and insights opened my eyes to new possibilities in a module I thought I knew fairly well. But the best part is that guiding others in that knowledge helped me embody it in a dimension that’s only reachable during teaching.

My deepest gratitude to Brian Tuckey, Kyle Kusunose, and The Jones Institute for giving me this amazing opportunity, and also to W***y Cherry and Sib Hildebrant for guiding us in the art of being an effective TA. And how I could not thank the amazing Holly Christy for her guidance, knowledge, wisdom, and inspiration. I loved being your TA and I’m very much looking forward to the next time.

03/29/2025

I'll be in San Diego in about a month to take part of this incredible experience again. For those who wonder why I keep returning, there are many good reasons.

As thorough and intense as the course is, I can only cover so much before I get overwhelmed. Returning gives me the advantage of familiarity which allows me to notice what I previously missed. Also, working on unembalmed bodies opens exploratory dimensions that are virtually impossible in embalmed donors.

Lastly, it's the company of some of the smartest and most passionate therapists I've yet met. It's such a privilege to have my testimonial featured among a few of them as they inspire me to keep improving.

Discover Anatomy Dissection, a hands-on journey through all systems of the human body! Hear what former students had to say about their experience working wi...

03/27/2025

Surgeries are so common nowadays that we have forgotten how unnatural they are. The mechanics of even the most common surgeries would be lethal if it wasn’t for modern medical skills and technology. It’s a perspective I present to frustrated patients whose expectations do not match their natural healing curve. I have to remind them that the impacts of their surgeries—while beneficial and even lifesaving—are far more reaching than what they see on the surface. They’re healing in multiple layers, not just the proverbial flesh wound.

Fortunately, there’s a lot that modern Counterstrain can do to optimize this healing. The latest Diagnostics class did not disappoint and the in-depth view of fibrosis—or scarring—and its impacts has opened lots of new treatment possibilities. I’m so grateful that all my training, practicing, and experience allows me to adopt the latest Counterstrain approaches immediately.

My classes continue blowing my mind and I’m only getting started. What an amazing time to be a Counterstrain therapist!

03/26/2025

This is a heads up for Wednesday March 26th, 2025. Be careful out there, please.

03/11/2025

So much gratitude for another incredible weekend of learning, and already putting all this knowledge to use. The aspect I truly appreciate in the Counterstrain field is that it challenges us to stay updated. This course debuted only in November of 2023, but the recent updates have taken it to new levels. I know of a couple of difficult cases who will benefit from draining the adipose inflammation from their patellas and elbows. What an amazing time to be a Counterstrain Therapist! 😃😃😃

03/02/2025

Not even 2 years into this amazing field, but I knew I couldn't get enough of it. Though I didn't quite know how, I knew it'd change lives, and I'm so grateful to all those who guided me, and continue guiding me, as I hone my skills and strive to be a better therapist.

Congrats to Izzy Sanchez for being recognized by Brian Tuckey during the SCS Neural course in San Diego. Brian reported that Izzy, despite being a relative newbie to SCS, scored higher on the Counterstrain accreditation test than anyone he has tested to date. No small feat indeed! Izzy has participated in the Fascial Counterstrain Internship at my office since the fall of 2012. He is currently enrolled in the advanced class, module 3 and credits his level of mastery if Counterstrain to his ongoing development through the internship program.

02/24/2025

Who better than the originator of Fascial Counterstrain to explain to us the nuts and bolts of the system? Let Brian Tuckey himself be your guide as he explains how Counterstrain has proven successful in some of the most complex cases.

In this episode, Brian Tuckey, a Board Certified Physical Therapist in Orthopedics, delves into the innovative technique of Fascial Counterstrain. He explains how this therapy identifies and removes trapped inflammation from the body, addressing t...

01/31/2025

Keeping an eye on the weather. The good news is that I’m prepared for this type of events and it should not be hard to reschedule your session—it that happens.

11/28/2024

What to do while waiting for the turkey 🦃 to finish roasting? How about brushing up on some knowledge with one of the best anatomy compendiums I’ve yet encountered? My gratitude to my fellow Counterstrainer, Emily Magers, for the recommendation. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone 😃