Lake Country, BC V4V 1H8
250-766-2141
"The nervous system holds the key to the body's incredible potential to heal itself."
-Sir Jay Holder, M.D., D.C., Ph.D., of Miami, Florida
About Us
Dr. Marty Thompson is originally from Kitscoty, Alberta. He graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa in 1997. Dr. Thompson had a practice in High Level, Alberta for 8 years before moving to the sunny Okanagan in September, 2006. He opened the doors to Health First Chiropractic in 2008 and has been serving the people of Lake Country and surrounding communities since.
How I Got Into Chiropractic
Dr. Thompson's initial chiropractic experience happened when he was 18 years old. He became very ill with a stomach problem. He went doctor to doctor looking for help with no resolve. He had lost 25 lbs in two weeks and was unable to keep any food or water down. It was at this time his mom referred him to a chiropractor. Dr. Thompson was very skeptical and wondered how a chiropractor could possibly help him with his condition. He didn't have any back pain.
Prior to his first visit, he was unable to keep food or water down without throwing it back up. So, he decided to take his mom's advice and seek chiropractic care.
His chiropractor explained how subluxations in the spine (when vertebrae interfere with nervous system function) prevent the body from functioning properly. Dr. Thompson still didn't understand how this would all relate to his stomach condition. His chiropractor went through a complete exam and adjusted Dr. Thompson. Minutes after his first adjustment, Dr. Thompson went to the water fountain and took a drink of water. For the first time in two weeks, he was able to keep water down.
At the time, Dr. Thompson was seeking an education in the healthcare field. After experiencing the miracle of chiropractic he quickly decided to change his focus and studied to become a chiropractor. Dr. Thompson has witnessed time and time again the miracle of chiropractic and the body's incredible ability to heal itself.
Dr. Amanda Skeen offers full spinal care with extra training in Upper Cervical Knee Chest adjustments and is Webster Certified. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with honours from Life Chiropractic College West (2010) in California as the class Salutatorian.
Prior
to graduate school, Dr. Skeen studied biology and chemistry at Northwest
Nazarene University in Idaho. She received numerous awards for academic
excellence including the honour of making the Dean's List, while playing NCAA
basketball for the women's team, The Crusaders.
Initially,
Dr. Skeen wanted to pursue traditional medicine but switched to alternative
medicine after she spent a summer in Mongolia working at a SOS clinic and she
truly recognized the power that alternative and natural approaches have on the
body when she was able to shadow doctors first hand in the traditional western
medical model and eastern holistic model.
She has personally enjoyed the
benefits of care throughout her years of competitive sports by keeping her
system fine tuned; healing fast through injuries, increased mental stamina and
clearness, being able to sleep through the night, improved immune function,
adapting and dealing to stressors better; all of which are from improved nervous
system function. As well as pre and post natal care throughout her pregnancies
to keep mom and baby’s nervous system tuned and healthy for growth and
development.
Dr. Skeen's philosophy is simple, and that is total health comes from within. The spine houses the nervous system which controls every function in the body, and caring for this system is the basis of all health. Her goal is to restore normal nervous system function to help patient’s live free from nerve interference and provide the ability to reach their health goals, naturally.
After five years of practicing as one of three Upper Cervical chiropractors in Idaho's Treasure Valley, Dr. Skeen relocated with her husband and two children to the Okanagan to be close to family. She enjoys being outdoors, playing volleyball, kayaking, paddle boarding, skiing and camping.