After patients began showing up at her clinic with improvements in their health conditions that Dr. Christy had not been able to help with the tools she had in her toolbox, she asked why. It turns out, they had started seeing a Fascial Counterstrain practitioner in her building - Timothy Hodges - and so she booked a session to see for herself what this was all about. After her first appointment, she immediately sought out training and mentorship to become a certified practitioner herself.

Despite encountering new, complex health cases decades into her medical practice, Dr. Christy continues to be impressed by the healing made possible by Fascial Counterstrain. When she juxtaposes the immense healing potential of Counterstrain combined with the fact that it struggles with an obscurity problem, constantly drives Dr. Christy to seek out new ways to spread awareness and educate health care providers and everyday people alike.

This inspired her to co-found the Bridge Back Project in 2016, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization on a mission to bring Fascial Counterstrain to the world, restore hope, and promote healing. Tackling the accessibility issue is at the heart of every project and program the organization offers. At the time of recording, the organization directly funds Counterstrain care for underserved communities. It also develops education projects - like this podcast - to build public awareness about Fascial Counterstrain as a viable treatment option for a wide variety of health conditions. Other program initiatives include funding clinical research trials to measure and verify the effects of Fascial Counterstrain, and working with leading US Counterstrain education institutions to build a Practitioner Scholarship Program that expands training opportunities for healthcare providers who face additional barriers and/or who are working with underserved and at risk populations.

Guest Information and Bio: Dr. Holly Christy, ND, LAEMP, CACI, JSCCI | she/her

Dr. Christy co-founded The Bridge Back Project in October of 2017 and is the principal investigator and executive director. She is passionate about providing a research-based treatment to help ease suffering for those who have suffered from post-traumatic stress injuries.

Dr. Christy has been trained in the highly specialized technique of Fascial Counterstrain by Tim Hodges, LMP, JSCCI, CACI, and Brian Tuckey, PT, OCS, JSCCI, both of whom have been pioneering an effort to expand the methodology of Counterstrain to effectively restore function to the fascial systems of the body: Visceral, Neural, Cranial/Dural, Musculoskeletal, Arterial, Venous, and Lymphatic. She is an instructor for the Counterstrain Academy and the Jones Institute, and a graduate and clinical adjunct faculty member of Bastyr University.

A lifelong Washingtonian, Dr. Christy earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington, Master of Acupuncture from Northwest Institute of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, and Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University. She has been in practice since 2000.

Get In Touch with Holl

The Bridge Back Project

• Support the Bridge Back Project Today: Donate Here
• Our Website
• Our Youtube Channel
• Our Instagram
• Our Facebook

Find a Fascial Counterstrain Practitioner Near You:

• 3rd Party Practitioner Directory

Credits:

Host: Theora Moench
Editor: Haley Diaz
Executive Producer: Bridge Back Project
Music: bensound.com “New Frontier” - License code: PUUI20THRCM9CSDQ

Mark Vennerholm shares his journey from being in the Navy to becoming a dedicated Fascial Counterstrain practitioner. He initially joined the Navy with the goal of becoming a Navy SEAL. After serving on two different carriers and pursuing various avenues within the Navy, Mark eventually had to make the hard decision to change career paths due to severe, persistent, life-threatening health issues.

In his search to find effective treatment for the symptoms he was experiencing, he discovered Counterstrain through a naturopathic doctor - Dr. Holly Christy - and experienced significant, rapid improvements in his health where other treatments had failed to yield results.

Mark quickly realized that becoming a Fascial Counterstrain practitioner, could be a fulfilling way to help patients like him, particularly those in the military community. Mark now works as a full-time Fascial Counterstrain provider in San Diego and helps his patients understand the interconnectedness of their symptoms. He emphasizes the importance of treating the whole body and finding the root cause of pain and dysfunction.

During his manual therapy training, Mark encountered concerning misconceptions about what Counterstrain really is, even within the manual therapy sector. Despite the challenges of explaining to others what exactly Counterstrain is and how it works to, he highlights the potential for both effective treatment and preventive care through Counterstrain, naturopathy, and other multi-system healthcare approaches. He encourages listeners to explore the healing possibilities of Fascial Counterstrain and consider "alternative" healing methods, especially where more traditional care strategies have failed.

Guest Information and Bio: Mark Vennerholm, CMT, HHP | he/him

Mark graduated from the International College of Holistic Studies (ICOHS) as a Certified Massage Therapist (CMT), Holistic Health Practitioner (HHP) and also has a degree in Aviation: Professional Pilot from Oklahoma State University. Mark received Counterstrain treatments from Dr. Kyle Kusunose (San Diego, CA) and Dr. Holly Christy (Poulsbo, WA) while serving in the U.S. Navy and was blown away by the outstanding results he experienced receiving Counterstrain and other whole-body care strategies he employed. After spending six years in the Navy, he felt the calling to change career paths and become a Counterstrain Specialist so that he could help others find pain relief the same way that he had. Mark likes to run trails, work out, and spend time with his wife, Reanna, and two dogs.

Get In Touch with Mark:

• You can contact Mark through the Counterstrain San Diego Clinic

The Bridge Back Project

• Support the Bridge Back Project Today: Donate Here
• Our Website
• Our Youtube Channel
• Our Instagram
• Our Facebook

Find a Fascial Counterstrain Practitioner Near You:

• 3rd Party Practitioner Directory

Credits:

Host: Theora Moench
Editor: Haley Diaz
Executive Producer: Bridge Back Project
Music: bensound.com “New Frontier” - License code: PUUI20THRCM9CSDQ

In this episode, Haley Cari, a Physician Assistant, Counterstrain provider, and co-host of the Doing It Disabled podcast, shares her journey of living with chronic illness and the transformative impact of Fascial Counterstrain therapy. Diagnosed with POTS, Haley discusses how Counterstrain has helped her manage symptoms, and maintain a fulfilling career. She reflects on how her experiences as a patient living with a disability have shaped her approach to health care and health advocacy. Haley opens up about navigating a healthcare system that often dismisses chronic conditions, emphasizing the importance of self-advocacy and effective treatment.

Haley is eager to amplify awareness about Counterstrain therapy's applications, especially within the Latin community and other underserved populations. She's observed significant healing and relief in her pain management patients and is eager to make Counterstrain more available to those currently without access to help her patients' heal.

Haley also discusses her work with Doing It Disabled, a podcast she co-hosts that empowers individuals with health conditions and disabilities to live life and pursue dreams on their own terms. Through her business, Humerus Med, and her advocacy efforts, Haley is paving the way for a more inclusive, understanding, and accessible healthcare system.

Guest Bio:
Haley Cari, DMSc, PA-C (she/her/ella), is a Cuban-American physician associate from Miami, FL. Diagnosed with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) in 2020 after navigating her own complex health journey, Haley has dedicated her career to serving patients in family medicine, functional medicine, and pain management. She began Counterstrain training in 2023. She is also the co-host of the Doing it Disabled podcast and founder of The Humerus Med, a social advocacy company supporting chronically ill and disabled medical professionals.

Get in Touch with Haley:

• Haley's Instagram
• Doing it Disabled Instagram:
• Email: doingitdisabledpod@gmail.com

Links:

• Jeffrey Bender MPT, JSCC - in Miami, FL
• Brian Tuckey, PT - in Frederick, MD
• Chronically Fit Group - fitness community for the chronically ill founded by Charlotte Bull
• Carolina Functional Neurology Center
• POTS Coach - Rosie Bailey
• The Humerus Med
• Listen to Doing It Disabled Podcast cohosted by Haley Cari and Catalina Ritzinger
  • Episode mentioned: What is Autistic Burnout?

The Bridge Back Project

• Support the Bridge Back Project Today: Donate Here
• Our Website
• Our Youtube Channel
• Our Instagram
• Our Facebook

Find a Fascial Counterstrain Practitioner Near You:

• 3rd Party Practitioner Directory

Credits:

Host: Theora Moench
Editor: Haley Diaz
Executive Producer: Bridge Back Project
Music: bensound.com “New Frontier” - License code: PUUI20THRCM9CSDQ