Meet the Doctors

MICHELLE ARIETTA, DC

Chiropractic saved my life!  After being involved in a “minor” single car motor vehicle accident at the age of 17, I didn’t think much of it walking away with "no injuries".  But three months after that I began to have excruciating lower back pain and difficulty moving and feeling my legs.  Thank God, my dad said to go to a chiropractor.  I went the very next day, and after an exam and x-rays, the chiropractor sat down with me and my parents and showed them what was wrong.  Turns out – in that “minor” accident, I had fractured one of my vertebra, and the stress from that accident had caused my spine to misalign in several areas.  I was back to walking in just a few visits and the pain was nearly gone after about a month.  That was just the beginning.

Half way through undergrad, I got the opportunity to work in a chiropractic office.  I was so excited – I thought I knew everything about chiropractic from my previous experience.  The truth was I knew very little.  I knew that chiropractic could help low back pain and leg pain, but then I saw it help even more.  Babies with colic – soothed, a man with a rash on his arm cleared up.  A 9-year old girl that began falling behind in school, and her parents could only say that she had fallen off the “monkey bars” just a few months prior.  She got right back to the head of her class after starting care.  A woman with migraine headaches so bad, she would go to the hospital for shots of medicine every month at age 23, well her headaches went away too.   There was even this hairdresser who practically crawled in one day and was bent in half and gripping the walls – she walked out almost straight and without hanging on to the walls.  You can see how my new job made a huge impact, I remember these stories like they were yesterday.  The “Wellness Chiropractors” I worked for not only helped people with various aches and pains, but they helped to live an overall healthier life.

About the saving my life bit.  While my lower back and leg pain had mostly subsided with a few flare ups, I still lived every day taking 6-8 Advil a day.  That’s how I kept those horrible headaches away.  I also took Claritin everyday to keep those pounding sinus allergies and infections away.  My menstrual cycle varied from 19-42 days and I had cramps so bad they would keep me home in bed.  At 19, to say I was living wasn’t really a good base.  I decided to let the chiropractors I was working for check me.  Turns out that even though I didn’t feel pain in my lower back, it was extremely tender to the touch.  My neck and mid back had the wrong curves.  I began getting adjusted regularly.  My headaches began to go away first.  Then my cycle started to regulate, and by the time the next “allergy season” had come and gone I hadn’t gotten an infection for the first time in over 5 years.  I had completely forgotten about taking Claritin, and I really didn’t take any drugs anymore.  My kidneys thank me for that! 

The great thing was that neither of these chiropractors “treated” my symptoms.  They simply found areas of my spine that were interfering in my nervous system, adjusted those areas and allowed my body to work the way it was designed to!  I knew I wanted to help people and now I knew just how I could do it!

I decided to go to Life Chiropractic College West, in Hayward, CA, and graduated in 2002. What an education.  I walked away from school with a profound understanding of how amazing the human body really is!  The nervous system controls and regulates every cell in the body and as a Chiropractor, I am going to be able to help make sure this system works so that people can express a higher level of function. I couldn't wait to graduate and share my knowledge and aspirations with families and the community.

Our office is very inviting and friendly.  We have a lot of families here so there is a big playroom and a library of books that offer information on health and wellness issues.  Sharing healthy habits with our children is a way for families to interact with each other but also helps them grow to be healthier and happier people!" (Ask us for more information about Chiropractic care for pregnant moms and children).

When I’m not hoppin’ around the office taking care of folks, I enjoy camping, hiking, being outdoors, and going for bike rides, as well as spending good times with great people.

Hey, enough about me! How can we help you and your family with today’s safe and natural chiropractic care? Give us a call so we can help you take your first step towards better health.

JULIE RESTAD, DC

I was born and raised in the Sacramento area in a home where the question was, which college are you going to, not are you going to college.  I thought I was going to be an anesthesiologist and I headed off to UCSB at eighteen years old.  Two years into my education at UCSB, I realized that I didn’t want to go to medical school nor did I have any desire to live that kind of life, give out medication or cut things out of people. 


My college friend and neighbor opened my eyes to chiropractic.  She explained to me that there was this health care profession that allowed me to use my hands and help people heal naturally.  Her father is a chiropractor in Ventura, only 30 minutes south of UCSB.  I started to see him regularly and began to breathe easier and find less asthmatic difficulties while working out.  I knew I had found my career.  I always joke now that I was supposed to be either a chiropractor or a mechanic.

My story doesn’t stop there, because I merely knew WHAT I wanted to do, the real charge behind it came later with more education.  After I graduated from UCSB, w/a BS in biopsychology, I got married to my husband, Kyle. 

Our first year of marriage was challenging to say the least.  Right after we got back from our honeymoon, Kyle was diagnosed with familial adenoma polyposis.  For the next year we spent it, in and out of doctor’s offices and hospitals.  My husband had two major surgeries, complications that almost cost him his life.  During this time one of my jobs was actually an internship I had at a local chiropractic office. 

Dr. Troy Sorensen had all the chiropractic philosophy I needed to build a great foundation.  Through his mentorship I learned about what chiropractic was really about, and realized I had found my true calling and purpose in life.  He guided me to Life Chiropractic College West where my philosophy grew even stronger through great teachings and great friendships. 

I graduated magna cum laude from Life Chiropractic College West in March of 2005, and was an honors intern during my clinical portion of schooling.  At the end of school, I volunteered for a chiropractic mission trip to El Salvador, where Kyle and I along with 30 other interns and 20 chiropractors, spent a week adjusting thousands of Salvadorians in need of care. 

Kyle and I moved to Sacramento and I started my first practice in Folsom.  I quickly learned that running my own business was more than I wanted to do all by myself.  I called a friend of mine whom was also looking for something different, and asked her to go into business together… and she said yes!  I knew she was my opposite, but I had no idea just how well we would complete each other.

We both loved Petaluma, so Petaluma it was.  And we decided this would be our dream practice.   We wanted this to be the most advanced, subluxation based chiropractic office in town.  Our goal was to provide the best care we could, while educating our community on how to live a healthier, happier life.  After experiencing my own sports injuries to the wrists, shoulders, knees, ankles and feet I took special interests in these areas, along with nutrition and specific deep muscle work while in school.  In addition, it is a joy of mine to work on children and expecting mothers, helping all ages to maximize their health and wellness.

I am a Rotarian in the Petaluma Valley Rotary, a chamber member and have volunteered at the local shelter providing chiropractic care to those less fortunate.  Kyle and I currently live in Petaluma with our two dogs Dakota (a golden retriever) and Dudley (a black lab mix).  I enjoy playing volleyball, skiing, wine tasting, working out, running with my dogs, camping, expanding my knowledge of nutrition, reading, dancing and swimming with my niece and nephews. 
 

 

Meet Our Staff

Our staff has been helping people live pain free since this clinic opened in Petaluma, CA 94952. The staff is experienced and committed to promoting health.

Adina

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Jennifer

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Jackie Lussier, CMT

I have been practicing the healing art of massage since 2001.  I am skilled in a wide variety of techniques and together we will create a customized massage based on your specfic health goals.  We may also integrate guided visualization and pranayama (yogic breathing exercises) into your session.  This allows us to quiet the mind and tune into the subtle messages your body is communicating.  Health is not a state of body, it's a state of being. Moment by moment, breath by breath, we have the choice to move towards health, regardless of what health challenges you may be experiencing.  I look forward to working with you towards your optimum health and well being.

 

Lani Basich, CMT

I am a graduate of the nationally accredited school of massage therapy, National Holistic Institute. I seek to provide our clients with a safe, warm, and relaxing environment while giving them a richly compassionate, and knowledgeable massage tailored to their individual needs. I specialize in modalities such as Swedish, Deep tissue, Shiatsu, Trigger point therapy, Energy work, and Sports massage. I look forward to helping our clients achieve improved health and relaxation through therapeutic massage.