Three years ago, St. Patrick’s Day fell on a Tuesday. I will remember it for perpetuity, as that was also the Day I Went Online: my official first day of the pandemic. It was a weird day indeed. I had 6 or 8 “virtual” conversations that day (one with a new client I had not met before, an unfazed young woman who simply went with it) about this crazy and awful thing that had just happened to us. And 6 or 8 the next day, and the next, and for the next weeks and months well into 2021. I documented my impressions of those days in this blog, and re-reading them, it seems so alien! I’m glad I have the record.
Fast forward to St. Patrick’s Day 2023, and I have much better news: after a few false starts and a looong pandemic-related delay, my work partner and office founder Dr. Fred Mayer has finally accomplished a goal that we have both prized: the assemblage of a collective of unaffiliated but like-minded clinicians, with credentials and expertise in complementary areas of practice, to share space in our Avon office. The fully occupied Avon Integrative Health Center is now a terrific group of smart, simpatico, well-trained, experienced and grounded professionals, willing to work collaboratively and “across the aisle” in the interests of patients who may benefit from a broader approach. Such a setup allows access to medical consultation, chiropractic care, acupuncture, medical massage therapy AND mental health care. This is an extremely unusual arrangement, as most “integrative health” groups utilize both “eastern” (AKA alternative) and “western” (AKA traditional) approaches, but do not partner with mental health professionals. Similarly, mental health care rarely co-exists with on-site medical care. Given the obvious overlap of mental health concerns with physical health concerns, it only makes sense to partner and cooperate; "en-suite" is the ideal. The ability to consult with and refer to these professionals will be so helpful to me, and I'm really looking forward to it. It may very well be helpful to you, too. I am also hoping that I may be a resource to my new colleagues, and possibly, of service to some of their patients.
Wish us luck, and Slainte! Better days ahead.
