What Makes Care at Stockheart Gentle - And Effective

Written By Michele Renee

A trauma-informed approach to root cause healing in Minneapolis

Why This Matters

You’ve tried everything your doctor recommended. You’ve gone gluten-free, taken the supplements, added magnesium, stretched more, slept more—but the pain is still there. Your jaw stays tight, your head aches, your body feels like it’s always on alert.

You’re not imagining it. And you’re not broken.

At Stockheart Whole Health in Minneapolis, we understand what it’s like to live in a body that feels stuck in overdrive. That sense of being wired and tired at the same time isn’t “just stress”—it’s your nervous system sounding the alarm.

The good news? You can heal. Gently. Effectively. From the inside out.

What the Nervous System Actually Does

Your nervous system is your body’s communication hub—sending signals back and forth between your brain and every organ, muscle, and cell. It helps you survive danger, but it’s also designed to help you rest, digest, and repair.

Think of it like a dimmer switch between go mode (sympathetic, or fight/flight) and restore mode (parasympathetic, or rest/digest).

But chronic stress, trauma, or even unresolved physical strain can get that switch stuck. Instead of smoothly shifting between states, your body might stay revved up—even when you’re exhausted.

That’s where many chronic symptoms begin.

What It Feels Like When the Nervous System Is Out of Balance

When your nervous system is stuck in survival mode, it doesn’t always feel like panic. Sometimes it just feels like everything is harder than it should be.

You might notice:

  • Chronic pain in the jaw, neck, back, or shoulders

  • Tension that comes back, no matter how much you stretch or rest

  • Migraines or sensory overwhelm—like lights, noise, or even smells feel “too much”

  • Fatigue that isn’t fixed by sleep

  • Brain fog, forgetfulness, or a sense of “static” in your thinking

  • Irritability or emotional swings that feel out of proportion

  • Digestive issues like bloating, reflux, or constipation

  • Trouble falling asleep—or waking up feeling unrested

These aren’t random. They’re your body waving a flag, saying: I’m still in defense mode. I haven’t felt safe in a while.

You might look fine on the outside—but internally, your system is constantly scanning for danger, stuck in a loop of tension and hypervigilance. And over time, that takes a toll.

At Stockheart, we help you listen to those signals with compassion—and gently guide your system back toward calm, balance, and repair.

The Root Cause Approach—Not Just Symptom Management

Many people come to us after years of patchwork care. One provider for migraines. Another for digestion. A different plan for fatigue. It can feel disjointed, frustrating—and frankly, exhausting.

We do things differently.

At Stockheart, we look beneath the surface. We ask:
What is your nervous system trying to tell us?
Where is your body holding tension, inflammation, or trauma?
What root imbalances—hormonal, structural, emotional—are contributing to these patterns?

When you address the root, not just the symptoms, the healing becomes real. And sustainable.What Science Tells Us—and What It Doesn’t

Modern medicine has made important strides in understanding autoimmune disease. We know that genetics, infections, environmental toxins, and lifestyle factors can all play a role. There's also growing evidence that the nervous system—and particularly how it responds to stress—can impact immune function. When the nervous system stays stuck in a “fight, flight, or freeze” state, inflammation often increases, and the immune system can become dysregulated over time.

Yet despite these advances, there’s still a lot we don’t fully understand. Many autoimmune conditions disproportionately affect women, but research has historically underrepresented them. Symptom expression is highly individualized, and many people don’t meet the narrow diagnostic criteria used in conventional care. This can leave patients feeling unseen, misdiagnosed, or forced to prove their suffering.

That’s why a whole-person, integrative approach is so powerful. At Stockheart, we look at your body’s systems as interconnected—and we treat you as a whole human being, not just a diagnosis or lab result.

How We Help at Stockheart Whole Health

At our clinic in Uptown Minneapolis, our care is gentle by design—and grounded in deep respect for your body’s cues. We specialize in nervous system regulation, structural alignment, and functional root-cause healing. Every technique we offer is chosen for its ability to restore balance without overwhelm.

Here’s how we support whole-person healing:

👐 Directional Non-Force Technique® (DNFT)
→ Gentle, precise adjustments without cracking or thrusting, offered by Dr. Brenna
→ Uses subtle reflex cues to guide the body back into alignment
→ Calms nervous system overactivity while addressing structural imbalance

🌬️ Low-Force Chiropractic Techniques
→ Safe and supportive for sensitive or trauma-affected bodies
→ Offers relief without intensity—ideal for chronic pain, migraines, and nervous system dysregulation
→ Offered by Dr. Renee and Dr. Thompson with care, intuition, and respect for your limits

🧠 Craniosacral Therapy
→ Light-touch bodywork that soothes the fight-or-flight response
→ Helps your body feel safe, spacious, and at ease
→ Especially helpful for jaw tension, trauma recovery, and fatigue

🧲 Anatomically Specific Soft Tissue Release
→ Targets the muscles and fascia that can pull bones out of alignment
→ Releases strain patterns gently so that your body can hold structural changes
→ Encourages lasting relief and greater ease in movement and rest

🧬 Functional Medicine & Lab Testing
→ Looks beyond symptoms to uncover root imbalances (like inflammation, hormones, and the gut-brain connection)
→ Custom treatment plans support long-term healing—not just symptom suppression
→ Especially powerful for complex or chronic concerns like autoimmune conditions, fatigue, or long COVID

💠 Personalized, Trauma-Informed Care
→ We co-create care plans based on your body’s readiness, not a preset protocol
→ We see the whole of you—your story, your sensitivity, your strength
→ Healing isn’t rushed here; it’s honored

You’re Not Alone

So many of our clients—especially women and sensitive folks—have been told their symptoms are “just stress” or “in their head.” The truth? Your body is wise. And your symptoms are messengers, not mistakes.

We believe your experience. We support your complexity. And we offer a different way forward—one rooted in compassion, not dismissal.

Ready to Feel More Like You Again?

If you’re ready to calm your nervous system and explore true root cause healing, we’d love to support you.
Book a discovery session in Minneapolis or Learn more about our approach.

Explore More on the Blog

  1. FAQ: Beginning Care at Stockheart Whole Health

    Q: Do I need a referral to book with your team?
     A: No referral is needed. You can book directly through our website or reach out if you’re unsure where to start.

    Q: What if I’ve tried chiropractic before and it didn’t help?
     A: Many of our clients have felt let down by past care. Our approach is different . It’s gentle, precise, and rooted in nervous system safety. No cracking, no force.

    Q: Can I get acupuncture and chiropractic in the same visit?
     A: Yes. We offer integrative, team-based care plans. Your provider will help you build a treatment approach that supports your goals and schedule.

    Q: Do you accept insurance?
     A: We are out-of-network providers, but can provide superbills for reimbursement. Many of our clients also use HSA/FSA accounts.

    Q: What makes your care trauma-informed?
     A: We move at your pace, prioritize consent, and never override your body’s signals. We see the whole person, not just their symptoms.


    If your body is asking for a gentler way forward, we’re here to walk alongside you.
    No pressure. Just care that listens to your story and meets you where you are.

    📍 Serving the Twin Cities, including Minneapolis, Uptown, and South Minneapolis
    📞 Book your discovery session.

Michele Renee https://www.stockheart.com
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