Your First Visit
We're happy to help you figure out whether Breathe is the right fit before you come in.
Your first visit at Breathe is $99 and includes a comprehensive consultation, a thorough examination, and your first treatment — all in one appointment. Plan for approximately one hour. In most cases, you'll receive your first chiropractic adjustment or treatment at this same visit, so you leave having already started rather than just having talked about it.
Once you book online, you'll receive a link to your intake forms by email. Completing these before your appointment — ideally within 24 hours of your visit — saves you 20 minutes of paperwork in the office and gives your provider the context needed to get straight to work. If you can't complete them at home, arrive 20 minutes before your appointment, and we'll get you set up on our tablet. Wear comfortable, flexible clothing and bring any relevant imaging — X-rays, MRI reports — if you have them.
No referral is required. You can book directly online or call us at (602) 254-2454.
In most cases, yes — your first visit includes your first treatment. Occasionally, if your presentation requires imaging or additional information before we proceed, we'll be clear about that and help you get what's needed before beginning.
Chiropractic Care
Most adjustments are comfortable and often produce an immediate sense of relief as tense muscles release. Some patients experience mild soreness in the adjusted area within the first 24-48 hours — similar to the feeling after a good workout — as the body responds to restored movement in areas that have been restricted. This is normal and typically resolves quickly. Dr. Carla uses a range of techniques from very light touch to traditional manual adjustment, and she'll always discuss what she's doing and why before beginning.
No. The sound is a cavitation — a release of gas from the joint — and it's completely harmless. But not all techniques produce it, and it's not required for an effective adjustment. Many of our patients receive adjustments using low-force or instrument-assisted techniques that are completely silent. If you have a preference or concern about specific techniques, mention it — we'll always find an approach that works for you.
No — that's a choice, not a requirement. You don't have to continue care beyond the point where your goals are met. That said, many patients choose to continue with maintenance care after their initial complaint resolves because they've experienced how much better they feel with regular support — and they don't want to lose that. We'll never pressure you to stay in care longer than is genuinely serving you.
It depends on what's going on and how long it's been present. Dr. Carla will give you an honest assessment and recommended care plan at your first visit — not a preset protocol. We reassess regularly and adjust based on how you're responding. Acute presentations that started recently often resolve more quickly than chronic patterns that have been present for months or years.
No — and we wouldn't claim otherwise. Chiropractic care is a powerful tool for addressing the nervous system and musculoskeletal contributors to a wide range of conditions. It works best as part of a broader approach to health that includes good nutrition, sleep, movement, and stress management. If we're not the right provider for your situation, we'll tell you that honestly and help you find someone who is.
Yes — chiropractic care has an excellent safety profile and is consistently ranked among the safest forms of treatment for musculoskeletal conditions. Serious adverse events are extremely rare. We'll ask about your health history at your first visit and adapt our approach accordingly — certain techniques are modified or avoided for patients with specific conditions like osteoporosis, recent fractures, or certain vascular conditions.
Acupuncture
Most patients feel very little during needle insertion — acupuncture needles are extremely fine, nothing like a hypodermic needle. Some points produce a sensation of warmth, heaviness, or mild tingling when stimulated — this is normal and considered a sign of an active therapeutic response. Most patients find acupuncture deeply relaxing and many fall asleep during treatment.
At Breathe, acupuncture is primarily for nervous system regulation, chronic pain, headaches and migraines, hormonal balance, digestive issues, stress and anxiety, insomnia, and fertility support. Acupuncture has strong research backing for a growing number of conditions, and we're happy to discuss whether it's a good fit for your specific situation.
At Breathe, acupuncture is integrated with chiropractic care as part of a combined nervous system approach. Both modalities work on the same system — the nervous system — through different access points. Many of our patients find that combining chiropractic and acupuncture produces results that neither achieves as fully on its own.
No — your intake forms are used across all services at Breathe. You only complete them once. If you'd like to book both a new chiropractic and acupuncture visit, you can do so at the same time, and your intake forms cover both.
Massage Therapy
Our licensed massage therapists work with Swedish massage, deep tissue, trigger point therapy, and myofascial release — often combining modalities within a single session based on what your body needs. We also offer prenatal massage with both side-lying positioning and a specialized pregnancy cushion for maximum comfort.
At Breathe, massage is a clinical tool as much as a relaxation service. Our therapists focus on releasing the specific muscle tension and holding patterns that nervous system stress creates — the kind that keeps coming back no matter how many massages you get elsewhere. When massage is combined with chiropractic and acupuncture care, the results compound in ways that standalone massage can't achieve.
Yes. Many new mothers bring their babies to both chiropractic and massage appointments and fit their self-care in while baby naps. Our space is calm and welcoming to new mothers — if you need to nurse during or between your appointment, please do. We're completely comfortable with that.
Insurance & Payment
Breathe Chiropractic is a cash-pay practice — we do not bill insurance directly. Many patients find the quality and consistency of care at Breathe is worth the investment, particularly when insurance-based care hasn't produced lasting results. We can provide a superbill upon request for out-of-network reimbursement — call or text (602) 254-2454 to request one.
Yes. Chiropractic care is an eligible expense under most HSA and FSA plans, and we accept HSA and FSA cards directly at the time of payment.
Contact us to discuss options — (602) 254-2454. You can also view several of our signature packages online here.
Yes. We work with personal injury patients on a lien basis — meaning we provide care now and are compensated from your settlement when it resolves, in most cases with no out-of-pocket cost during your case. Book the Personal Injury New Patient Appointment specifically when scheduling, and bring your attorney's contact information to your first visit. See our Personal Injury page for full details.
Nervous System Care
Most chiropractic care focuses primarily on structure — bones, joints, and discs. Nervous system-focused chiropractic starts with the understanding that the spine is the protective housing for the nervous system, and that spinal dysfunction affects neurological function first and structural comfort second. At Breathe, our goal isn't just to move bones — it's to restore clear communication between your brain and body so your nervous system can regulate itself the way it was designed to.
Common signs include fatigue that sleep doesn't fix, tension that always comes back, digestion that's unpredictable, mood shifts that feel out of proportion, anxiety without a clear cause, and a general sense of functioning but not thriving. If several of these resonate, your nervous system may be stuck in a chronic stress response. Download our free guide — 5 Signs Your Nervous System Is Stuck in Survival Mode — at breathechiro.com/guide.
Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET) is a mind-body methodology that identifies stored stress patterns — emotional responses your nervous system has learned to associate with specific triggers — and uses a physical protocol to help your body release them. It works through the body rather than through conversation, which is why it reaches patterns that insight-based approaches alone often can't shift. Dr. Carla received her NET certification in 2017 after hundreds of hours of additional training.
Bio-Energetic Synchronization Technique (BEST) addresses interference patterns in the nervous system's electromagnetic field that keep the body cycling through the same stress responses. It uses very light touch — no forceful manipulation — and is particularly effective for patients whose nervous systems are highly sensitized or haven't responded fully to other approaches.
Specific Conditions
Visit our Conditions Page for a comprehensive list of conditions we have worked with at Breathe Chiropractic
Yes. The majority of headaches — including most tension headaches and many migraines — originate in the upper cervical spine. Gentle chiropractic adjustments to the C1-C3 segments address the structural root of most headaches. Acupuncture complements this with strong research support for migraine frequency and severity reduction. Many patients see meaningful improvement within the first few weeks of care.
Yes — through the nervous system. Your gut communicates with your brain via the vagus nerve, and spinal dysfunction in the thoracic and lumbar regions can disrupt the nerve signals that regulate digestion. Restoring clear communication through chiropractic adjustments, combined with acupuncture's direct effect on gut function, often produces meaningful improvement for patients with bloating, IBS, and chronic digestive complaints.
Yes. Prenatal chiropractic care is safe throughout all three trimesters when performed by a chiropractor experienced in pregnancy care. Dr. Carla uses modified positioning and low-force techniques appropriate for each stage. She is also experienced in the Webster Technique — a specific analysis and adjustment designed to support pelvic balance during pregnancy.
Yes — with an approach specifically calibrated for sensitive nervous systems. We use light-touch, low-force techniques that work with the nervous system rather than overwhelming it, alongside acupuncture and NET which address the central sensitization and stored stress patterns that maintain these conditions. See our Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue pages for more detail.
Yes. We offer age-appropriate gentle chiropractic care for growing bodies from infants through teens. Pediatric adjustments use very light pressure — nothing forceful — and are adapted completely to the child's size, age, and comfort.
Practical Questions
We're at 1130 E Missouri Ave, Suite 402, Phoenix, AZ 85014 — in the Camelback East neighborhood between the Biltmore and Arcadia. We're on the fourth floor. Free parking is available in the building lot and in spaces 7, 8 & 9 right outside our front door.
See our current hours on the Contact page or call us at (602) 254-2454.
Book online at the button below, or call or text us at (602) 254-2454. New patients are always welcome.
We ask for at least 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule so we can offer your time to another patient. Late cancellations and no-shows may be subject to a fee — details are in your intake forms.
Yes — for complimentary case reviews and nutritional consultations. Dr. Carla is available for free 15-minute telehealth case reviews for new patients who'd like to talk through their situation before coming in. Request one through our contact page
