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What to Expect at Your First Visit

Your first visit is about discovery — understanding what’s driving your symptoms before any care begins.

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Medically reviewed by Dr. Chris Slininger, DC · DCCJP  ·  Updated August 2026

Your first visit with us is not about jumping straight into treatment — it’s about discovery. Before we recommend anything, we want to understand your history and find out whether the upper cervical spine is part of what’s driving your symptoms. Here’s what that looks like.

The consultation

We start by listening. You’ll walk us through your history — what you’re experiencing, how long it’s been going on, what you’ve already tried, and any past accidents, falls, or concussions (even ones from years ago). This conversation often reveals the first clues about where to look.

The examination

Next is a focused evaluation of your upper neck and nervous system. Depending on your case, this may include postural and neurological assessments and precise imaging of the craniocervical junction. The goal is objective information — we want to see exactly how the top of your spine is positioned, not guess.

Your report of findings

We don’t leave you wondering. On your first visit (or the visit right after), we sit down and walk you through what we found in plain language — whether upper cervical care is likely to help, and if so, what a care plan would look like. If we don’t think we’re the right fit, we’ll tell you that too and point you in a better direction.

Your first correction

If you’re a candidate and you choose to move forward, the upper cervical correction itself is gentle and specific — there’s no forceful twisting, cracking, or popping. Many patients are surprised by how little they feel. Afterward, we often have you rest briefly to let your body begin to adapt.

After your visit

Upper cervical care works with your body over time, so early on there may be a few follow-up visits to check that the correction is holding. We’ll explain exactly what to expect for your situation — no surprises, no long mystery contracts.

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Common Questions

Your first visit — common questions

How long is the first visit?

Plan for about an hour. Your first visit is thorough on purpose — we’d rather take the time to understand your case than rush to a correction.

Will I get adjusted on the first visit?

Sometimes, but not always. We only proceed once we’ve examined you and confirmed upper cervical care is appropriate — your first visit is primarily about evaluation and your report of findings.

Do I need imaging?

Often yes. Precise imaging of the upper neck lets us make a specific, measured correction rather than a general one. We’ll discuss what your case requires.

What should I bring or wear?

Comfortable clothing is ideal. Bring any relevant records, prior imaging, or a list of what you’ve already tried — it helps us connect the dots faster.

Cerebral · Tampa Bay

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Expert care starts with discovery. Schedule a consultation with one of our doctors to see if you may be a candidate for care. Let’s get down to the root cause of the problem — fill out the form and we’ll get back to you to schedule your initial consultation.

Who is this appointment for?
Were you referred by another doctor or provider?
Are you experiencing any of these symptoms?
These are conditions we commonly see, but they’re not the only ones we help. Please be as thorough as possible about what’s going on so we can get you to the right person to help.
HeadachesMigrainesDizzinessVertigoBalance issuesP.O.T.S.Pressure in the headBrain fogMénière’s diseaseTrigeminal neuralgiaOccipital neuralgiaConcussionMTBINeck painWhiplashBack painAnxietyOther
What are you noticing with your child?
These are things we commonly see, but they’re not the only ones we help. Please be as thorough as possible about what’s going on so we can get you to the right person to help.
Posture issuesADHD / ADDAnxietyAsthmaAutismBirth TraumaConstipationCyclic Vomiting SyndromeEar infectionsPANDAS / PANSSeizuresSensory ProcessingSleepSpeech DelaysOther
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