Under the Influence with Martin Harvey

What does modern chiropractic education look like when it’s grounded in philosophy, neurology, and real clinical reps from day one?In this episode of Under the Influence, I’m joined by Alex Whittingham, a final-year chiropractic student at the Barcelona College of Chiropractic and a third-generation chiropractor.We unpack what makes the Barcelona model different: three full years in clinic, early responsibility, and a curriculum that hasn’t drifted away from manual adjusting, innate intelligence, and the concept of subluxation.Alex shares how being forced to communicate in Spanish stripped his explanations back to their essentials, and why that’s helped him avoid one of the biggest traps chiropractors fall into: over-explaining.We explore a brain-based, afferent model of chiropractic care, the idea of the spine as the nervous system’s armour, and why movement matters more than alignment alone.We also talk about the personal side: resisting the family profession, finding purpose on a mission trip in India, and choosing chiropractic not because it was inherited, but because it works.This is a thoughtful conversation about clarity, confidence, and learning to influence one patient at a time.Check out the Retention Recipe https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/retention-recipe-2-0To learn more about Reactivate to Accelerate https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/reactivateLearn more about Daily Visit Communication 2.0https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/daily-visitEmail me - [email protected]

Most chiropractors think the answer is “more”: more staff, more hours, more moving parts.In this episode, Martin sits down with Kirsti Janse Van Vuuren, a UK chiropractor who did the opposite. She stripped her practice back to something rare in 2025: a purely principled, subluxation-focused, no-staff practice that still creates real impact… and leaves her with time and headspace for her kids and her life.We get into:How she moved from a pain-based, mechanistic model to a principled, subluxation-centred oneWhy she deliberately chose a solo, staff-free practice (and how she makes it work)“Structure craetes freedom” — the scheduling and systems that protect both her patients and her family timeThe role of mentorship and peer groups in keeping you grounded, growing, and not lonelyHow she handles lifestyle conversations while staying focused on chiropractic’s distinct purposeThe books, mentors, and frameworks that shaped her thinkingIf you’ve ever thought, “There has to be a simpler, more principled way to practice,” this episode will give you a real-world example of what that actually looks like.Check out the Retention Recipe https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/retention-recipe-2-0To learn more about Reactivate to Accelerate https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/reactivateLearn more about Daily Visit Communication 2.0https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/daily-visitEmail me - [email protected]

How Choice Makes People Say Yes FasterThe final episode of The Care Plan Paradox.Most chiropractors think offering choices makes them look uncertain.In reality, it makes people commit faster.In the final episode of The Care Plan Paradox, Martin Harvey breaks down why bounded choice — not authority — is what creates trust, commitment and follow-through in care plans.You’ll learn:– why people resist strong recommendations, even when they’re right– how “forced choice” triggers reactance– what behavioural science and Galinsky’s research say about giving 2–3 good options– why autonomy increases adherence– how to structure care plan options so they all work clinically– how to offer payment options without feeling salesy– and the exact phrases that make people feel in control while following your leadIf Episodes 1 and 2 explained why care plans matter, Episode 3 explains how to help people say yes to the plan that will actually help them change.This wraps up the Care Plan Paradox mini-series — but the ideas here will shape how you communicate recommendations forever.To learn more about the "Guardrails: How to Keep Patients on Track When Life Gets Busy" Webinar https://www.tickettailor.com/events/scotlandcollegecharitabletrust/1958894Check out the Retention Recipe https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/retention-recipe-2-0To learn more about Reactivate to Accelerate https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/reactivateLearn more about Daily Visit Communication 2.0https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/daily-visitEmail me - [email protected]

Most chiropractors don’t overservice.They underdose.In this episode of The Care Plan Paradox, Martin explains why great adjustments can produce average results. Not because the technique was wrong, but because the dose, density, and direction were too weak to create real neurological or soft-tissue change.You’ll learn:– Why sporadic care destroys momentum– How long gaps make patterns snap straight back– What the Haas studies actually showed about visit frequency– Why early, dense care isn’t sales… It’s physiology– And how to explain this without sounding pushyIf you’ve ever wondered why some people take off like rockets, and others crawl for weeks, this episode joins the dots.To learn more about the "Guardrails: How to Keep Patients on Track When Life Gets Busy" Webinar https://www.tickettailor.com/events/scotlandcollegecharitabletrust/1958894Check out the Retention Recipe https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/retention-recipe-2-0To learn more about Reactivate to Accelerate https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/reactivateLearn more about Daily Visit Communication 2.0https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/daily-visitEmail me - [email protected]

Most chiropractors don’t sabotage people with bad adjustments.They sabotage them with kindness.“Let’s just see how you go.”It sounds supportive.It feels patient-centred.But it quietly sets people up to fail.In the first episode of a podcast series, The Care Plan Paradox, Martin breaks down why this gentle phrase creates:– false expectations– early dropout– misaligned timelines– and exactly the kind of stop–start care nobody wantsYou’ll learn why people naturally underestimate their problem, why “feeling a bit better” tricks them into stopping too soon, and why clarity beats kindness every single time.If you’ve ever struggled with people disappearing once the pain drops to a “2 out of 10,” this episode will change how you think about care plans, and how you talk to people about their recovery.Check out the Retention Recipe https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/retention-recipe-2-0To learn more about Reactivate to Accelerate https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/reactivateLearn more about Daily Visit Communication 2.0https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/daily-visitEmail me - [email protected]