Dr. Peter Lawrence practiced chiropractic in the hustle and bustle of midtown Manhattan for 19 years before getting into full-time chiropractic coaching. I’ve gotten the opportunity to chat with him through Facebook and I found him very insightful on chiropractic and practicing chiropractic.
Dr. Lawrence was very gracious in responding to my interview request for The Atlas of Life. I enjoyed reading his responses, and I think you will, too.
Dr. Harshe: What was it like growing up with a chiropractor as your father?
Dr. Lawrence: “I was checked as soon as I was born in the delivery room since my dad was there adjusting my mom during the birth process. So I guess you could say that I never knew anything else but chiropractic care since the day I was born.
My father had 2 offices: one in the house where we lived and one in the Bronx. He worked 6 days a week and he commuted from Long Island where we lived to Albany on a weekly basis during the early and mid 60′s lobbying for chiropractic recognition and licensure in the state of New York, which did not recognize chiropractic legally until 1963.
I do remember that he did a lot of house calls. People were always coming to our house at all hours of the day and night and weekends to get adjusted.
My dad taught me all the bones and muscles of the body before I was 8 years old since he was also a teacher at CINY and he loved teaching as well.”
Dr. Harshe: Did you always know you wanted to be a chiropractor?
Dr. Lawrence: “No not at all.. I was a professional ballet dancer for 10 years and lived and worked in Europe and toured all over the world. It wasn’t until I herniated 2 discs in my lumbar spine that I decided that it was time to stop resisting what was my inevitable path.”
Dr. Harshe: How long have you been in practice? What has it been like?
Dr. Lawrence: “I graduated NYCC in 1987 and practiced 19 years in midtown Manhattan, the belly of the beast. It was the most invigorating and exciting and exhausting time of my life. I took care of hundreds of folks a week.
When I first got out of school, it was the golden age of insurance reimbursement for chiropractic, so I was able to reap the rewards and benefits of such a liberal system. Over the past 20-25 years I have witnessed a complete drying up of the old model of getting paid and this has created a lot of problems for many chiropractors who depended on insurance reimbursement to “sell” chiropractic care.”
Dr. Harshe: What is the best advice you can give young chiropractors just starting out?
Dr. Lawrence: “The best advice I can give a young chiropractor just starting out is to make sure you have a clear vision of who you are as a chiropractor and what chiropractic’s role is in keeping folks healthy naturally.
Technically, they need to be skillfull and comfortable and confident in their approach and not get caught up in symptom care.
They need to establish a network of support people to help them professionally in a business sense as well as to help keep them focused and on purpose.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew and try and keep the overhead to a minimum until you can get establised. Dont be afraid to ask for help!”
Dr. Harshe: How many chiropractic mission trips have you been on?
Dr. Lawrence: “Let’s see…I have been on three that were organized by others and five of my own that I have organized and run.”
Dr. Harshe: What is the experience that stands out most from a mission trip?
Dr. Lawrence: “The experience that stands out the most for me is that everyone comes away from the trip empowered, excited and energized. One learns to adapt and expect the unexpected because most of the things you usually have control over no longer apply. You don’t look at x-rays, you normally don’t even speak the same language, you are not adjusting in physical circumstances that could help… no drop tables, no high-lows, etc. Nothing except your hands, so one learns to let go and have faith.
I think that’s the biggest thing one gets: faith.”
Dr. Harshe: What has been your experience in coaching other chiropractors?
Dr. Lawrence: “Now thats a loaded question Brandon. It has been an eye opening experience to say the least. In my experience coaching other chiropractors I would have to say the most exciting thing is that 99% of them want to succeed and help make the world a better place and they want to grow and be more successful.
On the other hand, a lack of philosophy and true understanding of what a chiropractor does is sadly lacking for the majority of chiropractors I come in contact with on a daily basis.”
Dr. Harshe: What do you believe the future of the chiropractic profession holds?
Dr. Lawrence: “The future is clouded. I see that there is a small core group of strong principled young docs out there but the vast majority have no idea of the potential of the power that they have and this frightens me.
They cannot see their own strength, they only see their weaknesses and inadequacies and they defer to what ever will help them survive and pay the bills which usually has nothing to do with checking and clearing folks for subluxations.
I believe that with the proper education and strong commitment from the principled side of chiropractic we can not only survive but thrive in the 21st century. However, we need to adapt to the ever-morphing “sick care” system.”
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And think about ALL the people that Peter has inspired to set up and create more mission trips. I believe he is so instrumental in creating more and more trips that people facilitate to other areas and countries. Peter is a gem!
Janice that is so kind of you to say that…thank YOU for all of your guidance and inspiration that you have given to me personally and the profession. You are a model for others to emulate and follow and I love and appreciate you because you are so special!