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Meet theStaff
Dr. Bruen Goolsby
“Doc”
“I would do this for free; nothing gives me more pleasure,” Dr. Bruen Goolsby — “Doc” to his patients — said of his chiropractic services.
The former professional rodeo participant is a devout advocate of the benefits of chiropractic.
“It boosts your immune system,” he said. “It’s just like rebooting your computer. If our spines were on our faces, we’d all take better care of them!”
He was born in Gilmer, Texas, and raised in Gonzales. He was a bull-rider in high school and attended Howard Junior College in Big Spring and Sam Houston State University in Huntsville on rodeo scholarships, but quit his studies in 1992 to rodeo professionally.
Later sidelined by injuries, he underwent chiropractic adjustments and he became interested in how chiropractic worked. This led to his return to studies to pursue a career in chiropractic.
“When I saw all the good they could do for kids and overall health for anyone, I knew this was what I wanted to be able to do,” he recalls.
Bruen attended Texas Chiropractic College, returning to the rodeo arena sponsored by the college. While studying, he participated in a practice-based externship in Baytown with Dr. James Golden and Dr. Terry More, seeing more than 65 patients each day. He completed the demanding curriculum and passed his I-IV National Board exams.
Doc started La Vernia Chiropractic in October 2001, retiring from the rodeo arena. As he became established in the community, he began giving back, starting “Doc’s Crawfest” in 2004 as a fund-raiser for community organizations, such as the La Vernia Volunteer Fire Department.
Incorporating massage in the practice has really worked, he said.
“When you get adjustments, massage is more beneficial,” Doc said. “Stephanie and Cindy are very, very good at what they do. We have the best massage therapists the USA has to offer!”
Doc enjoys visiting with people who come to the practice.
“Visiting helps me ‘read’ the tension in people and helps me be more effective,” he said.
He endeavors to instill confidence in everyone who comes through the door, minimizing worry and allaying any fears.
“The chiropractic relationship is very intimate,” Doc said. “Once established, it’s very hard for people to go to another chiropractor.”
He has regular adjustments and advocates this for everyone, saying it’s the best thing for maintaining good health.
“Everyone should get adjustments once or twice a month,” he said. “I haven’t been to a medical doctor in 25 years.”
His competitive edge hasn’t dulled since giving up rodeo. Doc simply changed his competitive focus.
“If I can’t help you, it won’t be through lack of effort,” he said. “I will try everything to try to help you.”
Stephanie Goolsby
Stephanie is an East Central High School graduate. She attended St. Philip’s College, with plans to become a nurse, instead pursuing certification as a massage therapist. She graduated in 2005 and opened her own studio in China Grove.
In April 2007, she met Dr. Bruen Goolsby, joining him at La Vernia Chiropractic to add massage as a complement to his chiropractic services in July 2007.
“We thought combining the two would make sense,” Stephanie recalls.
She enjoys being able to help relieve the stress, anxiety, and pain that clients often feel.
“I get such joy from seeing the difference — through touch — how their outlook changes after a massage,” she said. “People depend on me to help them out.”
Since Cindy Preacher joined them, Stephanie has focused on managing the office and keeping things running smoothly, processing insurance claims and keeping a lid on the office paperwork. She maintains her massage license and continues to provide massages, but not as often as she did before.
Stephanie and Bruen were married in June 2009. The couple, and Stephanie’s daughter, Ashley, will welcome the newest addition to their family in April 2010.
Stephanie feels the family-friendly atmosphere at La Vernia Chiropractic and Massage has increased since her marriage to Dr. Goolsby.
“I think it helps the business feel more intimate and helps people feel connected,” she said. “I like knowing we make a difference in the community.”
Stephanie is an advocate of regular chiropractic adjustments and the difference spine health makes in people’s lives.
“Because we all get adjustments — Bruen, Ashley, and I — we have seen that we’re not sick as often and I can convey that to people who come to us. I like people to know there is an alternative to going to a medical doctor and that it does produce results.”
When she isn’t contributing to the smooth running of the practice, Stephanie spends time renovating the family’s older home in La Vernia.
Cindy Preacher, Massage Therapist
Cindy Preacher considers her skill as a massage therapist a gift from God. The former bookkeeper and office manager had been seeking a change in her line of work. She was at a particularly low ebb and went for a massage, something she’d never done before.
“I found it to be a lot of relief,” she recalls. “I had hurt in every joint and muscle. With the massage, my tension dispersed. It was just — gone.”
She felt led by the Lord to become a massage therapist herself and found the Academy for Massage Therapy and Training in San Antonio. Cindy found her niche, undergoing hours of training and offering more than 260 massages before obtaining her certification.
She is trained in trigger-point, deep-tissue, Swedish, and other massage methods, and continues to add to her knowledge and skills by taking more classes and training. Since certification, she has taken geriatric education classes to work with elderly clients and provide sciatic care.
Cindy was born in Seguin and is a graduate of Sam Houston High School in San Antonio. She has been in La Vernia for more than three years. She previously provided massages at Hair Encourters before joining Dr. Bruen Goolsby at La Vernia Chiropractic and Massage.
The married mother and grandmother enjoys reading and being outside in her flowerbeds when not offering tension-relief with her massage skills. Her favorite flowers are chrysanthemums and fall flowers.
“What I enjoy most is being able to bring relief to people who are in pain from stress and strenuous activities,” Cindy said. “I enjoy it all. When I’ve got someone who has been hurting so badly and I know I have brought relief to their muscles that are tight and sore, or when they can hardly walk in for their massage, but when they leave and they can twist and bend, it’s such a joy and blessing!”
“None of what I have is from me,” Cindy said. “It’s a gift from the Lord.”
Hours: Monday - Friday 9 am - 6 pm. (call for after hours appointments)
