Brenna Erickson, DC
The Migraine Whisperer
Learning the power of gentle listening.
I Became a Doctor Because I Wanted to Teach
But the real transformation? You get your life back.
Not because I gave it to you. Because you chose it. You practiced it. You built evidence—through small, brave steps—that you CAN trust yourself.
That's what I'm really teaching.
Most doctors give you 20 minutes. I give you 10 weeks.
Here's why that matters.
The word "doctor" comes from the Latin docēre—which means "to teach."
Not "to treat." Not "to prescribe." Not "to fix."
To teach.
But in clinical practice, there's never enough time.
20 minutes with each patient. Maybe 30 if you're lucky.
Just enough time to assess, adjust, answer urgent questions.
Not enough time to teach you how to read your body's early warning signals.
Not enough time to help you see the patterns between your sleep, your stress, your hormones, your migraines.
Not enough time to ask the question I ask every patient—"What does your body need today?"—and then teach you how to answer it yourself.
So I built something different.
The Migraine Resilience Academy—where we finally have TIME.
6 weeks to teach you to become your own expert. 4 weeks to go deeper.
Here's what I really teach:
Not "how to get rid of migraines."
How to stop feeling helpless.
How to go from "I can't try new things because I always fail" to "I'm someone who's learning to show up for myself."
How to retrain your bodies’ threat detector so you can try again, trust again, and finally get some momentum.
The migraines improve as a side effect.
Why You’re
Probably
Reading This
You landed here because something on my homepage resonated.
Or someone mentioned my name.
Or you're trying to figure out: "Can this person actually help me?"
Here's what I want you to know:
I get it. You've been burned before. You're exhausted from trying things that don't work. You're skeptical—and you should be.
So let me tell you who I am, why I do this work, and how I'm different from every other practitioner you've worked with.
The Outsider Who Bridges Worlds
I’ve Never Quite Fit the Mold.
I'm a trauma-informed chiropractor who uses functional medicine, nutrition, lifestyle medicine, functional neurology, and craniosacral therapy to shift people's nervous system state.
I need to be honest with you about something.
When I was in school, professors would ask: "Why can't you just pick one thing?"
And here's what I realized:
Because bodies don't work in silos.
Your migraines aren't "just" a nervous system problem.
They're not "just" hormonal.
They're not "just" about food or stress or inflammation.
They're a constellation. A complex web of interconnected systems all talking to each other.
And the healthcare system that says "stay in your lane" is the same system that fails people with chronic, complex conditions.
So I stopped trying to fit the mold.
I became the doctor who asks "What does your body need?" before I touch you.
The practitioner who blends ancient wisdom (craniosacral therapy) with cutting-edge research (functional neurology).
The only DNFT chiropractor in Minnesota—a gentle, non-force technique that works WITH your nervous system instead of forcing it into submission.
I bridge worlds:
Evidence-based AND body-wisdom-based
Systematic AND intuitive
Trauma-informed AND results-oriented
Ancient practices AND modern neuroscience
Some days I feel like I'm practicing medicine the way it should have always been practiced—with time, with observation, with teaching, with respect for the body's intelligence.
Other days I feel like I don't quite belong anywhere.
But my clients tell me this is exactly what they need.
Someone who sees the whole picture. Who doesn't just hand them a prescription or a protocol. Who teaches them to see what I see.
If that sounds like what you've been looking for—welcome home.
You Might Be Wondering…
"If you're a chiropractor who does hands-on work, why build an online program?"
Here's the truth:
In my clinic, I can adjust your body. I can use craniosacral therapy to calm your nervous system. I can apply functional medicine principles to your specific case.
But I can't teach you to read your body's patterns. There's not enough time.
And what I've learned in 10+ years is this:
The adjustments help. The craniosacral work helps. The functional medicine approach helps.
But the TEACHING is what creates lasting change.
So I built The TENDing Method—
where we finally have time to teach you the skills that serve you for life, whether you ever see me in person or not.
The systematic observation. The pattern recognition. The skill of asking "What does my body need today?" and actually knowing the answer.
That's what changes everything.
And that takes 6 weeks, not 20 minutes.
Why Migraines?
I Didn't Choose This Specialty. It Chose Me.
Over and over, migraine patients found their way to my practice—often after years of being dismissed by neurologists, told "it's just stress," handed another prescription that stopped working after three months.
And I kept seeing the same pattern:
These weren't just headaches. They were whole-body nervous system dysregulation.
The person with migraines also had:
Sleep disruption
Gut issues
Hormonal imbalances
Anxiety or overwhelm
A nervous system stuck in threat mode
One condition. Multiple root causes. No single solution.
FAQ
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We're a team of passionate thinkers and doers, dedicated to building with purpose and clarity. Collaboration and curiosity drive everything we do.
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We believe in keeping things simple, smart, and human. Every project starts with listening and ends with something we're proud to share.
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From startups to seasoned brands, we partner with people who care about doing things right—and doing them well.
And I realized: This is exactly why my "can't pick one lane" approach works.
Because migraines require someone who can address ALL the pathways:
Nervous system regulation (trauma-informed chiropractic + craniosacral)
Sleep architecture (functional medicine)
Blood sugar and nutrition (lifestyle medicine)
Hormonal rhythms (functional neurology frameworks)
Inflammation patterns (functional medicine)
I became the practitioner I wish existed when those patients started their healing journeys.
Someone who:
Actually listens
Takes the time to understand YOUR specific patterns
Doesn't hand you a one-size-fits-all protocol
Teaches you to become your own expert
Respects your intelligence and your body's wisdom
My Training & Credentials
Because you deserve to know who's teaching you.
Education & Training:
Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)
Life Chiropractic College West
This training taught me how the nervous system works—but also how traditional approaches miss the mark for chronic conditions.
Functional Medicine & Nutrition
Multiple advanced certifications
This showed me how sleep, blood sugar, gut health, and inflammation create the conditions for migraines.
Functional Neurology
Advanced training through the Carrick Institute (Mastering Migraine program)
This taught me to see how your brain's threat detection system keeps you stuck—and how to retrain it.
Craniosacral Therapy
Advanced training in gentle nervous system regulation
This gave me the tools to help bodies shift out of threat mode without force.
DNFT Chiropractic
The only certified DNFT (Directional Non Force Technique) practitioner in Minnesota
A gentle, non-force technique designed specifically for trauma-informed care. Perfect for people whose bodies have been through enough.
Experience:
10+ years in clinical practice
Hundreds of clients with chronic migraines and complex conditions
Founder of The Migraine Whisperer & The TENDing Method
Practicing at Stockheart Whole Health, Minneapolis
Philosophy:
I practice trauma-informed, nervous-system-focused care for people with chronic, complex conditions.
I don't believe in forcing your body to comply.
I believe in creating conditions where healing becomes possible.
I don't believe in one-size-fits-all protocols.
I believe in teaching you to observe YOUR unique patterns.
I don't believe your body is broken.
I believe it's speaking—and I can teach you to listen.
What Makes My Approach Different
1. I Ask the Question Most Doctors Don't
"What does your body need today?"
Not "What's wrong with you?"
Not "Rate your pain 1-10."
“What does your BODY need?”
This one question changes everything.
Because it shifts you from:
Passive patient → Active participant
Helpless victim → Empowered observer
Waiting for someone to fix you → Learning to tend yourself
2. I Blend Science and Wisdom
I'm not "anti-medication" or "anti-Western medicine."
I'm pro-understanding.
I want you to know WHY you get migraines.
I want you to understand the mechanisms.
I want you to see the patterns.
And THEN we figure out what tools work for YOUR body—whether that's breathwork, nutrition shifts, medication, craniosacral therapy, nervous system regulation, or all of the above.
Evidence-based AND body-wisdom-based.
3. I Teach You to Fish
The old saying: "Give someone a fish, feed them for a day. Teach them to fish, feed them for a lifetime."
Most healthcare gives you a fish.
A prescription. A supplement protocol. A meal plan.
It might help for a while. But then your body changes. Your life changes. And you're back to square one.
I teach you to fish.
I teach you:
Pattern recognition
Body literacy
The skill of asking "What does my body need?" and actually knowing the answer
That skill serves you for life.
Who I Work With
I Work With People Who:
✓ Are exhausted from trying everything and getting nowhere
✓ Feel dismissed by doctors who don't really listen
✓ Have multiple conditions (migraines + gut issues + anxiety + hormonal imbalances)
✓ Are intelligent and analytical but overwhelmed by conflicting information
✓ Want to understand what's actually happening in their bodies
✓ Are ready to learn—not just be "fixed"
✓ Are willing to observe, track, and experiment
✓ Value both science and intuition
This approach works best for people who are ready to participate actively in their healing. If you're looking for someone to tell you exactly what to do without understanding why, or if you need emergency medical care, this program isn't the right fit.
If you're in the first group—welcome.
I see you. I hear you. I believe you.
And I'm here to teach you what your body has been trying to tell you.
Real Results from Real People
"After 8 years of chronic migraines—20+ days per month—I thought I was broken. Dr. Brenna taught me I was just stuck. She showed me MY unique pattern: poor sleep + skipped breakfast + luteal phase = migraine. Now I'm down to 2-3 migraines per month. But here's what really matters: I took my daughter to Disneyland. Something I thought I'd never do. I didn't just get fewer migraines. I got my life back."
— Sarah M., went from 20 migraines/month to 2-3 in 6 months
"I was so tired of being told what to do with my body. Dr. Brenna asked me what MY body needed. And then she taught me how to answer that question myself. I'm not dependent on her anymore—which is exactly the point."
— Michael T.
"After years of feeling unheard by doctors, having someone spend 90 minutes truly listening changed everything. Dr. Brenna doesn't just treat symptoms. She teaches you to see patterns. I finally feel like I have agency over my health instead of just being a victim."
— Jennifer L.
My Promise to You
Here's What I Promise:
✓ You'll learn skills that serve you for life
✓ You'll stop feeling helpless
✓ You'll understand YOUR unique patterns
✓ You'll trust yourself to make changes
✓ You'll have a framework that works whether or not I'm there
✓ I will listen—truly listen—to what you're experiencing
✓ I will treat you like the intelligent, capable person you are
✓ I will show up with integrity, honesty, and deep care for your wellbeing
What I can't promise:
That you'll be "cured" or that this won't feel vulnerable at times.
But here's what I know:
Everyone who's done this work has gotten their life back.
Not because I fixed them.
Because they learned to tend themselves.
You deserve a guide who sees you.
Not as a diagnosis. Not as a set of symptoms.
As a whole person whose body is trying to communicate.
I'm here to teach you its language.
Let’s Work Together.
Three Ways to Work with Me
1. Join The Migraine Resilience Academy
My 10-week systematic program to retrain your threat detector and reclaim your life.
6 weeks of intensive teaching + 4 week optional deep dive.
Learn to see YOUR unique migraine constellation—and trust yourself to respond.
2. Book a Free Clarity Call
Not sure if The TEND Method is right for you? Let's talk.
I'll help you understand your specific migraine patterns and determine if this approach fits where you are right now.
No sales pitch. Just clarity.
3. Start with the Free Guide
The Nervous System Reset: 3 Practices That Work When Fear Says They Won't
Get a taste of my approach. Try the practices I teach in Week 1 of The TEND Method. See if this resonates with your body.
[Download Your Free Guide]
Ready to Learn What Your Body Has Been Trying to Tell You?
You don't have to stay stuck.
You don't have to keep apologizing to your kids.
You don't have to keep living small.
Your threat detector kept you alive. Now let's teach it to let you live.
Join The Program| Book a Call | [Download Free Guide]