Connect First Family Chiropractic
100 Year Lifestyle Chiropractor in SterlingVirginia 20165

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Meet Our Team

Connect First Family Chiropractic:

At Connect First Family Chiropractic, we see a need in healthcare. Our vision for our community is for generations of families to experience freedom and trust in the health choices they make. Our mission is for Leesburg, VA and the surrounding areas to be the healthiest communities in the state of Virginia. By working with the body’s master control system, the central nervous system, we support and optimize the body’s natural ability to heal itself. “Everyone deserves to be healthy and express their full potential from the time they are born through their last breath of life. This includes YOU!” – The 100 Year Lifestyle

Dr. Ryan Kennedy BS, DC

Chiropractor

Dr. Ryan was born and raised on Long Island, NY.  She received both her undergraduate degree in biology and Doctor of Chiropractic degree at Life University in Marietta, Georgia.

She was first introduced to chiropractic when she began working in a family-centered chiropractic office on Long Island. For years she had been experiencing ear pain and discomfort and an irregular menstrual cycle. Once under chiropractic care, almost immediately her menstrual cycle was regulated! About six months into care, her ears had healed and she couldn’t remember the last time she felt pain. What she remembers most though, is the deep breath she took when she realized it was gone. All of the pain and uncertainty had caused a lot of stress that she no longer had to carry with her. She had faith in her body and her ability to heal. It was then she chose to become a chiropractor and began her chiropractic studies.

Dr. Ryan has continued to get adjusted over the years. Chiropractic care has allowed her to continue to exercise without pain and to become faster and stronger. It has helped improve her immune system allowing her body to fight off any illness much faster than before, and helps her to adapt to life’s daily stressors with more ease.

How can Dr. Ryan help with pregnancy/postpartum and babies and children?

Dr. Ryan loves taking care of babies, children, and pregnant/postpartum women! Babies and children can be exposed to a lot of stress at a very young age. Just being born is a lot of hard work then there are falls as they learn to walk and ride a bike, chemicals from medicines, food, and water, and stress in the home or at school. Chiropractic adjustments in babies and children are very gentle, specific, and safe and help their nervous systems, spines, and bodies function better.

For pregnant women, there is so much change happening and it’s happening very fast! Chiropractic adjustments help the body adapt to that change and can help with pain or discomfort. It can also help with balancing the pelvis and reducing tension to the uterus and pelvic muscles and ligaments. All of this can help make pregnancy and birth more comfortable in addition to allowing optimal space for baby to grow and line up in the best possible position for birth.

In the postpartum period, there are also many changes happening. The body is recovering from birth and adapting to all that goes into taking care of baby. Chiropractic adjustments support the body to heal physically, regulate and balance emotions and make the transition into motherhood much smoother!

Certifications, Distinctions and Awards:

Dr. Dan Traxler BS, DC, CCEP

CHIROPRACTOR

Dr. Dan was born and raised in Oakton, Virginia. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science with a Minor in Business Administration from The University of South Carolina, where he played nationally ranked Division 1 soccer for four years. He went on to receive his Doctorate of Chiropractic degree from Life University in Marietta, Georgia. It was during his career as an athlete that he realized the tremendous benefit of consistent chiropractic care.

Dr. Dan has a passion for bringing out the best in people. When Dr. Dan experienced his own injuries, he experienced the difference between feeling hopeLESS in one’s own body, and feeling hopeFUL in his body’s ability to heal, recover and perform at the highest level again. It is Dr. Dan’s mission to empower each and every client he works with and support their body’s ability to heal, adapt and perform. Dr. Dan continues to push the limits of his own abilities by enjoying CrossFit, Triathlon and IronMan competitions. He also enjoys giving back to the community of Leesburg and surrounding Loudoun County by volunteering, community service, and coaching youth soccer.

How can Dr. Dan help with athletes and performance?

Like most athletes, Dr. Dan experienced his fair share of injuries. The injuries began in High School where he had trouble making it through a game without spraining one ankle or the other. This continued throughout his college career until he had ankle reconstructive surgery his Sophomore year. Ten months later in his junior year, Dr. Dan suffered a season-ending compound fracture in his left leg that required emergency medical attention. He continued through an extensive surgical and rehabilitative process, and was able to make it back on the field ahead of schedule and finished his career playing for a conference championship . These experiences gave Dr. Dan a perspective and appreciation for the emergency healthcare system in our country. He also gained an immense appreciation for the body’s ability to heal itself, and set out on a journey to discover how to best support that same ability in others. Through this, Dr. Dan has a deep understanding of those going through physical and emotional pain. Dr. Dan set out on a search for a career that allowed him to consider the entire person when looking for the source of the problem. Some would say, “chiropractic found Dan,” and the rest is history.

Certifications, Distinctions and Awards:

  • Member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA)
  • Webster Technique Certified
  • Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner (CCEP)
  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
  • Magna Cum Laude
  • Clinical Excellence Award
  • Leadership and Entrepreneurship Award
  • Chiropractic Philosophy Award

Dr. Erica

CHIROPRACTOR

Dr. Erica is a native of Northern Virginia. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology at UCF in Daytona Beach, Florida in 2008. In December of 2011, she graduated from Palmer Chiropractic College Florida. After a year of practice on Martha’s Vineyard, Dr. Erica returned to Virginia and opened her own prenatal practice in 2013.

Dr. Erica is a family-based chiropractor, serving adults, children, and infants. She has been blessed to see so many families grow;  babies she started with grow into big kids and the big kids go off to college! She has four phenomenal big kids of her own, all born with midwives, that she homeschools. She has an unwavering passion for pediatrics and birth but her favorite thing is cheerleading for all the amazing moms she has had the privilege to care for in her ten years of practice.

Nichole Hughey

MASSAGE THERAPIST

Nichole Hughey was born and raised in the Front Royal Area of Virginia. She received her License to practice massage in December of 2023 after studying with Allied Health Career Institute through the American Massage and Bodywork Association.

Nichole was first introduced to massage therapy through her best friend and massage therapist, Cate McKay. Cate helped Nichole work through tight hips, stress, and overall improvement of mobility. Cate later introduced Nichole to the owners of Connect First Family Chiropractic and her love and interest in bodywork grew. As She went through school, Nichole worked as an office manager at Connect First and learned more about the body and holistic practices. She now applies these teachings to her practice as a massage therapist.

As Nichole moves into her massage therapy practice, she is excited to learn more about how every part of the body is important and comes together to make one functional and intuitive unit. She hopes to learn more every day and provide top notch massage therapy to her community.

Holly Traxler

Office Manager

Anne Taylor

Office Manager