Infrared Sauna now available. Book solo or with friends
Infrared Sauna now available. Book solo or with friends
Four people who bring over 40 years of combined experience and a genuine investment in this community.
Principal Chiropractor
B. Chiro, B. Hum — New Zealand College of Chiropractic, 2016 (Academic Excellence Award, first in class)
Kara grew up in Texas and was not, by her own account, a fan of visiting the chiropractor as a child. That changed at thirteen, when she developed unusual pain in her mid back. X-rays showed she had scoliosis, an abnormal lateral curve in the spine that was causing her discomfort. After three months of chiropractic care, a follow-up X-ray showed her spine had measurably straightened. She left that appointment as a convert, and started encouraging everyone she knew to come in.
By high school, she knew she wanted a career centred on actively improving people’s lives. She remembered the community feel of her family chiropractor’s practice, the way patients left encouraged rather than just treated, and she made her decision. She crossed the Pacific to attend the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, one of the most respected chiropractic institutions in the world, and graduated in 2016 with the Academic Excellence Award, finishing first in her class.
She spent several years practising across Australia before she and Phil found the Fleurieu Peninsula and decided this was where they wanted to build something lasting. They acquired McLaren Vale Chiropractic Centre and have been growing it, and growing into the community, ever since.
Clinically, her focus is corrective chiropractic care: identifying the underlying structural cause of a patient’s problem, building a personalised plan, and working toward long-term spinal health rather than temporary symptom relief. She uses a range of adjusting techniques and selects the approach based on each patient’s age, condition, and presentation. She has particular clinical interest in women’s health, pregnancy, paediatrics, and supporting peak-performance athletes.
“Living and working in the same community allows us to be part of the larger fabric of life here, and we are active in many local organisations and charities. We love being able to contribute to a healthier, happier community.”
Dr Kara and Phil live in McLaren Vale with their two dogs: Sadie, her cocker spaniel, and Bruce, Phil’s German Shepherd x Bull Arab. She is an active member of the McLaren Vale Business and Tourism Association, fundraises for the Country Fire Service, and sponsors the McLaren Vale Tennis Club. Together, she and Phil share a long-term goal of helping transform McLaren Vale into a blue zone community.
Chiropractor
BChiroSci, MChiro — Macquarie University, 2022 — Additional postgraduate training in pregnancy and paediatric chiropractic
Dr Micah started seeing a chiropractor at age seven and found it genuinely fascinating. Not the waiting room, not the clipboards, but the actual process of what chiropractic was doing and why it worked. That curiosity never went away. She decided she wanted to help people in the same way she and her family had been helped, and built her career around it.
She completed her Bachelor of Chiropractic Science and Master of Chiropractic at Macquarie University in 2022, then immediately pursued additional postgraduate training specifically in pregnancy and paediatric chiropractic. This is not a standard area of focus for a new graduate, and her commitment to it reflects a genuine clinical interest rather than a marketing angle.
She finds it deeply rewarding to see what chiropractic care brings to people’s lives across the full spectrum, from reducing pain to improvements in mental clarity and energy. She has a particular passion for working with entire families and watching the cumulative effect of good spinal care across generations.
“Since being in the profession, I absolutely love what I do. Working with entire families to achieve their full health potential massively inspires me to keep learning more and making a difference in my community.”
At the clinic, Dr Micah sees patients of all ages including newborns, infants, and pregnant women. She is a committed advocate for her patients’ long-term wellbeing and shares Dr Kara’s patient-centred philosophy.
Practice Manager
MBA (Change Management and HR) — Deakin University, 2021 — 15 years, Australian Army
Phil spent 15 years in the Australian Army, accumulating experience in administration, operations, and logistics across a range of roles. When he and Dr Kara acquired McLaren Vale Chiropractic Centre, his background translated directly into what the practice needed: someone who could build reliable systems, keep operations running smoothly, and handle the business side without creating friction for patients.
He completed his MBA in Change Management and HR at Deakin University in 2021, graduating while already running the clinic. He believes in continuous development and pursues it actively, currently learning Spanish alongside his other commitments. He has also overseen significant renovations at the practice, improving the patient experience from the moment someone walks through the door.
Phil is not a chiropractor, and he is clear about that. His contribution is different: he makes it possible for the chiropractors to do their best work by ensuring everything around the clinical care runs properly. Appointments run on time. The administrative process never becomes something patients have to think about. The environment feels considered.
He finds genuine satisfaction in watching the transformation in patients over time. “Witnessing the change from day one to month three brings me joy and inspires me to continue,” he has said. The commitment behind that remark is visible in how the practice operates.
“Living and working in the same community allows us to be part of the larger fabric of life here, and we are active in many local organisations and charities. We love being able to contribute to a healthier, happier community.”
Phil loves the outdoors: camping, hiking, caving, and anything that puts him in nature. His ideal weekend involves good company and the Fleurieu Peninsula’s natural landscape. He and Dr Kara share their home with Sadie the cocker spaniel and Bruce the German Shepherd x Bull Arab. Together, they are working toward their shared goal of making McLaren Vale a blue zone community.
Receptionist & Administration
BChiroSci, MChiro — Macquarie University, 2022 — Additional postgraduate training in pregnancy and paediatric chiropractic
Dr Micah started seeing a chiropractor at age seven and found it genuinely fascinating. Not the waiting room, not the clipboards, but the actual process of what chiropractic was doing and why it worked. That curiosity never went away. She decided she wanted to help people in the same way she and her family had been helped, and built her career around it.
She completed her Bachelor of Chiropractic Science and Master of Chiropractic at Macquarie University in 2022, then immediately pursued additional postgraduate training specifically in pregnancy and paediatric chiropractic. This is not a standard area of focus for a new graduate, and her commitment to it reflects a genuine clinical interest rather than a marketing angle.
She finds it deeply rewarding to see what chiropractic care brings to people’s lives across the full spectrum, from reducing pain to improvements in mental clarity and energy. She has a particular passion for working with entire families and watching the cumulative effect of good spinal care across generations.
“I’m here for them when they need me, and I can help them begin or continue their path throughy of getting better. For me, the most rewarding part of this work is helping people from our town achieve their health goals.”
From your first phone call to your first appointment, our reception team will know who you are. That is not an accident or a policy. It is how this clinic operates, and it reflects the basic belief that you are a person, not a booking number.
Your chiropractor will take the time to understand your situation properly before they do anything. Phil runs the practice so nothing gets in the way of that. Together, they make the whole experience feel different from a clinical appointment at a practice where you are just another patient on the list.
Book your first appointment. The first visit is an assessment, a conversation, and the beginning of a plan specific to you. No pressure, no commitment until you understand exactly what we found.