I found Dr. Getzell through a few doctors (Atlas Orthogonal and a TMJ Dr.). I had been working with to treat my vestibular migrainesand Meniere”s disease. My symptoms were nausea, headaches, vertigo, and I had a hard time concentrating for long periods of time on my computer which was a big part of my job.What we discovered through my first evaluation with Dr. Getzell was that I exhibited tunneling and fragmenting. (Tunneling is centering on an object and not paying attention to surroundings. E.g., panic attacks in busy environments, missing things in the environment, walking into people alongside self, or going off on tangents in conversations. Fragmenting is reading slowly or one or two words at a time.)After a series of tests, with my wife present there to observe, Dr. Getzell recommended performance lenses which had changed my fluidity in writing and walking.After having my prescription filled for the glasses. I then wore the prescribed glasses for 6-8 weeks and could sense the difference. On my walks with my wife or drives in the car, I could now see much more of everything around me and I felt more comfortable in my stride. The fluidity carried into my story telling, previously I would go off on tangents. I was now staying on track.The headaches I had experienced from driving and on the computer went away, along with the feeling of nausea. I have not had a vertigo episode in six months which is fantastic and feel much healthier.I am a firm believer that this experience can be life changing for everyone as it was for me.Thank you, Dr. Getzell.

Vision therapy has changed me in ways that I never imagined. When Dr. Getzell finished my initial evaluation, he observed, “You have worked hard to be in the world”. I knew that he understood me and how I function at a very fundamental and important level. The significant changes began about 6 months later, when I noticed greater confidence and a distinct feeling that I could move forward in my life. My thoughts organized easily and succinctly, and confusion was significantly less. I had a sense of life flowing with ease. A few months later, many more changes were evident. I felt less anxious and overwhelmed as my confidence continued to increase. Making decisions came more easily. That sense of flow increased and at times I felt like I was able to move through the world effortlessly, able to manage life events with grace, kindness and poise. As a result, I felt deep gratitude and was inspired to be of greater service to others. My ability to plan, organize and complete tasks came easily, in a way that I never experienced. Multitasking did not always come with the familiar feeling of being overwhelmed. Changes in my ability to communicate are huge. I track what is being said and what I say much more easily and clearly. I have a better understanding of when to seek clarification, and knowing that the confusion in a conversation is not mostly my inability to perceive. This has given me the opportunity to observe the communication more objectively and without feeling anxious that I’m missing something.

There is a strong awareness of internal communication about external events that steadies me and gives me this clarity. Finding my voice and expressing myself appropriately and compassionately has given me a better sense of boundaries, and the ability to identify what are- and are not my responsibilities. This has resulted in a huge leap in letting go of what is not mine to manage and in vastly improved self-care. Changes in my body have been tremendous. I became more comfortable in my body, moving with greater ease and confidence. I even began to feel graceful for the first time. This has given me the ability to know my physical limits and honor them, rather than push against them as I’ve done in past, sometimes causing injury and pain.Specific changes that I’ve noticed in my body include a decrease in neck tension, improved sleep, breathing deeper and more freely. A major shift in my pelvis and how I carry weight there resulted in more flow with movement and walking.

At the time of this writing, I am aware of upper body tension being released that I never thought possible. All of these changes have allowed me to deepen and expand my practice with mindfulness and body movement forms, and to be able to spend more time with self-care. This has allowed for a greater balance in the demands of life. When I hit a snag and familiar old patterns recur, I recognize this as tunnelling my vision in various ways. This might be seeking a solution no matter what I need to do to get it done, shallow breathing, clenched jaw and other parts of the body, finding fault, running late, foggy thinking, confusing communication (internal and external), fatigue, even nausea and headache. I know now that the tools that I learned in vision therapy helps me to manage and begin to think more clearly. I hang on to space, even in my mind. I go for a walk and engage my peripheral vision. I stand and breathe and do some of the pelvic shifting exercises I learned. Any of the activities that I practiced in vision therapy can help me to shift from this anxious place to one of flow, even though the issue is not resolved and still requires my attention.

I am very grateful for this amazing work and the wisdom and patience of Dr. Getzell and the guidance and companionship of Cortney. I no longer work so hard to be in this world!”