A pain in the neck—specifically a broken neck—illustrated for Erica Steele the inadequacies she found in modern Western health care. Though her physical pain was ameliorated with pharmaceuticals, Erica's emotional trauma went unaddressed, a shortfall that led her to open Essential Wellness, a holistic health-care facility that unites a team of primary-care physicians, spiritual counselors, and alternative practitioners under one roof. An outspoken proponent of naturopathic medicine, Erica, along with her staff, strives to relieve patients of their ailments using an approach that centers on the cause of symptoms instead of the symptoms themselves. For example, when discussing the treatment of depression, instead of prescribing traditional solutions, such as antidepressants or bank vaults filled with bubble wrap, Erica rattles off a litany of alternative therapies, including constipation relief, positive thinking, meditation, exercise, and probiotics. "All patients have the ability to heal themselves," she says. "My role is to help them access those abilities." The staff does this with comprehensive primary medical care that can include naturopathy as well as wellness classes, healthy programs , and detoxification services. Shades of turquoise fill treatment rooms with a color meant to awaken clients' confidence, and framed affirmations such as "I love myself" and "Those water-park guards will never stop me" inspire people to look inward for healing strength.
