The Mystery Is In The History
One of the most common questions I hear from professionals during my mentorship program is, “Where do I even start?”
It’s a valid concern…
With so much knowledge and so many tools at your disposal, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when choosing the first step. The key to simplifying this process lies in a concept I often call, “the mystery is in the history.” I learned this phrase from Dr. Eric Cobb, during one of the advanced certifications I took.
Your client’s story—past injuries, lifestyle habits, and patterns of movement—holds the answers you need to determine where to begin. By learning to listen closely and piece together their history, you’ll often uncover the first clues to create an effective, individualized plan.
A client’s history provides a roadmap of their nervous system’s experiences, compensations, and stressors.
For example, a history of concussions might lead you to start with visual exercises, as the eyes are often affected in head injuries. If they report chronic ankle sprains, their vestibular system and balance may have been compromised, making proprioceptive work an ideal entry point. The key is to focus on a small, targeted intervention based on what you’ve learned, test it, and then reassess. Often, one strategic choice can provide the brain and body with enough new information to improve performance, reduce pain, or simply feel better.
Starting with a client’s history also builds trust and rapport, showing them that you are listening to their unique experiences. It removes guesswork and allows you to provide care that feels specific and personal rather than generic. For most of your clients, no one has ever asked them in depth questions or spent more than 15 minutes learning about their past.
Once you identify the most significant historical markers—whether they’re tied to old injuries, repetitive stress, or nervous system overwhelm—you can narrow your focus to the most likely driver of their current symptoms or limitations.
From there, you’re not just addressing surface-level issues but tapping into the root cause of dysfunction, one small step at a time.
The next history you take, be slow and thorough. Try to go as chronological as you can. What you’ll notice when you’re writing down what they say is that certain this will stand out. Circle them, or underline them or bold them so as you look back each time, you’ll have those pieces highlighted to refer to. Often they were “one way” before that interesting piece of history, and then after it they were “another way".” One day they were normal and the next day they were not. But that usually gets over looked. What if you saw “I got a divorce and moved from California to New Hampshire that month” during your history taking and every since then, they can’t figure out why their low back has been bothering them ever since, no matter what they try? It could simply be acknowledging that that makes a difference for them.
Leaving as session feeling HEARD is one of the most powerful gifts you can give your clients.
I’d love to hear what resonated with you after reading this blog, hit reply and I will see you next month :)