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Counterstrain Success Stories: Patterns, Not Magic

April 24, 2026
Categories
  • Counterstrain in Practice
Tags
  • learning Counterstrain
  • success stories

Counterstrain in Practice · Volume 4

Counterstrain practitioners have no shortage of patient success stories—from relieving chronic pain to resolving complex, multi-system issues like autoimmune conditions or lifelong digestive dysfunction.

And while those outcomes are powerful, they’re not the most interesting part. The real “magic” happens when clinicians begin to recognize the patterns behind them and begin to shift their clinical reasoning.

The Jones Institute’s teaching team weighed in some of these trends they see again and again in practice, often earlier than expected.

The patterns of a leaf symbolizing human anatomy
Photo by Gildardo RH on Unsplash

Symptoms aren’t always local

Israel Sanchez, LMT, CSC1, recalled a young athlete who came in with ankle pain after a martial arts tournament.

The patient’s mother thought it could be a sprain, yet there was no swelling, discoloration, or restriction—nothing local to explain it.

Instead, the evaluation led elsewhere to spinal epidural veins, then visceral structures.

“I asked mom if the boy had digestive issues and she mentioned he had endured chronic constipation since childbirth. The rest of the session was spent clearing visceral dysfunctions. His ankle pain went away though I never touched the ankle.”

Examples like this—where what appears to be a straightforward orthopedic issue points to another system entirely—are not uncommon.

The question shifts from “What’s wrong here?” to “What’s driving this?”

Small inputs can create outsized change

A newborn, just two weeks old, had been crying constantly. The baby wasn’t just fussing, she was in distress. She was barely sleeping, and feeding was extremely difficult. The entire family was exhausted.

Willy Cherry, PT, CSC1, stepped in to assess.

“Upon scanning the lymphatics of the head, congestion in the region of SUBM-LV was visible. A very gentle glide was an immediate off switch.”

The baby calmed instantly.

smiling baby depicted in copy about "counterstrain success stories"
Photo by Daniel Thomas on Unsplash

“Her eyes were glued on mine as she gave me an indescribably grateful smile,” he said. “I don’t think anyone has ever looked at me with that level of connection. I was glad to be able to remove a stumbling block to development—not to mention a huge stressor for the family.”

These moments challenge something fundamental: the idea that bigger problems require bigger, more aggressive interventions. Sometimes, the opposite is true.

As Willy says, “I kind of wish all our cases were so simple.”

Systems thinking changes everything

Treating the body as an interconnected system influences not just patient outcomes, but the specific way clinicians approach complex cases.

Jolene Daulton’s case involved a 57-year-old physical therapist with an MRI-confirmed C5-6 disc herniation, severe C6-7 stenosis, and EMG-confirmed acute C7 nerve damage. The patient had already tried steroids, epidural injections, Gabapentin, traditional PT, chiropractic care, and traction, with minimal relief.

With 7-out-of-10 pain and surgery just days away, Jolene’s patient sought Fascial Counterstrain treatment as a last resort.

“After just one extensive treatment, she walked out pain-free,” said Jolene, PT, MDNC, CSC1. “Her grip strength improved immediately from 45 to 72 pounds. She called her surgeon and cancelled the cervical fusion that day.”

While not every case presents as dramatically, the underlying pattern is consistent: when multiple systems are considered—vascular, visceral, neurological—new options often emerge.

And as if the story couldn’t get better, on the very day she had been scheduled for surgery—when her sons would have been at the hospital with her—her ex-husband suffered a massive heart attack. Because she was not in surgery, her son was able to get him to the hospital immediately. Physicians later said minutes made the difference.

Counterstrain success stories never get old, but the real heart of them lies in the process of getting there—in the patterns that emerge. For clinicians, that repetition is where clinical confidence begins to take hold.

Counterstrain in Practice is a monthly series exploring real-world experiences across the Counterstrain learning journey. Find previous volumes here:

Volume 1: Learning Counterstrain as a Beginner

Volume 2: How to Explain Counterstrain

Volume 3: Inside the Clinical Application of Counterstrain

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2 Comments

  1. Yvonne Martin says:
    April 28, 2026 at 9:12 pm

    I’m CMT and lymphatic therapist. I’m interested in your courses. Where do I start.
    Thank you,

    • admin says:
      April 28, 2026 at 9:23 pm

      Welcome! We recommend this short quiz to help you find your ideal curriculum: https://bit.ly/ji-new-student-quiz. If you have any questions afterward, please reach out to us here: https://www.jicounterstrain.com/contact/

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      Shannon Arndt, MSPT, JSCC, is a distinguished physical therapist and owner of Soundview Center for Well-being, Lone Lake Physical Therapy, and Sage Counterstrain. She holds an MSPT from the University of Rhode Island, where she graduated at the top of her class, and is a Board Certified Specialist in Strain and Counterstrain. Shannon’s expertise extends to her work with The Bridge Back Project, where she uses counterstrain techniques to support veterans and first responders in their recovery from PTSD. Passionate about patient education, she thrives on uncovering the complex interconnections of physical impairments and empowering individuals to manage their health autonomously.

      Dr. Kim Braun, PT, DPT, brings over 30 years of experience to her practice as a doctor of physical therapy, with a focus on comprehensive pain and dysfunction treatment. She earned her initial PT degree from the University of Iowa and later completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy at St. Scholastica College. Passionate about infant care, Dr. Braun specializes in treating and preventing torticollis and plagiocephaly. Her dedication to patient-centered care is rooted in integrity, efficacy, compassion, and advocacy, utilizing a holistic approach for rehabilitation, prevention, and wellness. Dr. Braun has pursued extensive post-graduate study in the Fascial Counterstrain technique through the Jones Institute and with Brian Tuckey, PT, OCS, JSCCI, and is excited to leverage Counterstrain when other interventions have proven insufficient.

      Michael Wangsness, PT, DPT, ATC, CSC I, holds a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Nova Southeastern University (2007) and earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Minnesota (2010). He began incorporating Fascial Counterstrain (FCS) into his practice in 2011 and has advanced to teaching roles, serving as a Teaching Assistant since 2016 and a Lab Instructor since 2020. In 2022, Michael was among the first to receive his CSC I certification. Passionate about FCS, he has been privileged to train extensively under Brian Tuckey. Michael currently practices at an outpatient clinic for M Health Fairview in Woodbury, MN. Outside of work, he enjoys golfing, coaching hockey, and spending time with his wife, Heather, and their three children: Olivia, Gavin, and Amelia.

      Greg Zadow has been a self-employed physical therapist since 1998. He earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in physiotherapy from the University of South Australia and Doctor of Physical Therapy from the Rocky Mountain University of Health Professionals. Greg is the owner and clinic director of Green Ridge Physical Therapy and Wellness, his Oregon-based private practice. In 2011, he became certified in the Strain Counterstrain (SCS) technique and continued on to complete a mastery program with Counterstrain Academy and become a Jones Strain Counterstrain Certified Instructor (JSCCI) of Fascial Counterstrain (FCS). Greg has been using Counterstrain ever since his first introduction to the technique in 1991 and now holds over 20 years of continuing education experience in the field of manual therapy.

      Kyle graduated from San Diego State University in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Miami in 2014.​ Kyle immediately started his private practice and became certified with The Jones Institute after witnessing the powerful effects of Counterstrain on his patients. Kyle currently lends his expertise to the Doctor of Physical Therapy programs at both San Diego State University and the University of Miami. Since joining The Jones Institute as a lab instructor in 2015, Kyle has taken on additional roles in managing the company’s domestic headquarters, developing the curriculum for a new anatomy program, and teaching Anatomy Dissection as the lead instructor.

      Eryn Milian earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and environmental science from William Smith College along with a Doctor of Physical Therapy and PhD from the University of Miami. Her doctoral work focused on anatomical sciences and measurable outcomes which inform her current clinical expertise in orthopedics and sport physical therapy. Since joining the University of Miami’s faculty in 2013, Eryn has expanded her role as assistant professor to become a course master for neuroanatomy and instructor for both pelvic anatomy and the university’s orthopedic, sport, and neuroscience residency programs. Her research interests lie primarily in knee injuries and the development of reliable and valid measures of assessing ACL risk in adolescent athletes via musculoskeletal ultrasound.

      Tim Hodges has worked in the field of physical rehabilitation since 1996. Since joining The Jones Institute in 2004, he’s assisted Brian Tuckey, PT, OCS, JSCCI, in the development of several Fascial Counterstrain techniques and taught numerous Fascial Counterstrain courses as a certified instructor. Tim continues to apply his knowledge and expertise through Counterstrain Academy—a mastery program designed for licensed Counterstrainers throughout the country. In addition to developing the program’s curriculum and overseeing its mentorships, Tim is currently practicing at Counterstrain Portland, his Oregon-based private practice.

      Larry Ham graduated from the University of Southern California in 1978 with a Master of Science in physical therapy. He took his first Counterstrain course in 1986 after Lawrence Jones, D.O., treated him and successfully eliminated all back and sciatica pain. He’s now certified to teach Strain and Fascial Counterstrain courses for the spine and extremities and the viscera, respectively. In addition to teaching Counterstrain in the U.S. and Australia, Larry has served on the sidelines of over one thousand sporting events as a Certified Athletic Trainer. Though nearing retirement, Larry still practices in Spokane, Washington, and enjoys spending his free time with his wife, sons, and grandchildren. You can catch him scuba diving with sharks, remodeling his home, or hydrofoiling on the lake.

      Robert Dowd holds a Bachelor of Science in medicine with a certificate in physical therapy, Master of Healthcare Administration, and Doctor of Physical Therapy. Robert is now a Jones Strain Counterstrain Certified Instructor (JSCCI) who’s dedicated to presenting Counterstrain the way Lawrence Jones, D.O., advised his students to do at his final course offering. Robert applies the philosophy of Counterstrain to all clinical settings from the outpatient orthopedic clinic, acute care hospital, and ICU to the nursing home and hospice industry. When he’s not practicing in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Robert can be found writing, fishing, hunting, or riding his motorcycle.

      Holly Christy earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington, Master of Acupuncture from Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University where she currently teaches as an adjunct clinical faculty member. Holly started her practice in 2000 and became a lead instructor for Counterstrain Academy in 2014 after a mastery-level internship with Tim Hodges, LMT, JSCCI. In 2019, she became a Jones Strain Counterstrain Certified Instructor (JSCCI) of Fascial Counterstrain (FCS) for the nervous system. Though Counterstrain is her primary modality, Holly also offers primary care, acupuncture, prolotherapy, custom orthotics, and intravenous nutrient therapy.

      Brian Tuckey, a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Maryland School of Physical Therapy, became board certified in orthopedics in 1995. Under the tutelage of Lawrence Jones, D.O., Brian became one of only four physical therapists in the world to be certified in the Strain Counterstrain (SCS) technique. He was also the first practitioner to recognize Counterstrain’s impact on the fascial system which led to his development of Fascial Counterstrain (FCS) with over 800 anatomically-specific techniques in addition to the FCS Cranial Scan—a proprietary assessment that identifies dysfunction in all systems and regions of the body. When he’s not teaching, Brian is treating complex patients at Tuckey and Associates Physical Therapy in Frederick, Maryland.

      Randall Kusunose founded The Jones Institute in 1988 with Lawrence Jones, D.O., the original developer of Counterstrain. He was the first therapist to be board certified in orthopedics by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties in California. Randall has trained all Jones Strain Counterstrain Certified Instructors (JSCCI) in the U.S., France, Italy, and Australia, and developed over 60 Jones Strain Counterstrain techniques along with the Facilitated Counterstrain curriculum. When he’s not practicing, you can find Randall skiing, scuba diving, and relaxing on the sand in the beautiful beach town of Encinitas, California.