Spotlight on Dr. Alisa
AZHCC Recording Secretary Alisa Cooper says, “I wish I had a chiropractor who would give to me what I give to my clients!” That’s probably because Alisa, who is a doctor of chiropractic and certified clinical nutritionist, knows that spending a half hour with clients, doing deep soft tissue trigger point work, and providing them with a host of health information is hard to come by these days. Alisa is acutely aware that “doctor” in Latin means teacher, not healer. Her goal is to combine hands-on healing with nutritional counseling, educating her patients about all aspects of their physical well-being. When you talk with her at an AZHCC event, you can immediately feel both her enthusiasm for what she does and her compassionate interest in other people.
Dr. Alisa was born in Nashville, Tennessee, but grew up in Brooklyn and Staten Island, New York. As a preteen, Alisa suffered a fall that seriously injured her tailbone (coccyx). Not only did she have to sit on a pillow in class, but she also had to refrain from participating in gym. The coccyx injury resulted in severe stiff necks that prevented normal range of motion, left with her with a permanent head tilt, and made it impossible to sit up straight. Teachers constantly reprimanded her for her slumped posture and reliance on her arm as a prop.
In constant pain, Alisa found solace in food and grew chubbier month by month. She also grew steadily more cranky and irritable. Before long, her friends formed a club against her called PABLA (People Against Bitches Like Alisa). Even her little boyfriend was a card carrying member, complete with logo of a mad, frothing dog! That was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back, and reluctantly, Alisa agreed to be seen by a chiropractor. The rest is history! After 6 weeks of regular chiropractic adjustments, she was basically pain free and fully mobile. It was at that early age that Alisa developed a driving passion to help others as she had been helped. She decided to become a chiropractor, and never wavered from that goal.
Dr. Alisa attended the University of Delaware, majoring in Psychology while following the pre-med program. After graduation, she attended New York Chiropractic College and graduated summa cum laude. It was there she met Michael Wechsler, the man of her dreams. Despite the rigorous course load, the relationship grew and Michael proposed in Yosemite Park, just a few weeks after graduation. After a two year engagement, during which both young doctors were working as associates under the guidance of hugely successful mentors, the couple married and moved to New Jersey. There they started a family and their own practice, serving the quaint community of Tuckerton, N.J. for ten years before relocating to Scottsdale, AZ.
“I love it here now,” Alisa enthuses. “But I was so reluctant to leave my comfortable life, my family, and my friends back east to begin a new adventure so far from home.” Actually, Alisa says the turning point came during a pre-move visit to Oak Creek Canyon in Arizona. She spotted a bunch of teenagers jumping off a cliff into the creek, and decided to climb up for a closer look. “I looked down and panicked, but I knew I had to jump. It became a metaphor for me of jumping into a new life. When I took that step off the rocky ledge, I knew I could move and would move. Once I embraced it, I got totally turned on by my new life. Change can be a really good thing. Every day for the last 12 years, I have felt excited about getting up and starting my day. In Jersey, I always pushed the snooze button.”
Dr. Alisa joined AZHCC in 2006. Being grounded in the wellness lifestyle and industry, her thoughts and health practices were not always those adopted by the mainstream. “I was tired of being around people who thought I was a freak,” she grins. “I wanted to be around more like-minded people. Finding the AZHCC was a breath of fresh.” She advises other members to get involved in AZHCC activities to get the most of their experience. “It would be great to know everyone and for everyone to know you, but that is not practical for most. I recommend getting to know a few people well and spending time with those you feel you have the most synergy.”
A few things you may not know about Alisa: She plays classical piano, is in the process of getting her certification as an EFT practitioner (Emotional Freedom Technique), is an avid Beatles fan, has a passion for editing, and can put anything to rhyme. With sons now ages 18 and 20, Alisa and Michael are officially Empty Nesters. “This is the time to cultivate new passions and develop new hobbies. It is also time to get in the best shape of your life. How you enter middle age will have a tremendous impact on the quality of your life down the road.” Alisa is committed to helping others get in the best health possible to navigate through the various phases of life.
What would this nutritionist have for her last meal on the planet? “On that day, and only on that day, I would throw all caution to the wind.” Alisa laughs. “I’d have a couple of slices of good, old fashioned New York pizza: hot, cheesy and with a crispy crust. For dessert, a chewy chocolate brownie and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Then they could come and cart me away from gluten/sugar shock. I want to die the way I live…with no regrets.”
If you have a condition that might benefit from either chiropractic or nutritional intervention, or would like to increase your fitness potential and raise your energy level, contact Dr. Alisa at alisajoy61@hotmail.com or call her at 480-699-9735. You can also check out her website at LivAndBeWell.com. Or, if you’d just like to make a new friend, connect with her at an AZHCC gathering. She’s that fit, fabulous, fifty-something year old woman with the beautiful smile who will make you feel instantly welcome.
By Carolyne Ruck, of the Arizona Holistic Chamber of Commerce
