Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Emily Hayes.
Hi Dr. Emily, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My Story: How I Found Chiropractic and Why I Built Sunrise Family Chiropractic
Growing up, I was that kid with constant stomach migraines. The kind that sent me home from school and left me curled up, unable to function. Everyone told me, “You’ll grow out of it.”
But instead of growing out of it… I grew into something worse.
By middle school, those stomach migraines became basilar migraines — deep, intense migraines at the base of my brain that got so severe they caused seizure-like symptoms. My family and I bounced from doctor to doctor, specialist to specialist, looking for answers. Eventually we learned that what I was experiencing was a form of migraine triggered by stress, just like the stomach migraines I had earlier.
So I did everything you’re “supposed” to do: manage stress, breathe, sleep, eat well.
But even with all the effort, my symptoms didn’t disappear, they simply shifted.
By high school and early college, the migraines had turned into panic attacks, leaving me overwhelmed and shut down. My nervous system was stuck in stress mode, and no one had ever addressed the root cause.
Everything changed in chiropractic school.
Learning about the nervous system, how it actually functions, how it becomes overwhelmed, and how it can heal was life-altering. When I began getting adjusted consistently, my entire world changed.
No more panic attacks.
No more shutdown.
That heavy weight I had carried for years finally lifted.
Do I still get stressed? Of course, everyone does.
But now it’s manageable, instead of debilitating. My nervous system finally knows how to regulate, adapt, and recover.
That transformation is exactly why I opened Sunrise Family Chiropractic.
I wanted to create a safe, hopeful place for kids and families struggling with nervous system dysregulation; ADHD, autism, POTS, PANS/PANDAS, sensory issues, colic, reflux, digestion struggles, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, all the things so many families are quietly battling every day.
I went to USC for undergrad and have always loved Columbia, so I knew I wanted to return here to serve the families who need this care most.
And the name?
Sunrise came from one of my deepest beliefs:
that no matter how dark or overwhelming things feel, the sun will rise again.
There is always hope. Always another chance. Always a new beginning.
That’s what chiropractic gave me.
And that’s what I want Sunrise Family Chiropractic to give every person who walks through our doors.
A place to heal.
A place to feel understood.
A place where the nervous system and the whole family can finally thrive. 🌅💛
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely was not smooth between the migraines, panic attacks, STRESS from graduating and starting a business at 27 years old. Then finding a building that could embody what kind of space I wanted, one where parents and children felt welcomed and at peace versus stepping into a Doctor’s office. From redoing the building ourselves from putting down floors to painting to building the furniture and laying it out in an open and inviting way. It was stressful and also the best thing to ever happen to me because now I have something that shows exactly how I feel and how I’m trying to help the community.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in neurologically focused chiropractic care for kids, pregnant moms, and families. My work centers around one core belief: the nervous system is the master controller of the body, and when it’s overwhelmed or dysregulated, it affects everything- behavior, emotions, digestion, sleep, immune function, development, and overall quality of life.
Instead of focusing on short-term symptom relief, I focus on helping families understand why struggles are showing up in the first place. Using advanced neurological assessments, including CLA Insight scans, I can measure how the brain and body are communicating and identify where stress, tension, or imbalance is occurring in the nervous system.
I’m most known for helping support kids with: ADHD & sensory challenges, Autism spectrum–related struggles, PANS/PANDAS, Anxiety & emotional dysregulation, Chronic immune issues, Ear infections, colic, reflux, constipation, Developmental delays and milestone concerns.
I’m equally passionate about supporting pregnant women with nervous system–based care that helps improve comfort, decrease stress, support fetal positioning, and create a calmer, smoother birth experience.
What I’m most proud of is watching families transform — seeing kids who were once overwhelmed become calmer, more regulated, and more connected to the world around them. Helping parents understand their child’s nervous system, sometimes for the very first time, is one of the most meaningful parts of my work.
What sets me apart is that my care goes far beyond adjustments. I provide: Neurological testing to identify the root cause, Individualized care plans based on measurable findings, A gentle, specific technique designed for kids and sensory-sensitive patients, A family-centered environment where parents feel heard, supported, and empowered.
My mission and the foundation of Sunrise Family Chiropractic is simple:
to bring hope, healing, and regulation to families who feel like they’ve tried everything and still haven’t gotten answers.
I’m grateful every day that I get to help kids and parents feel better, function better, and thrive again.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love GAMEDAYS!!! GO COCKS!! I also love the community the city brings together in helping other and having a networks of support.
I don’t love the wishy washy weather here but hey what are you gonna do! 😂
Pricing:
- I offer family plans to make it affordable the whole family
- I offer student discounts
- I offer military discounts
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sunrisefamilychiro.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunrisefamilychiro/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575277951244
