EMPOWER YOUR PATIENTS

Supporting Providers in Patient Lifestyle Adjustments

How Ánimo Supports Your Patients

You already know what needs to change for your patients to heal.
My work is helping them actually live those changes in real life.

I’m David Martinez, MS, ATC — a sports medicine professional and psychotherapist-in-training based in Wilmington, CA. Ánimo is my health coaching practice focused on movement, stress regulation, and habit change for adults dealing with chronic conditions, pain, and life transitions.

This page is for chiropractors, naturopathic doctors, functional medicine providers, MDs, DOs, PTs, and integrated clinics who want their patients to:

  • Follow through on treatment plans

  • Move more confidently and safely

  • Make realistic changes to sleep, stress, and nutrition

  • Feel understood in both English and Spanish

You remain the clinical lead.
I support your patients in the behavioral, emotional, and logistical side of change.

Most of your patients don’t need more information. They need:

  • Someone to break your plan into tiny, doable steps

  • Support when life, work, or family gets in the way

  • A guide who understands chronic pain, fatigue, and fear of movement

  • For bilingual and Latino patients: culturally grounded, bilingual support

That’s my role.

You diagnose and design the plan. I help patients practice it week to week — safely, realistically, and in a way that fits their lives.

Core Ways I Support Your Patients

  • For patients seeing you for:

    • Diabetes, prediabetes, metabolic syndrome

    • Hypertension & cardiovascular risk

    • Autoimmune and inflammatory conditions

    • Thyroid issues, chronic fatigue, IBS, migraines

    • Weight loss and hormone-related concerns

    I help patients:

    • Turn nutrition and lifestyle recommendations into specific weekly actions

    • Build structure around meals, walking, sleep, and stress “off-ramps”

    • Track energy, symptoms, and barriers so you get better feedback

    • Understand why the plan matters, in clear English or Spanish

  • For patients navigating:

    • Chronic neck, back, hip, or knee pain

    • Fibromyalgia or pain with fatigue

    • Post-acute care after chiropractic, PT, or rehab

    • Return to sport or recreational activity (any age)

    I help patients:

    • Rebuild trust in their body with simple, graded movement

    • Use “green/yellow/red light” pain rules for safer activity

    • Bridge the gap between clinic exercises and real-life movement

    • Reduce fear-avoidance so they don’t slide back into inactivity

  • Many chronic conditions are worsened by:

    • Poor sleep

    • Chronic stress and “wired-tired” patterns

    • All-or-nothing behavior cycles

    I offer structured coaching focused on:

    • Basic nervous system education (“what your body is trying to do”)

    • Sleep routines, pacing, and micro-rest practices

    • Short, doable movement “snacks” that support energy and mood

    • Building sustainable, non-perfectionistic routines

  • Born and raised in the Los Angeles Harbor. I’m Latino, bilingual, and comfortable working in English, Spanish, or Spanglish.

    For your Spanish-speaking or bilingual patients, I can:

    • Explain medical topics, functional medicine and movement in accessible language

    • Work with traditional foods and family dynamics rather than against them

    • Involve family members when appropriate, with the patient’s consent

    • Honor identity, culture, and lived reality while still supporting the plan

  • Simple Referral Flow

    1. You identify a patient who needs extra support with behavior change and follow-through.

    2. You introduce Ánimo briefly in session (30–60 seconds is enough).

    3. You share my booking link/QR code or contact info.

    4. I handle onboarding, scheduling, and consent on my side.

    Typical Program Structure

    • Length: usually 4–12 weeks to start

    • Frequency: weekly or bi-weekly, 30–45 minutes

    • Format: virtual (primary), with selective in-person options locally

    • Focus: 1–3 key goals tied directly to your treatment plan

    Communication Back to You

    For shared patients, I can provide:

    • Brief, focused updates every 4–6 weeks (or sooner if needed)

    • Key patterns and barriers I’m seeing in their daily life

    • Questions or concerns the patient wants clarified by you

    • Suggestions for where they might need more clarity or adjustment

    You stay in control of clinical decisions. I’m your eyes and ears in the day-to-day.

Integration & Communication

  • Usually, you briefly introduce me in session and hand the patient my card/QR code, or add a simple note in your system. From there, I handle scheduling directly with the patient.

  • For shared cases or pilot programs, I send concise updates every 4–6 weeks highlighting goals, general adherence, key barriers, and any questions that need your input.

  • A brief summary is enough: main diagnosis or concern, relevant precautions, and your primary goals (for example: “support adherence to anti-inflammatory diet and walking plan” or “build confidence with graded movement for low back pain”).

  • I validate their concerns without taking sides and say something like,
    “That’s important to talk through with your doctor. Let’s write down your questions so you can get clear answers.”
    I’ll also flag it in my update to you.

Money & Liability

  • Ánimo is private pay, with packages and some sliding-scale availability. I handle all billing; there is no additional workload for your staff.

  • Currently, I work as an independent collaborator. You refer when you feel it’s appropriate, and patients engage with me directly. If a different relationship makes sense in the future, we can discuss it.

  • Yes. I carry professional liability insurance appropriate to my role and background.

  • To start, a simple written understanding of roles, communication, and boundaries is usually sufficient. If the collaboration grows, I’m open to more formal agreements if you’d prefer.

FAQ for Providers

Scope of Practice & Safety

  • I help your patients translate your treatment plan into realistic, weekly actions — movement, sleep, stress, and simple nutrition behaviors — while supporting follow-through and tracking their experience over time.

  • I work in the lane of health coaching and movement/rehab coaching. That includes education, behavior change, and exercise guidance aligned with my sports medicine background. I do not diagnose, prescribe, adjust, order tests, or override any part of your medical/chiropractic plan.

  • No. I don’t diagnose conditions, prescribe medications, change dosages, or alter supplements. I only help patients implement the plan you’ve created.

  • If I notice concerning symptoms, major pain changes, or mental health risks, I pause my work in that area, refer back to your office, and, if appropriate, recommend immediate medical or emergency care. I err on the side of caution and clear boundaries.

  • I explicitly position you as the clinical lead in every conversation. If a patient asks to change something in your lane, I redirect:
    “Eso hay que revisarlo con tu doctor / chiropractor — let’s bring that question back to them.”

  • Patients in acute crisis, unstable serious mental health or substance use situations, or those not medically cleared for movement/intensive behavior change are not appropriate until you’ve stabilized and cleared them.

Logistics & Workflow

  • I primarily see patients virtually for convenience and consistency. In-person options may be available locally for specific movement-based work when appropriate.

  • Most patients start with 4–12 weeks, meeting weekly or every other week. Sessions are 30–45 minutes and focus on one to three concrete goals tied directly to your plan.

  • I design changes to fit their real life — short walks, simple strength exercises, realistic meal adjustments, and small sleep/stress practices. The aim is to add support, not overwhelm them with “homework.”

  • You can simply introduce Ánimo and hand them my link or card. Patients schedule directly with me through my online booking system.

  • I keep coaching notes on goals, adherence, and key observations. For shared patients, I can send short written summaries to your office via secure email or your preferred method.

Let’s work together

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