Local Stories November 20, 2025

An Inspired Chat with Vicki Souder of Thornton

Local Stories

We recently had the chance to connect with Vicki Souder and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Vicki , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
People often assume chiropractic care is all about “cracking backs.” That’s not what I do at all. My work focuses on the nervous system, how the brain communicates with the body. When that communication is off, people experience pain, anxiety, vertigo, and even emotional imbalance. Through gentle, non-force techniques and laser-based therapies, I help reset that connection so the body can heal itself naturally. I’m not just adjusting bones; I’m helping people (and their pets) find balance, clarity, and calm again.

Every time someone realizes they can move, think, or even smile again without pain, I get this overwhelming sense of gratitude. That’s joy to me. Watching people reclaim their lives, whether they have two legs or four paws, never gets old.

Most new patients tell me, “I wish I had found you sooner.” My goal is to change that misconception and show that healing doesn’t have to hurt.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dr. Vicki Souder, founder of Souder Chiropractic and Souder Dog Chiropractic in Thornton, Colorado. My work isn’t about cracking backs. It’s about reconnecting the body and brain so they can communicate the way they were designed to. I specialize in neurological rehabilitation and gentle, non-force techniques that help restore balance, mobility, and calm to the nervous system.

For over 30 years, I’ve worked with patients who have tried everything else, people living with chronic pain, vertigo, anxiety, depression, and neurological disorders, alongside the dogs who are often their closest companions. I combine advanced therapies like cold laser, mechanical rehab, and brain-based correction to help both people and pets heal naturally and live without pain.

What makes my work unique is the connection. I treat every patient as an individual, not a diagnosis. Healing should feel safe, not scary. It’s about restoring trust in the body’s ability to heal itself. My goal is simple: to help people and animals get their lives back, one nervous system at a time.

To learn more or schedule a visit, go to:

SouderChiropractic.com or SouderDogChiropractic.com.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a curious, wide-eyed kid who believed love and kindness could fix almost anything. I spent hours outside exploring, watching animals, and trying to figure out how everything in nature connected. As I said in a previous interview, my dad had a huge influence on that. He taught me to be strong but gentle, to listen more than I spoke, and to always leave things better than I found them.

Over the years, the world tried to convince me that life had to be complicated, that healing had to hurt, and that success meant running faster instead of pausing to understand. Finding chiropractic care brought me back to that early version of myself… the one who believes in natural healing, curiosity, and compassion.

Now, even though I work with very serious health issues and know that my patients’ well-being is in my hands, I also understand the importance of keeping a sense of humor. Life is precious, but it’s also meant to be lived and enjoyed. None of us are getting out of here alive, so we might as well find moments to laugh, love, and appreciate the time we have. That perspective keeps me grounded and reminds me why I do this work… not just to help people live longer, but to help them live better.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
A time today? I’m Kidding… But yes, I would say there was a time when I came close to walking away from everything I’d built. The hours were long, the emotional weight of caring for people who were hurting was heavy, and I was giving more than I had to give. Especially on the neurological side. It’s extremely draining and I remember thinking, “If I’m the one helping everyone else heal, why do I feel so worn down?”

But it was that moment that reminded me what healing really means. I realized I couldn’t keep pouring from an empty cup. So, I stopped, took a hard look at my own health, my boundaries, and my purpose, and began applying the same compassion to myself that I give my patients. It wasn’t easy, but that shift changed everything.

Since then, I’ve learned that strength doesn’t come from never breaking, it comes from learning how to rebuild. Now when patients walk through my door feeling hopeless, I can meet them with more than just treatment. I can meet them with understanding. Because I’ve been there too, and I know there’s always a way forward.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would probably say that what matters most to me is helping people and animals feel safe enough to heal. They’d tell you that I care deeply about people’s stories, not just their symptoms. I want everyone who walks through my doors to feel seen, heard, and understood. Healing starts with trust, and trust starts with listening.

They’d also tell you that I believe laughter belongs in every treatment plan. I deal with serious conditions every day, but I never forget that joy is part of the medicine. Whether it’s a gentle adjustment, a laser session, or a heartfelt conversation, I want my patients to leave feeling lighter than when they came in.

At the end of the day, what matters most to me is connection, to the body, to the mind, to the people we love, and to the moments that make life worth living. That’s what drives me in every part of my practice and my life

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say I made them feel seen, loved, and capable of healing… not just in their bodies, but in their spirit. That I was someone who showed up with compassion, curiosity, and humor, no matter what they were facing.

I want people to remember that I cared deeply about life, that I believed laughter belonged right next to tears, that healing could be both serious and lighthearted, and that I never let the heaviness of the world take away my gratitude for it.

If people can say I made their lives a little easier, their hearts a little lighter, or helped them see that they were stronger than they thought, that’s the kind of legacy I want to leave behind. Not perfection. Just presence, love, and a reminder that life, even when it hurts, is still worth smiling about.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Shawn Teters Photography.

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