We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jordan Matthew. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jordan below.
Jordan , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?
One defining moment in my career came through my own journey into motherhood.
My husband and I experienced three pregnancy losses before welcoming our son, Lachlan. While those experiences were incredibly difficult personally, they also changed me professionally. They gave me a much deeper appreciation for the emotional side of healthcare and helped me better understand that every family walking through my doors has a story that I may not know about.
I had already built my practice around caring for pregnant women, babies, children, and families, but becoming a mom myself gave me a different perspective. It helped me better understand the challenges, fears, joys, and questions that come with pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and raising children. There are so many transitions that happen during those years, and they affect the entire family, not just the person coming in for care.
That experience reinforced why I am so passionate about family chiropractic. Even when I am seeing a baby or a child, I check in on the parents too. I think parents are often the ones supporting everyone else, yet they are rarely asked how they are doing. Over the years, I have come to realize that when a family feels supported as a whole, everyone benefits.
Today, I still bring my clinical training to every visit, but I also bring lived experience. I can connect with families not only as a chiropractor, but also as a parent who understands that life does not always go according to plan. Sometimes people need clinical guidance, and sometimes they simply need someone to listen and support them through a challenging season.
That experience did not change the direction of my practice. It changed how I show up for the people I serve. It taught me that healthcare is about more than treating symptoms. It is about helping people feel heard, supported, and cared for during some of the biggest moments of their lives.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am Dr. Jordan Matthew, chiropractor and owner of Thistle Family Chiropractic LLC in the Tampa Bay area. I provide chiropractic care for people of all ages, with a special focus on pregnancy, postpartum recovery, babies, children, and families. As both a chiropractor and a mom, I understand how important it is for families to have a trusted healthcare provider who listens, educates, and supports them through every stage of life.
Interestingly, chiropractic was not my original career plan. I earned bachelor’s degrees in Athletic Training and Exercise Science and initially planned to become a pediatric physical therapist. After graduation, I completed additional prerequisite courses and applied to physical therapy programs. While I was going through that process, I found myself on a waitlist and began exploring other healthcare careers.
Around that same time, my brother was involved in a serious car accident. He fractured two lumbar vertebrae and ruptured his spleen. As a Division I pole vaulter and the top athlete on his team, he was told there was a chance he might never compete at the same level again. His university already had a chiropractor on staff, and I watched firsthand as he progressed through his recovery. Before long, he was back competing, leading his team, and breaking conference records. Seeing that transformation sparked my interest in chiropractic and ultimately changed the direction of my career.
As I learned more about the profession, I realized it aligned perfectly with what I had always wanted to do: help people improve their quality of life and support them through movement, function, and overall well being. Looking back, I am grateful my path led me to chiropractic because I truly cannot imagine doing anything else.
While in chiropractic school, I discovered a passion for caring for pregnant women, babies, children, and families. That passion became the foundation of my practice. Since graduating, I have continued to pursue advanced training in those areas, including Webster Certification, Spinning Babies Certification, and Craniosacral Therapy Certification. I also regularly attend continuing education courses to stay current and learn new ways to better serve the families in my community.
What sets me apart is the way I approach care. I believe healthcare should be personal. I take the time to listen to my patients, understand their goals, and meet them where they are. Whether I am caring for a pregnant patient, a newborn, a child, or an adult, I recognize that health does not happen in isolation. Families are connected, and when one person is struggling, it often affects everyone around them.
One of the things I am most proud of is creating a practice that extends beyond the adjustment table. Community is incredibly important to me, especially at a time when many people feel more disconnected than ever. I work hard to build relationships with local birth workers, healthcare providers, therapists, and wellness professionals so families have trusted resources and support when they need them. Through educational events, networking opportunities, and community outreach, my goal is to help families feel connected, empowered, and supported.
Above all, I want people to know that when they come to Thistle Family Chiropractic LLC, they are more than just an appointment on the schedule. My goal is to provide thoughtful, individualized care while helping families feel seen, heard, and supported during some of the most important seasons of their lives.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
One of the biggest pivots in my life and career came when I became a mother while running my own business.
Like many small business owners, I poured countless hours into building my practice. When I became pregnant with my son, I knew I would eventually need to step away for maternity leave, but as a solo practitioner, there was no one else to step in and run the practice while I was away. I had to carefully plan, communicate with patients, coordinate referrals, and trust that the business I had worked so hard to build would still be there when I returned.
My plan was to work right up until my due date. Like many plans in parenthood, things did not go exactly as expected. My son arrived at 38 weeks and 3 days, which meant I suddenly found myself canceling appointments and beginning maternity leave earlier than anticipated.
I only took six weeks off before returning to work. At the time, it felt like the right decision because I was balancing the needs of my family, my patients, and my business. Looking back, I probably would have given myself more time. Returning to work while learning how to be a new mom was one of the most challenging transitions I have experienced. For the first few months, I adjusted my schedule and gradually worked my way back before eventually returning to my regular office hours.
What I did not fully anticipate was how much becoming a mom would change my perspective. My priorities shifted, my schedule changed, and I had to learn how to balance caring for my family while continuing to care for my patients and grow my practice. I also developed a much deeper appreciation for what many of my patients are navigating during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and the early years of parenthood.
That experience taught me that sometimes a pivot is not about changing careers or starting over. Sometimes it is about adapting to a completely new season of life. I learned to give myself grace, ask for help when needed, and focus on what mattered most. Looking back, that season made me a stronger business owner, a more empathetic healthcare provider, and a more intentional person.
Most importantly, it reminded me that growth often comes from adapting when things do not go according to plan. As difficult as that transition was at times, it shaped both the person and the chiropractor I am today.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I believe my reputation has been built through relationships, consistency, and a genuine commitment to serving my community.
As a healthcare provider, trust is everything. Over the years, I have focused on taking the time to listen to my patients, understand their goals, and provide care that is individualized to their needs. I think people remember how you make them feel, and I strive to make every patient feel heard, respected, and supported.
I have also invested a great deal of time into building relationships within the Tampa Bay community. I regularly connect with other healthcare providers, birth workers, therapists, fitness professionals, and wellness practitioners because I believe families benefit when professionals work together. No single provider can do everything, and I want my patients to have access to trusted resources that can support them throughout different stages of life.
Consistency has also played a major role. Whether it is continuing my education, showing up for community events, creating educational content, or caring for patients each day, I have always tried to lead with authenticity and a desire to help. Building a reputation does not happen overnight. It is the result of small actions repeated over time.
If there is one thing I hope people associate with my practice, it is that I genuinely care. My goal has never been to be the biggest practice in town. My goal is to be a trusted resource for families and to create a place where people feel comfortable, supported, and cared for. I believe that focus on relationships and community has been the biggest factor in building my reputation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thistlefamilychiropractic.com
- Instagram: @jordanmatthewdc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jordanmatthewdc
Image Credits
Headshot- Angelina Mitschke https://bigpixelcreations.com/