Our mission is to bring Fascial Counterstrain to the world to address the impact of trauma, promote healing, and restore hope.
To do this we focus on three essential priorities that are essential to making quality Fascial Counterstrain available to as many people as possible - Accesibility, Education, and Research.
Lower barriers to access and subsidize Facial Counterstrain treatment as part of a holistic care plan to help people recovering from the effects of traumatic events and physical traumas.
Conduct clinical research trials to measure and verify Fascial Counterstrain outcomes, submit findings for peer review, and publish results in respected industry journals.
Disseminate information about Fascial Counterstrain to the general public as well as the medical and research communities.
We believe that individual and community well being is indivisible, and we continually work to create a better, more healed world for all. We meet people where they are, with warmth and without judgment. We value diversity and work to build a team that reflects that. We work to dismantle barriers and model emerging best practices to create an environment of dignity, respect, and welcome.
We stand behind and take responsibility for the impact our organization has on the individuals and communities it touches. We strive to lead by example and foster a brave, resilient organizational culture. We are committed to harm reduction, leaning into challenging dialogues, and showing up for effective repair. We hold ourselves to high standards of accountability and build trust by being transparent.
We pursue big dreams and bold goals. We embrace the learning curve, and see our failures as the pathways to further successes and advancements. Our innovative spirit comes from our willingness to challenge norms and our dedication to creative problem-solving and continuous improvement.
Everything we create is with the future in mind. We invest in building infrastructure designed to last for decades of impact to come. We invest in talent and growing relationships. We reject false urgency and embrace going slow to go fast so that our programs and systems are suited to long term success.
The rising tide raises all boats. Given the nature of our work, we encourage having fun, collaborating, and embracing opportunities to be grateful. We believe that celebration shared is expansive, generative, and creative.
In 2016, a naturopathic physician named Dr. Holly Christy used a technique called 'Fascial Counterstrain' to successfully treat a patient with a back injury. The patient had tried other treatments without success, but after six sessions with Dr. Christy, he experienced significant improvement.
This led the patient to question why more people weren't aware of this effective and non-invasive technique. Dr. Christy explained that individual practitioners like herself are focused on their own practices and lack the resources for extensive research. The demand for their services keeps them too busy to invest time and money into large-scale studies.
Dr. Christy decided to establish a research organization called the Bridge Back Project, enlisting the help of Ben Dennis to form a 501(c)3 organization and raise funds for clinical trials on Counterstrain.
Dr. Christy, having a background in sports medicine, wanted the research to focus on post-traumatic stress injuries. She had been attracting patients dealing with the aftereffects of severe trauma, such as violence and witnessing or enduring trauma in the line of duty. These patients experienced symptoms that prevented them from thriving, and Dr. Christy observed Counterstrain's positive impact on their physical, psychological, and emotional well-being.
Dr. Christy realized that anecdotal evidence was not sufficient to build awareness and gain support from the medical and research communities. She formed a practitioner team, including her top students, to gather data for the Bridge Back Project's first clinical trial study.
The goal was to determine if Fascial Counterstrain could effectively treat symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its comorbidities.
The team decided not to turn away individuals who didn't meet the study requirements, as it seemed unjust to deny treatment to those in need. The control group would also receive the full treatment protocol, and no one from the communities they served would be turned away.
This led to the unofficial start of the Impact Program, which funded Counterstrain sessions for first responders, military personnel, veterans, and healthcare frontline workers.
Dr. Christy anticipated two major challenges: lack of public awareness and understanding, and a shortage of trained Counterstrain practitioners.
These challenges inspired the creation of the Bridge Back Project's Education Program. The program aimed to address the need for public education and increase the number of qualified practitioners through training initiatives.
Currently, the Bridge Back Project's education efforts focus on disseminating information and building awareness about Counterstrain.
We have ambitious plans to launch a Scholarship Fund in 2024 to help practitioners access training.
In 2022, the Bridge Back Project expanded its practitioner team by adding Dr. Rachel Harmon and Brian Tuckey, the innovator of Fascial Counterstrain.
In January 2023, Theora Moench was hired as the new Executive Director, replacing Dr. Holly Christy. Dr. Christy transitioned into the role of Principal Investigator and Head of Impact, focusing on research and program development.
Currently we are focused on building capacity so that we can expand the reach of our programs to more communities and regions, ensure continuity of services, hire and retain critical staff positions, and ramp up our fundraising efforts while building a devoted, passionate donor community so that we can continue to grow and deliver on the promise of our mission.
In order to do this, we rely on generous donations from friends of the project and past participants who want others to be able to experience the benefits they’ve received.
Please consider giving today to help us help bring this powerful technique to more people who need support and healing.
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Board of Directors
Founder
Dr. Christy co-founded The Bridge Back Project in October of 2017 and is the principal investigator and executive director. She is passionate about providing a research-based treatment to help ease suffering for those who have suffered from post traumatic stress injuries.
Dr. Christy is trained in the highly specialized technique of Fascial Counterstrain by Tim Hodges, LMP, JSCCI, CACI and Brian Tuckey, PT, OCS, JSCCI, both of whom have been pioneering an effort to expand the methodology of Counterstrain to effectively restore function to the fascial systems of the body: Visceral, Neural, Cranial/Dural, Musculoskeletal, Arterial, Venous and Lymphatic. She is an instructor for the Counterstrain Academy and the Jones Institute, and a graduate and clinical adjunct faculty member of Bastyr University.
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Board of Directors
Chairman
Jay Fluegel joined the board in October 2023 after serving as a volunteer for over 9 months. Jay is a maker, strategist, and storyteller with 25 years of product leadership experience. He is the founder of Atomically, a transformation consulting company helping start-ups, scale-ups, nonprofits, and established enterprises transform their businesses, products, technology, and leadership.
He studied Entrepreneurship at Cornell University and in the Technology MBA program at University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. He has been on the management teams of startups including Jump Networks which was acquired by Microsoft, and built or turned around teams at Microsoft, Expedia, and Axon/TASER. Business strategy, product vision and demonstration, and idea incubation are his superpowers. People are his love.
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Board of Directors
Secretary
Vi is a process improvement specialist and certified ScrumMaster with a background in traditional, hybrid, professional, academic, and SEO publishing. They help nonprofits and startups scale sustainably, operate efficiently, and elevate their offerings during growth phases and restructures.
For the last decade, Vi has worked in marketing and hybrid publishing as Head of Content at SEO marketing startup First Page Sage, and then as Content Division Operations Manager for Scribe Media, a hybrid book publisher. Most recently, they work as a Publishing Editor for Sage, one of the “Big Five” global academic publishers.
Vi has been active in the nonprofit sphere alongside their corporate career. In 2019, they were a primary show host and community spokesperson for the Atheist Community of Austin, sitting on the events committee and fostering brand awareness and donor commitments as a conference speaker. They then co-founded Skeptic Generation, a donation-based startup that built a community of 15K weekly participants and raised over $50K in individual support in the first year of operation.
Since returning to Portland in 2023, Vi has been putting their community first by founding Media Alchemy Guild, a collective of content creation experts who provide ghostwriting, editing, marketing, and production services to self-publishing authors and hybrid publishing startups. They also volunteer as Media Manager for Portland Radio Project, a non-profit station dedicated to partnering with small businesses and fostering the careers of diverse local artists.
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Board of Directors
Dr. Kristin Barnes is a licensed Naturopathic Physician, licensed Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine Practitioner. She brings together a wealth of life experiences gained from 23 years of active duty in the US Navy with a passion for pursuing vitality and wellness. Kristin has a special interest in working with military veterans and any patient who wants to address chronic stress, optimize mental health and integrate trauma. She blends Traditional Chinese Medicine, botanical medicine, nutrition, physical movement, and Counterstrain® to address both emotional and physical pain. Kristin also has completed a certificate in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy. She focuses on patient education as well as journey preparation and integration counseling to facilitate the responsible, safe, sustainable and conscientious use of these traditional world medicines.
Kristin received her BS in Chemistry from the United States Naval Academy in 1992 and is a graduate of the Naval War College. She served as an F14 Naval Flight Officer with seven global deployments. She holds a master’s in nutrition, Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine as well as a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. She has been practicing medicine since 2021 and completed her two-year residency in 2023. Kristin continues both in private practice in Port Townsend, WA and as an associate physician at a clinic in Poulsbo, WA near Bremerton.
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Executive Director
With a background in entrepreneurship, organizational development, and extensive training in relational intelligence and coaching, Theora is proud to serve as the Bridge Back Project’s Executive Director.
She was a student-athlete and world adventurer who sustained both head and back injuries defending goals and chasing new destinations. She found Counterstrain after 14 years of chronic pain and reduced mobility that were negatively impacting her quality of life. Counterstain treatmentss effectively treated her symptoms, which other healthcare providers had concluded were untreatable. She now lives mostly free of both symptoms and pain, and is a “converted skeptic” passionately advocating on behalf of making Countertrain accessible to as many people in need as possible.
She/They/He
Advisory Council Member
MS I/O Psychology; Director of Recovery at Alltru
Alex Robinson is an Army Special Operations Forces (SOF) combat Veteran with a decade of active-duty experience in the Special Operations community. During her service, she led the unit’s Cultural Support Team program, undertaking multiple combat cycles with the 75th Ranger Regiment and other Tier 1 organizations. Her pivotal role in the selection of women for Special Operations and her contributions to policy changes for the integration of women into male-centric teams helped open doors for full integration.
After her military service, Alex pursued education at the University of Southern California (USC), achieving a Master's degree in Organizational Psychology. Her focus on gender equity initiatives and LGBTQ advocacy showcased her commitment to fostering inclusivity. In 2021, facing numerous mental and physical challenges, Alex sought unconventional treatments beyond the VA system. Discovering solace and recovery through plant-based medicines, breathwork, writing, yoga, and meditation, she emerged on a new path of supporting herself and others on their healing journey.
Alex is a leadership and human performance coach, and serves as an Oregon psilocybin facilitator, supporting Innertrek and the Heroic Hearts Project on domestic and international veteran healing retreats. Her mission revolves around empowering and supporting the success and healing of the next generation of leaders, fostering a legacy of resilience and growth.
Advisory Council Member
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Consultant and Trainer; Seventh Generation
Carolyn Hartness, Eastern Band Cherokee/Norwegian, is a consultant committed to a life of service assisting individuals, families, communities and organizations and Tribes to create holistic, collaborative, evidence and spiritually based wellness for themselves, and future generations.
For over 34 years, Carolyn has served Indigenous and non-indigenous communities, in the United States, Canada, Norway, Australia and New Zealand, offering consultation to agencies, schools, families and individuals around cultural diversity and wellness, and prevention/intervention strategies relating to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (F.A.S.D.), wellness and recovery.
Carolyn works on projects with counties, Tribes, state projects and organization, designing programs, curricula, intervention strategies, and assessment tools. She facilitates many gatherings and circles, to bring healing to individuals, including veterans, incarcerated individuals, families, Tribal people, communities and providers through honest, open and transformative sharing.
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