31/07/2026
After 17 incredible years… it’s time
In 2009 I opened the door to Essential Chiropractic with nothing more than a rented treatment room, a paper diary and a pencil.
Over the years, we grew through a recession, eventually outgrowing that little room and purchasing our home on Lymington Road in 2014. What began as a one person practice became a thriving multidisciplinary healthcare clinic.
Together, we’ve navigated through a pandemic, celebrated incredible milestones, welcomed new team members and sadly grieved together too. Through every high and every low, one thing has always remained constant, the people. The patients who trusted us and the team who made Essential what it is.
But the biggest milestone of my life was still to come.
The arrival of our beautiful daughter, Myla.
From the moment she arrived, I knew immediately my energy was elsewhere.
I’ve often referred to Essential Chiropractic as “my baby.” For the last 17 years I have poured my heart and soul into building it. Every ounce of energy, every spare moment and every decision has been made with the practice at its centre.
It’s time for that energy to be invested somewhere else.
Being a parent is the greatest privilege I have ever known and it’s one I don’t intend to take lightly. I want to be wholly present when I’m with Ryan and Myla. Those precious moments are fleeting and I know I would regret missing them.
I have realised that continuing to lead the business in the way I always have would require sacrifices at home that I am simply no longer willing to make.
With that in mind, I have made the incredibly difficult decision to step away from running Essential Chiropractic and hand the reins over to my good friend and colleague, Phoebe Bavin.
Phoebe, Paul and I have spent many months planning this transition and I couldn’t be more excited for the future of the practice.
Phoebe is passionate, compassionate and deeply committed to delivering exceptional care.
Our patients and our wonderful team deserve the very best and I know she will continue everything we’ve worked so hard to build.
Many of you may already know Phoebe. Along with her husband, Paul, she owns Riviera Wellbeing in Paignton, a practice that has built an outstanding reputation within our community.
Their 5* reviews speak volumes about the standard of care they provide and having known Phoebe for many years, I can say with complete confidence that Essential Chiropractic is in incredibly safe hands.
The good news? Nothing changes.
The same name. The same fantastic team. The same slightly crazy atmosphere we’ve always had.
AND I’ll still be here, treating patients just as I always have.
The difference is that I now have something I’ve been missing for a very long time: time. Time to be with my family, time to be present and perhaps, for the first time in many years, a little time for myself too.
To every single patient who has walked through our doors over the last 17 years, thank you. Without your trust, loyalty and support, there would never have been an Essential Chiropractic. Many of you have been with me since those very first days on Newton Road and I will never be able to fully express how grateful I am.
To my incredible team… wow.
You’ve made every challenge worthwhile. We’ve laughed until we’ve cried, cried when life has been hard, celebrated one another’s successes and supported each other through some incredibly difficult times. Watching you grow has been one of my greatest privileges. Your loyalty, friendship and unwavering support will stay with me forever. I genuinely don’t just work with colleagues. I work with people I consider family.
To my Mum and Dad, thank you for believing in me from the very beginning. You’ve celebrated every success, picked me up through the challenges and never stopped believing in what I was trying to build.
More recently, you’ve given us something even more precious, your time. Thank you for helping us with Myla, for allowing me to continue doing what I love while navigating motherhood. I couldn’t have achieved everything I have without your love and support. For that, I will be forever grateful.
And finally, to my husband, Ryan.
Thank you for standing beside me while I chased for more. Thank you for understanding the long hours, the late nights, the weekends and the times when work inevitably came first. Thank you for listening when things became overwhelming and for always believing in me.
Running a business as a woman isn’t always easy, but having your support made every challenge that little bit lighter.
Now that we’ve become parents, I truly understand what matters most.
Myla has taught me something I never expected to learn. Life doesn’t always have to be lived at full speed. It’s okay to slow down. It’s okay to pause.
Sometimes, stepping back isn’t giving up, it’s making space for the things that matter most.
See you all on Monday.
Love Dipty ❤️
