The Spero Clinic Team
“My team is my greatest asset and my family away from home. They are highly trained in real life situations, working with some of the sickest chronically ill people in the world. This on the ground experience cannot be learned from books or schools.”
-Dr. Katinka Van Der Merwe
Our Staff is handpicked from all walks of life
Purpose
People meant to be on my team are not simply hired because I had a position to fill, but because they were meant to be part of my team. The one thing they all have in common is what I call the “X Factor”… a fierce compassion for those in pain that cannot be taught.
How We Work
My team is my greatest asset and my family away from home. Their experience cannot be learned from books or schools. Together, we celebrate our patient victories and hold each other up when the patients we care about may struggle. We eat together around the same lunch table every lunch, because we ARE family. A chosen one.
Our Team
The right people at the right time can make anything possible.
Dr. Katinka van der Merwe
Ever since I was a child, I knew that one day, I’d be helping people in some way. The day I decided to treat chronic pain it changed my life. I set out on a mission to create a place of love and expertise that would provide hope for those who have been told they should have no hope. I have traveled the world to gather techniques and technologies. I’ve assembled the perfect team. I’ve created the clinic that I’ve always dreamt about and we have been changing lives, one at a time. To us, every changed life matters, every life counts, every person matters.
Dr. Lucas Van Der Merwe
Dr. Lucas is my father and my first mentor. He is the reason I chose to help the very sick. I once asked my father why he continued to attend seminars and learn, as skilled as he already was. His answer became a major driving force in my life: “It’s not the eight out of ten patients that you help that keep you from sleeping at night, it’s the two out of ten that you don’t help”. My dad is universally beloved by patients and brings with him a major skill: He uses a technique that addresses the stress caused by emotional trauma, which negatively impacts patients’ lives in a multitude of ways. In my experience, almost every single patient who suffers from severe long term pain and illness also suffers from PTSD. Dr. Lucas’s work is invaluable in this field.
Dr. Hannelie Van Der Merwe
Dr. Hannelie (my sister) is a chiropractor. She has completed years of post graduate study in functional neurology, and is head of our laboratory. She studies blood analysis with a fine tooth comb and detects underlying problems such as chronic Epstein Barr (EBV) infections, urinary tract infections, and functional deficiencies that may slow down recovery. Dr. Hannelie is also an expert adjuster, evaluating and correcting spine and joint problems with a gentle hand.
Petro Van Der Merwe
Petro, My mom, has been immersed in alternative healthcare for decades. She commands a deep understanding of the emotional difficulties that accompany a patient’s journey back to health. Her office management skills and the loving touch she brings to patient relationships make her a highly valued and respected member of our team.
Petro is well loved as office mom and known for relentlessly spoiling therapy dogs.
Cameron - Dr. Katinka's Assistant
In addition to being my right hand and my loyal shadow, Cameron is there from day one when I connect with new patients. Cameron has a deep understanding of the support I need when working with our patients. Cameron connects with each patient and makes sure that we stay on schedule, not a small task, considering all our moving parts.
Colene Beck - Clinic Director
Having started out at our front desk over ten years ago, today Colene Beck manages every aspect of the clinic. Colene is also an artist and writer. Colene is universally beloved but also respected by our staff. She is fiercely organized and hides a soft heart underneath her tough exterior. Colene organizes schedules and makes sure that all scheduling is organized and stream lined, a gargantuan task.
Colby - Front Desk
Colby formerly worked as a pharmaceutical technician. She always says that the favorite part of her job is seeing patients complete their treatment and ring the bell. Colby is kind and smart and is known for saying wildly funny things, referred to as “Colby-isms” by our staff.
Kaylie - Marketing Manager
Kaylie always had a passion for helping people. Kaylie herself has been chronically ill and understands what it feels like to be sick and hopeless, with nowhere to turn. Since, using our system, Kaylie has made a remarkable recovery. I feel that this background has given her a level of compassion that only suffering can. Kaylie has a degree in Communication Studies and Social Media Marketing. She deeply believes in our program’s ability to help the hopeless and wants to shout it from the mountain tops.
Bryce - Neuromuscular Re-Education
I often refer to Bryce as “my lieutenant”. Bryce has been a Neuromuscular Education Therapist for years, and has worked with elite athletes from all over the world. He is driven, committed, highly skilled and very passionate. He is also a master of rehabilitation and takes on some of our toughest cases. He has been known to include outdoor excursions in his therapy, taking patients fishing, bike riding, or to play golf or shooting hoops, depending on the patients’ needs and interests.
Tamie - Neuromuscular Re-Education
Tamie is a certified massage therapist with a background in geriatric care. She is a sharp, dedicated worker with an exemplary work ethic, and especially enjoys working with children and adolescents. Tamie has a very gentle approach and never, ever gives up on a patient. Her patients tend to bond with her for life and her therapy room is filled with personal gifts and mementos from patients all over the world. She is also mom to an office favorite and trained therapy dog, Hippopotamus.
Kacee - Neuromuscular Re-Education
Kacee began her career in healthcare as a nurse’s aid. She campaigned passionately to become a member of our staff, and has impressed me with the deep empathy she shows towards her patients. She is known for being kind and committed to every patient under her care. She is a skilled therapist with a kind disposition and a great sense of humor.
Katie - Neuromuscular Re-Education
Katie is the office clown with a sense of humor that frequently leads everyone bursting out with laughter around the lunch table. She is a caring but demanding therapist that takes her job to heart and lives for those breakthrough moments we all cherish so dearly. She is wildly popular with our patients due to her dedicated, tough love approach tempered with lots of laughter that she elicits in our patients.
Anna - Patient Care Advocate
Anna has been on our team for more than two years. She is usually the initial point of contact when our patients first reach out to us She’s like our Lady Liberty, a welcome port of safety for the broken, distressed and hopeless. She always has a listening ear and a heart as big as Texas. Personally, Anna has two children who have dealt with severe and chronic illness. She understands pain and suffering and brings tremendous passion to her work.
Kim - Scar Tissue Therapy Technician
Kim has a long history in healthcare, having worked as a post-operative rehabilitation technician, and also with patients suffering from traumatic brain injuries. Kim is kind down to her soul but also strong as a rock. She makes a therapy that can be painful at times tolerable because of her emotional connection to patients. Patients look forward to their appointments with Kim simply because they get to spend time with her.
Tyler - Neurologic Therapist
Tyler’s keen sense of humor and fantastic people skills enable him to sincerely connect with our patients. Tyler has had advanced training in relaxation of the brain and has a deep passion for helping our patients.
Shane - Neurologic Therapist
Shane has a giant heart and a gentle soul. Many a time have I seen him walking someone to their car in the rain or going above and beyond the call of duty in some other way. Shane is soft spoken but also one of the wittiest people I’ve ever met. He truly cares about our individual patients and has an unsurpassed work ethic.
Sarah - Dr. Hannelie Assistant
Sarah is instrumental in organizing communication between various doctors in our clinic and keeping track of which tests need to be ordered, lab results, and individual protocols. She is Dr. Hannelie’s right hand and one of the most cheerful people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.
Jerra - Phlebotomist
Drawing blood from chronically ill patients (especially patients suffering from CRPS) is no easy task. Jerra is soft in her approach and an incredibly skilled phlebotomist. She works well under pressure and has a sharp memory and intellect.
Jeana - Therapist
Jeana worked for several years as a paramedic. In 2014, Jeana’s beautiful daughter Tera suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury. Because of this heartbreaking event, Jeana understands suffering and the effect it has on family members. Most days, you will find her Tera in our waiting room, visiting with patients and sharing her positive and sunny outlook on life. Jeana is a hard worker and warm and compassionate in her approach. She truly understands pain and connects with each patient under her care.
Our Office
A little bit of what we do, behind-the-scenes and up close!
Our Services
12 Weeks to Freedom
We created a caring environment that supports healing. Our office environment is unlike any other doctor’s office you have experienced.
Most importantly relief is often experienced within the first few weeks of our 12 Week Pain Relief program.
If you haven’t tried our 12 Week Pain Relief program have you really tried everything? If you’re open to a new, better way, then click the button below, explore our services, and call us for a consultation.