Meet Laurie Núñez, Ph.D. | Entraprenuer & Creative

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laurie Núñez, Ph.D. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laurie, how do you think about risk?
I really believe that you can’t actually live with out taking risks. Some risks happen spur of the moment, and others are reflected on and taken with full awareness. I have always taken risks that surprise or cause furrowed brows in others, I think it may be part of my nature.
As a young person, I climbed to the top of the highest monkey bars, and scaled a 3-story ladder to the theatre loft and rigging wearing a pencil skirt and slip on high heels, even though I was deathly afraid of heights. The reason for taking these risks was that I knew, even then, that I needed to push myself in order to excel.
As I progressed through my life, risk was always present. I chose to marry a man who was very different from those in my normal safety zone and our marriage definitely caused some raised eyebrows. But, that decision has led me to live the greatest love story for the past 40 years! We had a child when our friends were still in college or just beginning their dream careers. We, instead, risked everything for our family.
Having only flown once in my life, I literally jumped at a career with an airline out of sheer financial necessity. What would I do? How would I do it? Would I be able to make it through rigorous training with a tiny baby and student husband at home? I truly had no idea, but it turned into a blessing, and flying and travel became a lifelong passion.
While working at the airline, I started studying to finish a theatre degree I had abandoned prior to marrying. I had such fun at school again, that I kept going and earned advanced credits in Theatre and graduate degrees in Educational Psychology in Learning and Memory. Cognitive Science and Neuroscience were “new” science when I started my training, and of course, I couldn’t take an easy path in grad school either. I had to integrate my arts training and psychology research. I used Mixed Methods in compiling the data of my research for my Ph. D., causing some of my advisors much consternation.
Upon graduation, I took teaching assignments in rural Arizona, teaching preservice teachers. Talk about RISK taking! Just getting to class was a challenge, driving through mountainous terrain and long stretches of lonely desert. Teaching folks from very different ways of life, who “weren’t much for outsiders,” was also a huge challenge. Using my “mixed methods” was a risk because they had never encountered a professor like me. It was a risk worth taking. Relationships that were built during those courses have endured for more than 20 years after. My baby teachers are getting ready to retire soon!
That leads to my current affinity for risk taking. After retiring from the airline, I had to do something with my 401K, because I was too young to take payments. Desperately searching for a rollover option, I did a little research, and found that I could roll my life savings into a start up business….can you say RISK?!! Yep. But I did it. I started Cognitive Dissonance, Inc. the parent company of Chandler PEMF Clinic, LLC., an energetic wellness space. It has not been easy! This choice has not been for the faint of heart! I have had to step forward, back step, side step, and take a dosey doe or two to get where I am currently, but, I must say, I have enjoyed the dance and become very flexible. Through Cognitive Dissonance, Inc., I am able to enjoy mixing many of my passions such as wellness, art, antiques, tea, and entertaining. I am thriving and having a ball.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Chandler PEMF Clinic, LLC is a unique, whole person centered wellness center, specializing in energetics and wellness. It was envisioned to be a link between physical and emotional well being. We encourage mindfulness, rest, and rejuvenation in the pursuit of good health and the feeling of wellness.

Chandler PEMF Clinic was originally started as kind of a stop-gap. I was going through particularly difficult health issues, which eventually lead to my retirement from the airline i had worked for for 34 years. My doctor was seeing that my body was not responding to protocols as expected. After doing genetic testing, it was suggested that I start adjunctive treatment with a BEMER. The BEMER would be used in conjunction with the protocols I was already on as a means to support healing. I tried it thinking, “Why not?” To my surprise, it was very helpful! I left the visit feeling genuinely better. Knowing that I was going to have to retire soon due to my health issues, my doctor suggested that I try starting business sharing the BEMER. She felt it was something that I could do that didn’t take “too much physical strength.” Taking that good advice, I purchased one, got certified in its use and applications, and began offering therapy sessions. It was something I found I enjoyed very much. I realized that helping folks feel better was a calling that I had been ignoring for a long time.

Because Chandler PEMF Clinic, LLC is wholistic in its approach, I see a lot of folks who are kind of at their wits’ end when it comes to their wellness. They have tried a lot of remedies and want a new way to “fix what ails them.” With my background in neuroscience, I feel that it is very important to teach people about what I do, specifically. This way they can make informed decisions about when and how they want to incorporate my services. I want them to know what they can expect from each therapy and, most importantly, that these therapies all work in concert with their regular healthcare. I am always happy to work with medical doctors and other healthcare professionals to make sure that we work as a team in client care. So, when a client comes into the clinic, they can expect little short lessons on biology, neuroscience, and cognitive strategies that promote wellness. They will also have each therapy explained as to why and how it works. I want clients to feel comfortable and not stressed about their wellness.

When people visit a doctor’s office, they report feeling stressed as soon as they walk in. The space is clean and efficient, but subconsciously, its downright frightening. I have worked hard, using neuroscience and artistic sensibility to design an office where clients feel like they are visiting a friend rather than going to a wellness office. Clients enter into the living room of a small house rather, than a traditional wellness office, even though it sits across the street from a Level 1 Trauma Center. I see shoulders visibly lower on entering the room. As a client looks around, they might feel like they’re visiting Grandma’s house as the living room is filled with antiques, art, and sentimental pieces. When you walk down the hall to the office, you are greeted with more artwork and a fun community bulletin board. The actual therapy office has an antique rocking chair, and arm chair, warm wooden antique furnishing, and of course,f or BEMER therapy., a comfortable massage bed complete with big pillows, fresh cotton linens and cozy knitted afghans (no crinkly paper here, although it’s available if needed). The room is thoughtfully designed with restful colors to help lower cortisol and maintain focus while promoting healing.

Therapies offed at Chandler PEMF Clinic, LLC include BEMER PEMF therapy and sales. BEMER therapy focuses on enhancing micro circulation to help the body heal itself through supporting overall circulation. When oxygen and nutrients can get to the whole body, the body heals better. Many times, a client comes in with chronic issues. Some have even been told, “It’s all in their heads.” Emotional Freedom Technique/Tapping (EFT/Tapping) is designed to help with this issue. It has been found to help release discomfort associated with long-remembered trauma that oftentimes interferes with overall well being. Muscle testing and sound therapy are also available to help promote wellness. These therapies are based on a combination of Eastern medicine and Western neuroscience, and have been found to facilitate wellness in many clinical studies. These therapies are considered adjunctive in nature, which means that they work best in concert with traditional and/or holistic modalities.

Chandler PEMF Clinic, LLC is a part of a greater community, and I take that responsibility to heart. Chandler PEMF Clinic, LLC supports the local community in many ways. Some of the things that have been integrated into the business plan itself include the use of reusable linens, recycling, energy efficient equipment, composting, and landscape designed to encourage native flora and fauna, It is important to protect the neighborhood feel of the area for my neighbors. It is also my vision to encourage community economic growth by partnering with small businesses to provide meeting space and kitchen space. at reasonable cost. I spend a good amount of time volunteering with organizations who are designed give back to the community at large. Some of these amazing organizations are Stories Of Hope Ladies’ Healing Retreats, Gray Matters Foundation, Come Back Ranch Animal Sanctuary, Chandler-Tullemore Sister Cities, and the Chandler International Film Festival. These programs make our human connections stronger and our world a better place.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Visiting Chandler is great for out of town guests (in town guests, too)! Chandler has a wonderful Downtown area. There are many great places to dine and shop, such as the Ostrich for cocktails in a speakeasy under the San Marcos Hotel. San Tan Brewery housed in an old bank building is a must see., with tasty pub fare. D’Vine Gourmet offers unique Arizona made gifts including wines, candies, and prickly pear jelly. The Religion Store is certainly not to be missed! The owner is very knowledgeable and carries a wide variety of sacred gifts to choose from. One of my favorites places to visit is Black Sheep Wine Bar & Merchant. I am a little biased on this one, as it is the brain child of my niece, Kami. She designed the entire concept from ground up and it has become a wonderful addition to our cityscape, with great wine, food, and ambiance, particularly the beautifully muraled wall on their patio. One will see the interior is featured heavily in many Downtown Chandler tourism promotions.

I would also love to take my friend to a show at the Chandler Center for the Arts on the grounds of Historic Chandler High School. It is such a unique theatre design and an awe in and of itself! The Chandler Center for the Arts works hard to bring in great international talent and shows are amazing. Then, we could spend an afternoon at the Chandler History Museum or take a nice walk at Vetreran’s Oasis Park where we could go birding. After, we could stop at Pie Snob for a delicious piece of pie. We could also get in a little exercise at Thude Park, where there is a shaded walking path, hills to climb, and miniature airplanes to watch as enthusiasts size up their planes against others in exciting arial acrobatic maneuvers.

Of course, we would have to eat at Elmer’s Tacos for the mini burros and chip cones (refried beans and tortilla chips). Located across from Chandler High School, it’s an institution. As well as Floridino’s for Pizza Muffins, which are fantastic! For a fun evening, we could also hit Espo’s for Taco Tuesday and get a bucket of cervesa to sip, while we sit on the patio to watch the sunset.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I think this shout out goes to my parents. My dad moved us to Arizona in 1967 in order to start over and live in a place that would offer him the chance to start his business and work year round in asphalt. He and mom popped us into the back seat of the car, hitched up a small U-Haul trailer to the back with only $200 in their pockets. We stayed at a motel until we could find a tiny rental in Mesa. He worked hard. He showed us proudly the work he did and took us on the jobsites no matter where they would be. One I remember was a big hole he was digging in the middle of the desert near Bee Line highway. That hole turned into the Fountain at Fountain Hills. He also put in all the original streets. This instilled the love of “seeing what can be,” not just what is there.

My Mom and Step-Dad were also instrumental in my success. They owned their own business throughout my adolescence. They worked so very hard. The were successful because of their drive. Unfortunately, that success also brought about those people who prey on the hardworking, by waving dollars, and big ideas, My parents had always dreamed of teaching the art of T-shirt Design to others and took one of those folks up on their offer. It was a disaster. They lost all their prior work, and had to close their business. While this is not a happy ending, it taught me to pay attention to my gut reactions. It taught me to be Resilience as I watched them rebound and regroup.

The lessons they have taught me have allowed me to become someone who can look forward, and know that whatever comes, I will be alright in the end. I hope that as a parent and business woman, I can pass those ideals to the next generation.

Website: ChandlerPEMFClinic@gmail.com

Facebook: Chandler PEMF Clinic, LLC

Image Credits
Head shot by Pulitzer Prize Winning Photographer, Caitlin O’Hara
Grand Canyon Photo by Internationally known photographer Ash Ponders
All the other photos are by myself Laurie Núñez, Ph.D,