--- title: "Why I Became a Chiropractor in Juneau Alaska | Dr. Derek Larsen's Story" description: "Dr. Derek Larsen DC shares his journey from ranch kid to wildland firefighter to fishing guide to chiropractor in Juneau Alaska. The story behind Happy Family Chiropractic." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "The Ever-present Lure of the North, and an Unfailing Desire to Help Bring Joy to this Earth", "description": "This week I wanted to tell part of my story, I seem to be asked two questions quite a bit as I meet people in Juneau.", "image": "https://happyfamilychiropractic.com/images/blog-lure-north.jpg", "url": "https://happyfamilychiropractic.com/the-ever-present-lure-of-the-north-and-an-unfailing-desire-to-help-bring-joy-to-this-earth/", "datePublished": "May 5, 2021", "dateModified": "May 5, 2021", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dr. Derek Larsen, DC", "url": "https://happyfamilychiropractic.com/meet-our-local-chiropractor-in-juneau/" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Happy Family Chiropractic", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://happyfamilychiropractic.com/images/logo.png" } }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://happyfamilychiropractic.com/the-ever-present-lure-of-the-north-and-an-unfailing-desire-to-help-bring-joy-to-this-earth/" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://happyfamilychiropractic.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Blog", "item": "https://happyfamilychiropractic.com/chiropractic-patient-education-in-juneau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "The Ever-present Lure of the North, and an Unfailing Desire to Help Bring Joy to this Earth", "item": "https://happyfamilychiropractic.com/the-ever-present-lure-of-the-north-and-an-unfailing-desire-to-help-bring-joy-to-this-earth/" } ] } ] --- Good news. We now accept select insurance plans for chiropractic care. Now accepting select insurance plans. 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[Home](/) 2. [Blog](/chiropractic-patient-education-in-juneau/) 3. The Ever-present Lure of the North, and an Unfailing Desire to Help Bring Joy to this Earth Share [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fhappyfamilychiropractic.lovable.app%2Fthe-ever-present-lure-of-the-north-and-an-unfailing-desire-to-help-bring-joy-to-this-earth)[](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fhappyfamilychiropractic.lovable.app%2Fthe-ever-present-lure-of-the-north-and-an-unfailing-desire-to-help-bring-joy-to-this-earth) This week I wanted to tell part of my story, I seem to be asked two questions quite a bit as I meet people in Juneau. The first question is "Why did you decide to become a chiropractor?" and the second is "Why did you decide to become a chiropractor in Juneau AK?" I typically give a short answer to each of those questions for time's sake. My usual response is that I love to help people and I love Juneau Alaska. However there is a much longer answer to this question that I'd like to dive into today. ## Backstory After high school I knew I wanted to go to college to study biology but I didn't know what I would end up doing with that degree. I was also lucky enough to work a wide variety of trade jobs that taught me many skill sets and a good work ethic. The more trades I worked, however, the more I realized I wanted to continue my education in order to make a living. ## Figuring out what I love most After my first year of college I decided that I would spend the next two years as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was called to serve in Costa Rica and shipped out on November 4th 2011. My time there was well spent, I learned how to love people unconditionally and I began to understand what I loved most about this life. After living and serving in Costa Rica for 2 years I received some excellent advice, "Figure out what you love to do most, then figure out how to get paid to do it." Looking back at my life, I recognized that I was happiest when I was helping others become happier individuals. At this point in my life chiropractic had never even crossed my mind. ## Alaska bound Growing up I heard stories of Alaska, met people who had traveled there and read and watched documentaries on the topic. One day my brother called me and told me he was headed to Southeast Alaska, near Juneau for the summer to work at a fishing lodge. I told him to work hard so he could refer me to the job. He did and I ended up at the same lodge he worked at the following summer as a deckhand. I worked at that lodge for the following 4 summers because I loved fishing in Alaska. I eventually became the head guide and had the opportunity to teach thousands of people how to improve their fishing. ## Healer Heal thyself As graduation neared I still had no idea how I was going to capitalize on what I loved most. Working a part time job during the winter I was tasked with moving about 10 large picnic tables. As we were stacking them I leaned back a little too far. I felt a shift along with some immediate pain in my low back. A week or two later I was still in pain. I went to the hospital, they shot an x-ray of my low back and concluded there was nothing wrong with the films and that I should go to physical therapy. After 3 months of physical therapy I was doing better and so I shipped up to Nome Alaska on a research trip. Halfway through my week-long stay I tripped slightly on some tundra and my back pain was back, worse than when it had started 3 months prior. The next day I couldn't walk without extreme pain, nor could I stand up straight. ## The miracle patient I flew from Nome Alaska to California where my parents picked me up late Friday night. They told me that they were going to bring me to a chiropractor the next day. We headed over, and I received my first adjustment. On Sunday, I was sore, but I was back on a plane headed for Juneau AK. By the end of the summer I was back to throwing 50 lb. boxes of frozen fish into stacks and hauling out massive halibut without an issue. I couldn't believe the difference I experienced after one adjustment. That summer I started to consider becoming a chiropractor. ## The lure of the north is real, Juneau Alaska Chiropractor During chiropractic college I learned that I could work wherever I wanted. After living in Alaska for 4 summers the lure of the north had a strong hold on me. I eventually came to the conclusion that I needed to follow my dream and head back to Alaska to etch out a space for myself. I decided I would be the next chiropractor in Juneau, Alaska. After a lot of hard work and battling of naysayers who thought I wouldn't survive I made it. I am now a chiropractor in Juneau Alaska and I love it. I love serving the community and giving back to it in a way I never would have if I didn't decide to move here. Plus you can't beat the views or the fishing. Juneau is my home. ### Continue Reading [ ![Illustration of temporomandibular joint and its connection to neck pain](/images/blog-tmj-neck-pain.png) #### Understanding TMJ and Neck Pain: Causes and Treatments September 12, 2025 ](/understanding-tmj-and-neck-pain-causes-and-treatments/)[ ![Stretching exercises for neck and shoulder pain relief demonstrated by chiropractor](/images/blog-neck-shoulder-pain.png) #### Neck and Shoulder Pain Relief: Tips and Exercises August 12, 2025 ](/neck-and-shoulder-pain-relief-tips-and-exercises/)[ ![Chiropractic treatment options for neck pain relief](/images/blog-treating-neck-pain.png) #### Treating Neck Pain: At-Home and Professional Remedies July 12, 2025 ](/treating-neck-pain-at-home-and-professional-remedies/) ![Dr. Derek Larsen DC at Happy Family Chiropractic in Juneau Alaska](/images/team-derek.jpg) ### Dr. Derek Larsen, DC Founder and Chiropractor Founder of Happy Family Chiropractic and the lead chiropractor in Juneau, Alaska. Dr. Derek focuses on family, prenatal, pediatric, and sports chiropractic care. [View profile](/author/dr-derek-larsen/) ### Experience Chiropractic Live in Juneau and want to feel the benefits of chiropractic care? Schedule today. [Schedule an Appointment](/book-appointment/) ### Visit Us 800 Glacier Ave, Juneau, Alaska. We're open Monday through Friday. [Book an Appointment](/book-appointment/) ![Happy Family Chiropractic](/assets/hfc-logo-white-voZj0riv.png) Your path to feeling like yourself again, through expert chiropractic care, massage therapy, and a team that genuinely likes their job. ### VISIT - 800 Glacier Ave Juneau, AK 99801 - Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm ### REACH US - [(907) 202-8817](tel:+19072028817) - [Book online](/book-appointment/) ### EXPLORE - [Chiropractic](/services/chiropractic) - [Massage](/services/massage-therapy/) - [Insurance](/insurance/) - [Blog](/chiropractic-patient-education-in-juneau/) - [About](/about/) © 2026 Happy Family Chiropractic. Made with care in Juneau. Website Design by [Blue Fox Marketing](https://www.gobluefox.com/). · [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy/)[Terms](/terms-and-conditions/)[Fee Schedule](/fee-schedule/) [](#)[](#) \- Happy Family Chiropractic “Dr Larsen was very compassionate and excellent.”  — Samantha Whetsell , in the last 2 weeks X by Aloha