"Symptoms are the last thing to show up and the first thing to disappear."
True. Symptoms are what prompts most patients to seek out your help and it's their symptom(s) that they think is their problem.This is why patient education is so important.
Indoctrinated in a symptom-treating mindset long before meeting you, most patients (unless enlightened by a previous chiropractor) are certain that their symptom is their actual problem. You can fall for this symptom-based path of least resistance, or use it as a springboard.
"What do you think is causing your headache?"
"Are you available for a different explanation?"
If you're invited to offer your subluxation-based explanation, you might follow up with…
"By the way, how will you know when your subluxation(s) have been reduced?"
Get ready for their symptom-based answer! This belief is your enemy, not the economy, weather, insurance companies or the other usual suspects.