Chronic and Persistent Pain ~

Chronic and Persistent Pain ~

therapy for Chronic pain - back and hand

I work with persistent and chronic pain to manage, reduce, express, educate, relax, and create space around it. The experience of pain is always individual, as it’s influenced by many factors even when it originates from a specific injury or physiological cause. That's why I adopt a personalised approach grounded in evidence-based research and practice. I stay current with the latest pain science and emerging treatment research. Simultaneously, I delve into what pain means for each individual and in the context of their life, attending to their holistic human experience.

Complex experiences such as pain, can be difficult to communicate and process through words. Some parts we can analyse and understand easily, and with other parts it’s hard to work out what’s going on. I use a combination of methods to work with people, incorporating analysis and reflection where relevant, as well as creative ways to reduce fear, increase self-understanding and move towards wellness.

Please see the Resources section at the end of this page for educational information on pain, as well as links to research that informs my approach.

Services

Mindfulness and Art Therapy

Distraction is one of the highest endorsed strategies for controlling pain because it provides relief. For relief, our work will be centred on mindfulness, guided visualisation and art therapy. While these mindfulness and relaxation techniques promote relief, an additional benefit is a transformed relationship with pain. Mindfulness-based interventions such as these are proven to lower the perception of pain, increase mobility, improve functioning and well-being.

Sessions are 1:1 for 50 minutes, face-to-face or online.

Pain Reprocessing

This is for those who have neuroplastic pain, and we work in-depth to reprocess the way that the brain and body interact to create pain perception and fear responses. Pain is the body’s way of signalling danger, yet this signal can malfunction. Through rewiring this feedback loop, we will reduce (and in certain instances eliminate) the pain. This involves pain education, This approach is for people who haven’t found evidence indicating structural damage as the cause of their pain.

Sessions are 1:1 for 50 minutes, face-to-face or online.

Psychotherapy/Counselling

This primarily uses talk therapy to increase well-being, involving support in pain management and to process the internal and external impacts of pain. Additionally, we explore other life factors that may be contributing to pain (i.e. stress, emotions, relationships, childhood). This Psychotherapeutic approach works with the whole individual, exploring how the past contributes to the present and future, and uses creative and mindful ways to explore, process and create change.

Sessions are 1:1 for 50 minutes, face-to-face or online.

Who is this appropriate for?

Those who have:

  • Undiagnosed persistent or chronic pain

  • Diagnosed chronic pain

  • Fibromyalgia

  • Cancer

  • Arthritis

  • Low back pain

  • IBS/IBD

  • Migraine

  • Endometriosis

Other emotions, experiences and mental health concerns we address are:

  • Fear

  • Guilt

  • Anger

  • Isolation

  • Frustration

  • Impact on work

  • Impact on relationships and family

  • Negative experiences in the health system

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Acceptance

  • Self-esteem

  • Self-criticism

  • Grief and loss

  • Identity changes

  • Coping strategies

Unsure what’s right for you? Contact me or book in for a free initial call to discuss options.

Resources