Persistent pain and health challenges
Pain that has outstayed the injury
Your pain is real. So is the fact that it has changed how you live.
Psychological support for persistent pain, including complex regional pain syndrome, and for the distress that comes with a physical injury or a complex health condition. Telehealth (online) across Australia.
What persistent pain does to the rest of your life
Recovery is not only about tissue healing.
Persistent pain affects sleep, confidence, mood, activity levels and work. It changes what you say yes to, and it often changes how other people treat you. Living with that for months or years is exhausting in a way that is hard to explain to someone who has not done it.
Seeing a psychologist about pain does not mean anyone thinks the pain is in your head. It means the nervous system, thoughts, emotions, behaviour and physical symptoms are genuinely connected, and that gives us something practical to work with.
You might recognise
What the work involves
Where this experience comes from
Persistent pain and complex health are the areas I am most drawn to. I have a health-heavy background across hospital settings and workers compensation, I am developing a short course in persistent pain, and I offer structured sessions built around pain management.
I also understand the workers compensation side of it, including the pressure a stalled recovery puts on you, your rehab provider and your referrer.
Pain after a workplace injury
If your pain followed an injury at work, WorkCover QLD generally funds psychological support. How WorkCover works
Pain outside a claim
Private or Medicare funding both work. A Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP gives you a rebate. Fees and rebates
Telehealth (online) suits this well
No travel on a bad pain day, no waiting room chairs, and you can sit or stand however you need to during a session.
What people are usually working towards
Everyone is different, and no outcome can be promised. The kinds of change people commonly work towards include:
Feeling less distressed about the pain and the situation around it
Having new skills to manage pain, flare-ups and the stress that comes with them
Knowing how and when to draw on a toolkit of strategies
More confidence making decisions that are good for you
Knowing how to actually relax
Returning to work, at the same or a new workplace
Feeling settled about a problem that used to take up all the room
Recognising when you might need more support
Common questions
Does seeing a psychologist mean my pain is not real?+
No. Persistent pain is real, and psychological support is a standard part of pain management because pain, sleep, mood, activity and confidence all feed into each other. Working on those does not mean the physical side is being dismissed.
Can you help if my pain has no clear diagnosis?+
Yes. Plenty of people I work with have had long diagnostic journeys and unclear answers. We work with what pain is doing to your life now, whatever the label.
Do you work with my doctor or physio?+
Where it helps and with your consent, yes. If you are on a WorkCover claim I work alongside your GP, rehabilitation provider and case manager as a matter of course.
How long does this take?+
Most people are in the range of 10 to 16 sessions, though it varies. We review as we go, and the goal is always to build skills you can keep using on your own.
Is telehealth (online) suitable for pain work?+
Very. It removes travel on bad days and lets you be in your own space, in whatever position is comfortable.
I am not a crisis service. Bookings and messages are not monitored constantly, so I cannot respond quickly enough to an urgent mental health concern. If you need help now, please contact one of these services.
Lifeline 13 11 14 · Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 · Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 · MensLine 1300 789 978 · 13YARN 13 92 76
If you or someone else is in danger, call 000.
Book in, or ask a question first
Booking online is the fastest way in and there is no wait list. If you would rather ask something before committing, use the form and I will come back to you within two to three business days.
Book an appointmentTelehealth (online) Australia-wide · WorkCover QLD clients in Queensland
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Referrers, please have your client's consent before sending their details. Not a crisis service, so if you need help now call 000 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.