Persistent pain and long-term illness affect far more than the body. Sleep, mood, work, relationships and identity all take the strain, and the stress feeds back into symptoms. Psychology is part of good treatment for chronic conditions — not an admission that it is ‘all in your head’.
One in five Australians aged 45 and over lives with chronic pain, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Chronic pain in Australia, and pain and long-term illness are strongly linked with anxiety and depression.
Approaches such as ACT and CBT for pain and health conditions are well supported by evidence. They do not deny the reality of symptoms; they change the relationship with them — reducing the fear and avoidance that amplify pain, restoring valued activity in a paced way, improving sleep, and treating the depression or anxiety that so often travels with illness. Practitioners work alongside GPs, specialists and rehabilitation providers, and can support return-to-work and compensation-scheme processes where relevant.
Practitioners choose the approach that fits you — see each profile for the approaches they use, or read the plain-language guide to types of therapy. Further reading: Pain Australia.
No. Pain is real whatever its cause, and psychological approaches are recommended in Australian and international chronic pain guidelines as part of standard care.
Some practitioners see clients under ReturnToWorkSA, CTP and similar schemes. Ask when you enquire.
Yes. Telehealth is available with all practitioners, and face-to-face appointments in Rose Park have free street parking close to the door.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 000 in an emergency. OneBodyMind is not a crisis service. Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636.