About
Equilibrium Pain Management Coaching & Massage Therapy works with clients wanting to take an active role in their well-being. Evidence indicates that when we are supported and empowered to make meaningful changes, we achieve better outcomes. Together, we co‑create a personalised plan that works for your body and your life. Helping you find your equilibrium.
I am a qualified pain management coach and registered massage therapist (RMT) with Massage Aotearoa New Zealand (MANZ), with 13 years experience. I opened my clinic in October 2014, providing therapeutic, relaxation and sports massage to wide range of clients.
Prior to embarking on a change in career as a massage therapist, I spent 16 years working in the community, mental health and primary health sectors. Having used massage myself over many years to help me manage chronic pain, recover from sports injuries and support me through periods of depression and stress, I became aware of the benefits that massage therapy provided. In 2012 I decided to retrain and pursue a career in massage therapy.
After completing my massage therapy training and practicing for several years, I began to see more clients with chronic pain, and became more interested in this area. In 2019 I began postgraduate study in pain and pain management at the University of Otago, In 2021 my interest in this area and in mental health led to a decision to specialise in the areas of pain management, injury rehabilitation and mental wellbeing. In 2022 I earnt a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences with Distinction, endorsed in Pain and Pain Management. This study has provided me with the knowledge and skills to provide pain management coaching in addition to massage therapy.
In my clinical practice I use a range of skills and techniques to assist people with chronic pain conditions to manage their pain and live well. I also work with people in need of massage therapy to support an existing injury rehabilitation treatment programme - so they can get back to doing the things they love, and those living with ongoing mental health conditions (e.g. anxiety, depression, PTSD, severe stress) who may benefit from massage therapy to support other approaches and calm the nervous system.
Having an appreciation for the complexity of health from my work and life experiences and my studies, my clinical philosophy is influenced by three main approaches:
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evidence-informed practice which combines current best research with clinical expertise and client values and needs;
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whole, person-centred care which respects a person's own knowledge and experience of their condition;
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the biopsychosocial model which acknowledges the relationship between biological, psychological and social factors that influence wellness and illness.
As well as being a registered member of MANZ), I am actively involved in my profession. I held the role of Executive Assistant to the MANZ Executive Committee 2016-2017, was Co-editor of MNZ Magazine 2017-2023, and initiated and coordinated the MNZ Case Report Contest 2018-2021. Currently I am part of the MANZ Scoping Group investigating a merger with another massage organisation. I regularly present to undergraduate massage therapy students on working with people with chronic pain. I am also a member of the New Zealand Pain Society and the International Association for the Study of Pain and have contributed articles to both MNZ Magazine and Nga Mamae, the New Zealand Pain Society journal, which you can read here.
If you want to take an active role in your own well-being, be empowered and supported to make changes that may no longer be serving your body, and be involved in developing a treatment plan that best addresses your needs, Equilibrium Pain Management Coaching & Massage Therapy offers a pragmatic and no nonsense approach to suit your needs.