Briony's Approach
Your body, resilient like a tree
Your body is resilient and self-healing, although this may be hard to see when you are in pain. My job is not to 'fix' you, but to guide your body (and your mind) towards wellness – it just needs a nudge in the right direction.
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Consider a broken bone. You see the doctor, and the doctor puts it in a cast. But did the doctor heal your bone? No - your body did. Your bone just needed a bit of support. That is what I'm here for - to give you the information, mental perspective, and movement-based strategies you need to return to feeling healthy and capable.
​​Overall approach
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I keep up on the latest research, and use evidence-based treatments whenever possible. Read more...
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I draw from a solid physiotherapy background, using exercise, hands-on therapy, cupping, taping techniques, and sometimes electrical modalities. Read more...
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I use knowledge from modern pain neuroscience as a primary treatment modality. Read more...
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I use mindful awareness during movement and meditation as therapeutic adjuncts. Read more...
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I work with you to determine which of the above approaches is most appropriate and comfortable, and often use a blend of methods for each client.
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​Who is it for?
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I confidently treat common orthopedic conditions, from tennis elbow, to neck pain, to tingling in your toes. Relieving aches and pains and returning you to your daily life is what I’m here for.
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People who have been in pain for a long time may find my methods particularly helpful.
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My approach is also great for those who have anxiety or depression alongside their pain, especially when combined with psychological counselling.
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If you have tried a lot of different therapies but are still suffering, my therapeutic emphasis on pain neuroscience may be the missing piece of your pain puzzle.
Pain Neuroscience
“Bioplasticity got you into this mess, and bioplasticity will get you out again.”
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- Lorimer Moseley
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Why learn about pain neuroscience?
Understanding how and why pain happens is an essential component of treating and preventing persistent pain – and the evidence supports this. Learning about pain can take place as short or long discussions, or as suggested homework.
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What do we know about pain?
Modern neuroscience tells us that pain occurs only when your brain thinks your body is under threat -- and that pain is not an accurate depiction of what is happening in your body's tissues. Your pain may be the result of an overprotective alarm system more than a serious problem at your injury site.
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The good news?
We can reverse the changes in your nervous system that are making pain persist. This is done by changing beliefs about pain, creating a sense of safety in your thoughts and actions, increasing your tolerance to activity in a gradual way, and through mindfulness meditation.
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Briony's role
I thoroughly assess your body to find out if there is a problem that needs to be addressed in the tissues. I use traditional biomechanical (tissue-based) treatments when appropriate. I can additionally guide you through re-adapting your nervous system so you can safely and comfortably get moving again.
Check out the videos explaining pain science in Resources.
Read about the evidence for using neuroscience in treatment.
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Traditional Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy Assessment
Traditional physiotherapy includes a complete and thorough physical assessment including hearing the story of your injury from you. From the assessment, we develop a treatment plan designed to return you to your life as you want to live it.
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​Physiotherapy Treatment
Treatments are centered around manual therapy, using my hands to provide input to your joints and muscles, and individualized exercise prescription to stretch, strengthen, stabilize, and activate needed areas. I also use supplemental techniques such as taping to support movement, or cupping to release muscle tension, among others. As we progress through your recovery and learn more about your injury, we continually re-focus the treatments to reflect your evolving needs.
Physiotherapy Evidence
As a graduate from a Master's program in Physical Therapy, I am trained to be a critical thinker, using evidence, anatomical knowledge, and clinical reasoning to evaluate and treat a wide range of conditions. To offer you the most up-to-date, proven, and effective treatments, I check the research regularly. Find out more about physiotherapy evidence.
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For more information on my credentials and post-graduate coursework, click here.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness can be defined as paying attention to the present moment, and doing so non-judgmentally, with acceptance and great kindness.
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Decreased sympathetic arousal
Mindfulness can be helpful for creating a physiologically quiet state where the fight or flight response produced by the sympathetic nervous system is reduced. Pain then has much less of a stronghold.
Increased awareness of your body sensations
By training yourself to observe the present moment, you become better able to notice your body sensations. This can make pain seem less frightening. With more awareness, you may find ways to prevent flareups by listening to the early signs.
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Increased awareness of thoughts and emotions
You can also learn to notice your reactions to pain and movement. Over time, your thoughts and emotions can become healthier, more balanced, and more in line with your new knowledge about how pain works. You may notice reduced levels of suffering secondarily.
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Gratitude and self-compassion
These attitudes and practices can contribute to your overall sense of well-being, and can reduce pain as a by-product.
How does it work
I often work short periods of mindfulness into a regular physiotherapy session. For interested clients, I can prescribe a curated mindfulness meditation program using audio and video resources available online, and based on your personal preferences. I am then available for questions, encouragement, and guidance.
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To try some basic mindfulness meditations here.
Find out more about the evidence for mindfulness and pain.