Counseling For Chronic Pain
About Registered Clinical Counseling For Chronic Pain
At Remedy Wellness Centre, Tania Castilho uses some of the most effective tools available to help you get out of your pain cycle. Using modern pain science approaches like the biopsychosocial approach, she can equip you with the tools you need to take back control of your body.
Perhaps you had an injury or an incident that started everything. Its possible that you're not even aware of what or when this happened but you know that your pain is real. Your pain is not getting better and you've tried everything. You may be experiencing some other symptoms as well like fatigue, anger, depression, anxiety, hopelessness. Your pain cycle is multi-factorial and Tania can help you start to understand it and thereby start to take back control of it.
Take a moment to watch the video below, for an explanation of how chronic pain works in the nervous system.
Perhaps you had an injury or an incident that started everything. Its possible that you're not even aware of what or when this happened but you know that your pain is real. Your pain is not getting better and you've tried everything. You may be experiencing some other symptoms as well like fatigue, anger, depression, anxiety, hopelessness. Your pain cycle is multi-factorial and Tania can help you start to understand it and thereby start to take back control of it.
Take a moment to watch the video below, for an explanation of how chronic pain works in the nervous system.
Tania invites you to talk about your bodily experiences - from your pain to your accomplishments - and elaborate on their meaning within your biography, so that those experiences can become seeds of important life changes. Explore how your bodily experiences are in perspective with your emotions, thoughts and behaviors. She offers emotional support, in a process oriented approach.
One of the greatest benefits of (re)gaining connection with your own body, may be experiencing insights in regards to your past or current life experiences, in terms of your relationships and projects. Often these insights change our future perspectives.
Take the opportunity to review your personal story, to find yourself being the one who "writes" your own biography, increasing your sense of self-efficacy and agency. Be it during rehabilitation, or any other transitions in life.
We also offer group counselling. You can find more information about that HERE.
One of the greatest benefits of (re)gaining connection with your own body, may be experiencing insights in regards to your past or current life experiences, in terms of your relationships and projects. Often these insights change our future perspectives.
Take the opportunity to review your personal story, to find yourself being the one who "writes" your own biography, increasing your sense of self-efficacy and agency. Be it during rehabilitation, or any other transitions in life.
We also offer group counselling. You can find more information about that HERE.
Choosing the right counsellor is a highly personalized choice. We offer a free 30 minute consult to discuss your reason for seeking treatment and your goals. Together you can determine if this is a good therapeutic fit.
Clinical Counselling Is For:
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Benefits of Counselling:
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Pain Care
1 in 5 Canadians are suffering with chronic pain. There has been an enormous shift over the last 30 years in the understanding of pain, commonly referred to as pain science, which has radically changed our approach to treatment. It has transitioned from being viewed as a medical issue to being viewed as a biopsychosocial phenomena. We now know that pain and tissue damage are different entities. Pain management is no longer reduced to fixing issues within the tissues and musculoskeletal system, but rather address how the brain and nervous system interpret signals from these tissues. How the brain interprets threat and safety, preserving/enhancing the sense of urgency of those who experience pain.
This shift began with the neuromatrix theory, published by Ronald Melzack in 1989. It gave rise to a real revolution in the understanding of pain over the past 30 years. Now studies are being led by the researchers from the NOI group (Neuro Orthopedic Institute).
We now know that the more people understand the science of pain and the role of the brain and nervous system in pain, the more they can understand that pain is about protection, not damage, which in turn, leads them to have less pain.
Learn more about the modern pain science and how to use it to change your pain experience, cultivate your sense of safety in your body by re-patterning your nervous system.
Services can be offered in person or on-line.
This shift began with the neuromatrix theory, published by Ronald Melzack in 1989. It gave rise to a real revolution in the understanding of pain over the past 30 years. Now studies are being led by the researchers from the NOI group (Neuro Orthopedic Institute).
We now know that the more people understand the science of pain and the role of the brain and nervous system in pain, the more they can understand that pain is about protection, not damage, which in turn, leads them to have less pain.
Learn more about the modern pain science and how to use it to change your pain experience, cultivate your sense of safety in your body by re-patterning your nervous system.
Services can be offered in person or on-line.
Counselling Techniques And Approaches Tania Uses
Biopsychosocial Kinesiology
Tania Casthilo, Registered Clinical Counsellor and Kinesiologist, achieved her Masters Degree at UBC. Her background in kinesiology, the study of body movement, allows her to help patients with rehabilitation and movement restoration while addressing issues related to strength, flexibility, balance, coordination and proprioception. She brings creativity and artistic expression to this unique method of achieving wellness through movement.
Pain is a biopsychosocial phenomena that has grown into an entire field of study called pain science. Tania has further studies in the embodiment field with it’s connections to pain science and pain treatment which she has used to design a yoga program for people living with chronic pain. This approach facilitates awakening the integration between body systems including motor, sensory, emotional, cognitive, autonomic, immune and social. This approach in key to regulating the nervous system s a whole.
With injury or becoming less active, even though you know how important movement is, you may find that activity is very aggravating when you reintroduce it. The biopsychosocial kinesiology approach facilitates gradual exposure to movement and activities which builds greater tolerance and normalcy. Therefore, allowing you to recover functional movement by focusing on the tolerance to activities rather than chasing a level of activity. It’s not about what you do or how you should do things, but more about how you feel when you do it and using that to re-pattern the nervous system.
The idea is to reset your self-regulatory mechanisms, using movement, so you can manage the demands of your day. These demands may range from the silence of movements, such sleep or deep relaxation practices, to isometric contractions and dynamic activities. Ultimately, the idea is to improve your sense of self-efficacy.
For this type of appointment please wear something you can easily move in. You are welcome to change here if needed.
Pain is a biopsychosocial phenomena that has grown into an entire field of study called pain science. Tania has further studies in the embodiment field with it’s connections to pain science and pain treatment which she has used to design a yoga program for people living with chronic pain. This approach facilitates awakening the integration between body systems including motor, sensory, emotional, cognitive, autonomic, immune and social. This approach in key to regulating the nervous system s a whole.
With injury or becoming less active, even though you know how important movement is, you may find that activity is very aggravating when you reintroduce it. The biopsychosocial kinesiology approach facilitates gradual exposure to movement and activities which builds greater tolerance and normalcy. Therefore, allowing you to recover functional movement by focusing on the tolerance to activities rather than chasing a level of activity. It’s not about what you do or how you should do things, but more about how you feel when you do it and using that to re-pattern the nervous system.
The idea is to reset your self-regulatory mechanisms, using movement, so you can manage the demands of your day. These demands may range from the silence of movements, such sleep or deep relaxation practices, to isometric contractions and dynamic activities. Ultimately, the idea is to improve your sense of self-efficacy.
For this type of appointment please wear something you can easily move in. You are welcome to change here if needed.
Yoga Therapy
Yoga is a body-mind practice that integrates physical activities with breathing techniques, relaxation and the cultivation and awareness of certain states of mind.
Even though Yoga is an eastern ancient practice, it has been more and more recommended for a variety of western modern health issues, from stress and anxiety, IBS, and chronic pain.
Tania has been teaching Yoga since 1996 based on the traditional hatha yoga approach, taught to my teachers at the Kayvalyadhama Institute in Lonavla India. In a typical session you will practice yoga stretches, balance and strengthening poses, breathing techniques, meditation and relaxation, for the sake of inviting the mind to the present moment. Tania often likes to combine Eutony elements to the yoga practice, emphasizing yoga's contemplative aspects, by learning the language of the body, regulating the nervous systems.
Even though Yoga is an eastern ancient practice, it has been more and more recommended for a variety of western modern health issues, from stress and anxiety, IBS, and chronic pain.
Tania has been teaching Yoga since 1996 based on the traditional hatha yoga approach, taught to my teachers at the Kayvalyadhama Institute in Lonavla India. In a typical session you will practice yoga stretches, balance and strengthening poses, breathing techniques, meditation and relaxation, for the sake of inviting the mind to the present moment. Tania often likes to combine Eutony elements to the yoga practice, emphasizing yoga's contemplative aspects, by learning the language of the body, regulating the nervous systems.
Eutony
Eutony is a somatic practice for the neurosensorial regulation of tension/tone, created by the german Gerda Alexander (1908-1994). It enables people to experience the body, in relation to its emotional, sensorial, cognitive and autonomic expressions. The aim is to gain a fine tuned self-awareness, encompassing the awareness of both movement and quietness. It refines people’s ability to relax and reset the nervous system, as well as to move with more ease, creativity and consciousness. This stance leads to re-awakening of the self-regulatory systems, regulating over-active sympathetic nervous system responses, enhancing the sense of trust of oneself in their own body, regulating pain, anxiety and stress.
Eutony, means "harmonious tension” and it works by helping participants bringing their attention to the present moment, as in meditation. This focused state of mind targeting your own body structures is the main ingredient to neuroplasticity, changing the structure of the brain, enhancing the way your brain represents your body.
During a typical class we practice deep relaxation, cultivating a contemplative, non-judgemental mental attitude, as in meditation. We do it by directing attention to the perception of the skin, bone structure and inner spaces, savouring silent moments.
However, unlike meditation, Eutony also uses concrete interventions on the body (not only mental interventions) to facilitate focusing on the present moment. We use objects, such as tennis balls, bamboo sticks, or a piece of fabric, to promote what can look like a deep self-massage, or a very soft touch. Exploratory movements, yoga-like poses and stretches are proposed to learn about new possibilities for movement and activation, re-training chronic neuromuscular patterns, enriching the sensorimotor repertoire, as well as strengthening the embodied expression of your presence in different situations in life.
Often these practices are filled with a sense of peace and curiosity. Sometimes they can be inhabited by a sense of unsettlement or agitation, which are opportunities for us to work together and offer one's nervous system credible evidence that they are safe.
Come for a journey through your own body and see how it supports your presence in the world, your connections to yourself, to others and to the environment. If you want to befriend your body and inhabit it in its full expression, this practice is for you.
Moving not for the sake of moving, but for the sake of sensing the movement. Pausing not for the sake of pausing but for the sake of sensing the pause.
In individual sessions, meditative touch may also be another tool to help focusing on the body in the present moment. Click here to learn more.
Eutony, means "harmonious tension” and it works by helping participants bringing their attention to the present moment, as in meditation. This focused state of mind targeting your own body structures is the main ingredient to neuroplasticity, changing the structure of the brain, enhancing the way your brain represents your body.
During a typical class we practice deep relaxation, cultivating a contemplative, non-judgemental mental attitude, as in meditation. We do it by directing attention to the perception of the skin, bone structure and inner spaces, savouring silent moments.
However, unlike meditation, Eutony also uses concrete interventions on the body (not only mental interventions) to facilitate focusing on the present moment. We use objects, such as tennis balls, bamboo sticks, or a piece of fabric, to promote what can look like a deep self-massage, or a very soft touch. Exploratory movements, yoga-like poses and stretches are proposed to learn about new possibilities for movement and activation, re-training chronic neuromuscular patterns, enriching the sensorimotor repertoire, as well as strengthening the embodied expression of your presence in different situations in life.
Often these practices are filled with a sense of peace and curiosity. Sometimes they can be inhabited by a sense of unsettlement or agitation, which are opportunities for us to work together and offer one's nervous system credible evidence that they are safe.
Come for a journey through your own body and see how it supports your presence in the world, your connections to yourself, to others and to the environment. If you want to befriend your body and inhabit it in its full expression, this practice is for you.
Moving not for the sake of moving, but for the sake of sensing the movement. Pausing not for the sake of pausing but for the sake of sensing the pause.
In individual sessions, meditative touch may also be another tool to help focusing on the body in the present moment. Click here to learn more.
Meditative Touch
Relaxation is such an important skill to have and yet our culture never teaches us how to do it. On the contrary, our modern culture focuses so much on being active, to a point that if we find ourselves relaxing we may feel even embarrassed about it. In this context relaxation can be difficult and we may need some concrete help to teach our systems how to do it.
In individual sessions touch can be a powerful tool to anchor the mind in the body in the present moment, facilitating a supported relaxation and a fine tuned awareness of the present moment. Sessions are based in Eutony touch. They help orient your attention to the perception of your skin, bone structure and internal spaces, further enhancing the neuroplasticity promoted in the group classes and movement activities.
In individual sessions touch can be a powerful tool to anchor the mind in the body in the present moment, facilitating a supported relaxation and a fine tuned awareness of the present moment. Sessions are based in Eutony touch. They help orient your attention to the perception of your skin, bone structure and internal spaces, further enhancing the neuroplasticity promoted in the group classes and movement activities.
Meet Our Registered Clinical Counsellor
Tania Castilho, Registered Clinical Counsellor & Masters in Kinesiology
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Tania is an experienced Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Masters in Kinesiology from UBC. She also holds a Multidisciplinary Pain Management Certificate , Professional Training in Eutony - Somatic Practices, Professional Yoga Therapy Training and a Psychology Degree.
Tania offers counselling in English and Portuguese. She has been working with body techniques since 1993. She integrates counselling techniques with Biopsychosocial Kinesiology to address pain disorders, anxiety and stress, among many other things her patients may be working through. Her approach includes Counselling, Biopsychosocial Kinesiology, Pain Science Education, Yoga in Rehabilitation, Eutony - Somatic Practice and Meditative Touch. Tania is currently accepting new patients. |