Equilibrium Pain Management Coaching & Massage Therapy

18/11/2025

Some good news regarding recommendations for changes in the treatment of Endometriosis and pelvic pain. It is great to see acknowledgement that women have not been treated well and that both clinicians and the systems they work in, can do much better.

18/11/2025

I've yet to read the research referred to in this article but it makes some good points. My belief (of course I am biased!) is that massage therapy should be seen as a valid and beneficial health treatment that works well alongside other treatments such as physiotherapy, movement therapies, talk therapies and pharmacological treatments. Rather than only being viewed as a treat/indulgence or as alternative medicine. I'd like to think we can move beyond that at some point. I'm grateful to those other health professionals - doctors, physiotherapy and talk therapists who recognise how it can help their patients and refer them my way.

While they can be seen as a luxury, massages are often part of healthcare – here’s how they affect physical and mental health

10/11/2025

Whether you are a new client or an existing one, what you get from me doesn’t just begin when you arrive and end when you walk out the door after your treatment. It involves much more.

What I provide is underpinned by my 10+ years of experience as a qualified and registered Massage Therapist. This is based on my foundation learning, which involved 2400 hours of full-time study in Massage Therapy. And more recently, by the 2200 hours of part-time postgrad study in Pain & Pain Management I completed. There are also hundreds of hours as part of my ongoing professional development learning – short courses, reading, writing articles for publication, presenting to massage therapy students and other health professionals, watching webinars and listening to podcasts, professional supervision, networking with allied health professionals, and more.

My engagement with a new client begins from the moment they contact me. It involves the time I take to have a chat over the phone to find out about their needs and determine if I can be of help before booking them in, sending out the appointment confirmation and the electronic new client form, and reading through their completed form before their first appointment. At the initial appointment, it involves taking time to dig deeper into their completed form and health history, so I can understand what is going on, what they think is going on, how it might be impacting their quality and enjoyment of life, function, work, recreation and general wellbeing. It involves the assessment tools I use that might give some additional valuable information. Then, it involves explaining how I work, what I propose as a treatment plan, getting their input and allowing space for them to ask any questions before treatment begins.

During the hands-on therapy aspect of the session, the treatment involves two-way dialogue – explaining, checking in, observing, asking more questions, and sharing my observations. At the end of the session, time is taken to check in with the client, provide information on any self-management strategies I feel might be of help, as part of their New Client Information pack to take away. I write up session notes so I can refer back to them at the next session.

Then there is a follow-up by email a few days later to see how they are feeling, what they have noticed, how they are finding the self-management information, and to respond to any feedback or questions they might have.

There may also be research I do in between sessions if the client has a condition I've not encountered before that I want to find out more about so I can ensure my treatment is appropriate. Or I may want to inform myself about other approaches or techniques I can use, within my scope, when working with the client.

If the client has been referred by another health professional, or if I'm referring them to another one for any additional treatment e.g. physiotherapy, then with permission, there may be some communication to them about the plan I've come up with or my reason for referring.

At the start of each session I take time to find out how things have been since the previous one, discuss what their needs are, which might be continuing with the overall treatment plan, modifying it, or focusing on something new.

So, on top of the 60-90 minutes in the clinic room, there is often 30-60 minutes of additional time I spend. In order to provide a high-quality service.

All this is tailored to the individual client. Every time.

03/11/2025

Appointment today now available at 3.30pm. Book online or text me

13/10/2025

Celebrating World Allied Health Professions Day.

Allied Health covers a diverse range of health professions - from audiology, counselling, chiropractic and dentistry, to massage therapy, midwifery, physiotherapy and psychology, to occupational therapy, radiation therapy, speech and language therapy, and sports and exercise practitioners.

Allied Health professionals are a vital part of the health system, and chances are you come into contact with an Allied Health Professional more often than you see a doctor. We contribute to the health and well-being of New Zealanders and without us, the health system would not function.

Together we are stronger through our New Zealand umbrella organisation Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand.

Let's celebrate the work this group of health professions 👏👏👏

🌍✨ World Allied Health Professions Day ✨🌍

Today we celebrate the incredible contribution of Allied Health professionals across Aotearoa and the world.

As Massage Therapists, we are proud to stand alongside a diverse and skilled workforce. Massage therapy makes a difference every day by:

🌿 Promoting wellbeing and preventative care
🌀 Aiding recovery and rehabilitation
🤝 Enhancing quality of life for clients
💆‍♀️ Supporting pain management

This year’s theme, “From hospital to community, from treatment to prevention, and from analogue to digital”, highlights the evolving role of Allied Health in New Zealand. Massage therapy is part of this journey, helping people live healthier, more connected lives.

Today we acknowledge and thank our Allied Health colleagues, and celebrate the massage therapy community who bring care, compassion and professionalism to every client. 💙

17/09/2025

Useful information. The use of antiiflammatories can slow the healing process so use wisely.

7 Things to Know About Inflammation, Pain, and Common Medications

1. Your body uses inflammation to heal.
When you get hurt, your immune system releases chemicals called prostaglandins. These cause swelling and make the injured area more sensitive so your body can protect and repair it.

2. Inflammation also causes pain.
The same process that helps you heal can also make you feel sore or achy.

3. NSAIDs can help manage pain.
Medicines like ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin can reduce pain and make movement easier.

4. But they may slow down healing.
Because NSAIDs block inflammation, they can sometimes delay the body’s natural repair process.

5. Use the lowest dose that works.
Doctors recommend taking the smallest amount that helps your pain while still letting your body heal.

6. Take NSAIDs with food and water.
Eating and drinking plenty of fluids lowers the chance of stomach upset or other side effects.

7. Different NSAIDs work differently for people.
Some people respond better to ibuprofen, others to naproxen or aspirin. Switching between them can sometimes help.

Bonus tip: Aspirin has two roles.

•In low doses (81 mg), it helps protect the heart by preventing blood clots.

•In higher doses (325 mg), it works more like other NSAIDs to reduce inflammation.

17/09/2025

Dance as a form of movement therapy is a wonderful thing for body and mind. If you love to dance and are looking for something a bit different to other dance movement classes where movement is choreographed, this free form Ecstatic Dance class might be for you!
Join DJ Kimba Jade as she takes you on a journey with music to enable you to move freely in your own way.
This is the launch of Ecstatic Dance in Wellington.

Do you love to dance? Do you sometimes feel self conscious to fully express yourself without alcohol, but are craving more intimate spaces to be yourself without judgement? Then Ecstatic Dance is for you!!
💫 What is Ecstatic Dance?
A freeform, drug- and alcohol-free dance experience where you move however your body wants. The music flows like a wave — starting slow, rising to ecstatic peaks, then softening into stillness. It’s therapeutic, uplifting, and a powerful way to connect with yourself and community.
Please note, that this Ecstatic Dance is not verbally guided, we let the music guide you 😊. Dance freely how your body moves you.
When: Saturday, 20th September
Where: Vogelmorn Hall, Wellington
Time: 7pm - 9pm
Tickets $25 here: https://events.humanitix.com/ecstatic-dance-wellington
Otherwise $30 on the door.
LET'S DANCE!

💫 Move. Release. Connect. The first Ecstatic Dance Wellington is here — come celebrate our launch at Vogelmorn with DJ Kimba Jade on the decks. 🌙❤️

30/08/2025

A very well written personal account of living with chronic pain.

'I'm lucky; I've had it for only five years or so.' David Hill on living with chronic pain.

29/08/2025

One of the biggest joys I get from my mahi is when I see a client joining the dots between their pain ramping up and their behaviours, thoughts, and beliefs about their pain and ✨️making changes✨️ then seeing the positive impact this has on their pain and their capacity to cope. These 💡💡💡 moments are wonderful to witness. Seeing them building their own 🧰 bit by bit is gold.

That old proverb "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime" - Pain management coaching is about empowerment, self confidence and sustainable change. Rather than solving for the individual, it supports them to develop strategies that work best for them.

The key thing is, it requires the individual to actively participate in the process 🔍🧭, rather than be given the 🗺 because everyone is different and what works for one person may not work for another.

If this sounds like something you want to try, get in touch via my website contact form.

28/08/2025

💯 spot on!
You won't hear me telling you that I will FIX you.
It's not my job to do so. It's my job to support you in YOUR management and/rehabilitation. There's a big difference there - 'fixing' takes away your autonomy and reinforces a belief you have no power over your own well-being. It doesn't give you skills to help you help yourself. 'Fixing' says, "I'm the expert about you and your pain...injury...wellbeing". Actually, YOU are the expert about you. My role is to share what I know, use my skills and experience and work with you to find out what combination of things - massage, movement, and other tools, might be effective for you.

Clinicians: trade the cape for a compass. Your job isn’t to fix every problem—it’s to support the person who will live the solution. Be Alfred, not Batman.

27/08/2025

This!! ⬇️

Looking for the right gift this Father’s Day? 🎁
Give Dad the gift of wellness with a Registered Massage Therapist. 💙

Why choose a Registered Massage Therapist?
✓ NZQA Qualification or equivalent
✓ Ongoing Development & Education
✓ First Aid Certified
✓ Bound by Code of Ethics

👉 Safe, Skilled, Professional Care

Find a Registered Massage Therapist over at https://www.massageanz.org.nz/

27/08/2025

New blog post - some tips on how to maximise what you get out of your appointments with me.

Here's some helpful tips on how to maximise what you get out of your appointments at Equilibrium Pain Management Coaching & Massage Therapy.1. Before your first appointment, consider whether my approach suits you. Therapists vary in style and experience, so research how I work—check my website, as...