PRACTITIONER VOICE
her to step up and start being proactive in her daily routine , her self-care and directing what she wanted to achieve in terms of movement , health and fitness .
The work for both of us was to achieve consistency . Initially the patient would cancel ( we did both table work and training / coaching work ) for simple reasons . The coaching aspect helped direct her fears and cultivate them into action and personal accountability . We even transitioned into online coaching after 12 months , which again initially was an easy ‘ out ’ for her , but soon became the habit and movement , self-care etc . became her staple go-to . Placing the onus on the client to be responsible for her day , her wellbeing and her strength , using a supportive coaching approach allowed her to start taking control of her body , her pain ( and reducing it ) and her life .
We also discussed the nature of recovery many times - there will be ‘ bed days ’ and there will be great days . Nothing is set in stone and with neuroplasticity and consistent daily commitment to self she could make ( and was making ) progress . Awareness of all the above and of her daily options were key . My integrative and coaching approach were what appealed to the client and although drained , stressed , ‘ foggy ’ etc , and being at ‘ rock bottom ’ she was ready for a new life .
In summary , this case study demonstrates how an integrated approach using physical therapy ( including orthopaedic joint work for structural balancing , 5 Element acupuncture to harmonise her energy flow and psychosomatic aspects to calm the nervous system , dry needling and motor point acupuncture for the bound muscular tissues from habitual loading and postural patterns , orthobionomy and massage to integrate all the above and add to the sedation of the nervous system , as well as somatic integration through movement and QiGong-based breath work ). It also demonstrates where the underlying aspect of coaching was - and is ( she is still a patient and client ) - the key that enabled the patient to have major shifts in her mindset and lifestyle . The effect of these daily and weekly changes and her being empowered to manage things herself ( with continued occasional table sessions and weekly coaching ) was the improvement in her mental health . Her perspective on how her life can function , the positive changes to her personal relationships and the improvement in her productivity all bolstered her daily mood and personal satisfaction in life - so much so that she dropped weekly psychologist sessions to fortnightly at approximately the 9-month mark , with the blessing of her therapist .
PLACING THE ONUS ON THE CLIENT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HER DAY , HER WELLBEING AND HER STRENGTH , USING A SUPPORTIVE COACHING APPROACH ALLOWED HER TO START TAKING CONTROL OF HER BODY , HER PAIN ( AND REDUCING IT ) AND HER LIFE .
We continue to work together and her aim in the new year is to reduce her psychologist sessions to monthly , again with the therapist ’ s blessing .
REFERENCES
1 . Ishiguro H , Yagasaki H , Horiuchi Y . Ehlers- Danlos Syndrome in the field of psychiatry : A review . Front Psychiatry , 2021 ; 12 , 803898 . Doi : 10.3389 / fpsyt . 2021.803898
2 . American Psychiatric Association . Chronic pain and mental health often interconnected . 2023 ; cited 2023 November 25 . https :// www . psychiatry . org / newsroom / apa-blogs / chronic-pain-and-mentalhealth-interconnected #:~: text = People % 20 living % 20with % 20chronic % 20 pain , with % 20chronic % 20pain % 20 experience % 20depression
3 . Ehlers-Danlos Support UK . Mental health . 2023 ; cited 2023 November 25 . https :// www . ehlers-danlos . org / whatis-eds / information-on-eds / mentalhealth /#:~: text = Anxiety % 20disorders % 20 and % 20depression % 20are , and % 20 chronic % 20pain % 20in % 20hEDS
224 | vol29 | no4 | JATMS