About
This blog offers health care providers thoughtful commentary and resources so they can help people develop their skills for living well, while respecting individual values.
About me: I trained as an occupational therapist, and graduated in 1984. Since then I’ve continued study at postgraduate level and my papers have included business skills, ergonomics, mental health therapies, and psychology. I completed by Masters in Psychology in 1999, and started my PhD in 2007.
I have many passions, but one of them is to help people experiencing chronic health problems learn to achieve their potential. I have worked in the field of chronic pain management, helping people develop ’self management’ skills for 16 years. Many of the skills are directly applicable to people with other health conditions.
My way of working: collaboratively - all people have limitations and vulnerabilities - as well as strengths and potential. I use a cognitive and behavioural approach - therapy isn’t helpful unless there are visible changes! I don’t use this approach exclusively, because it is necessary to ‘borrow’ at times from other approaches, but I encourage ongoing evaluation of everything that is put forward as ‘therapy’.
I’m also an educator. I take this role very seriously - it is as important to health care as research and clinical skill. I offer an active knowledge of the latest research, integrated with current clinical practice, and communicated to clinicians working directly with people experiencing chronic ill health. I work in two academic institutions (University of Otago, Christchurch, Otago Polytechnic (Dunedin)), as a researcher (working on my PhD) and a clinician (pain management at Burwood Hospital, Christchurch). I offer courses, training and supervision for therapists working with people experiencing chronic ill health.
If you are a person experiencing health problems, you may find information here that is helpful. I encourage you to make sure any advice you receive anywhere (including here) is based on sound scientific studies. This blog is not designed to give any personal advice on health conditions, and should not replace a consultation with your own health care providers. I cannot be personally held responsible for any decisions you make on the basis of the information in this blog.
I hope you find this blog interesting, thought-provoking and challenging. I look forward to dialogue, debate and differences - but be prepared to support your point of view with evidence. If you hold an opinion, make sure you have some science to back it up!
What you’ll find here over time:
- cognitive behavioural therapy
- chronic pain management
- relaxation
- motivation
- values-based therapy
- research
- psychology
- interdisciplinary teams
- using exposure therapy
- and more!!
Bronwyn Thompson, MSc (Psych) 1st Class Hons, DipOT, Registered Occupational Therapist
Please note: I do not allow advertising on this site, and receive no advertising revenue from any links that you may follow. This site is personally funded by me, and I receive no funding from any agency or organisation for the production or information contained on this website.
Last updated:June 2008
Contact me: adiemus@clear.net.nz
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Hi Bronwyn
I applaud what you’re doing and the service and encouragement you’re offering clinicians. As you probably are aware I’m on a journey to help myself to wellness from CRPS/RSD. In a little over 12 months I’ve gone from chronic, intractable, quite severe pain and symptoms to a much better quality of life with manageable flare ups. Although many things have helped, the most helpful with easing and stopping pain has been mirror therapy. It has stopped pain not only from this syndrome but pain of a tooth abscess and other acute pains. David Butler who co wrote Explain Pain” with Dr Lorimer Mosely told me that in Australia there is not finantial gain to be made by big funding drug companies for research into mirror therapy. I will be devoting time this year to approaching our new Labour Government to fund research which would give credibility to this very effective way of stopping the brain’s message of pain.
I was wondering if this might be a part of PhD study.
Also, I notice a lot of people join up for emails of my posts. I would be keen to get your’s by email if you consider adding this.
jeisea
Hi and Happy New Year jeisea!
Thanks for stopping by and taking time out to comment. Great idea to ask for sponsorship by Govt for this kind of therapy. David Butler is quite correct, there really isn’t a lot of money to be found for non-pharmacological research. It would be wonderful to think that people might fund it because it is helpful - but most research in healthcare is driven by the mighty dollar. Same thing in most universities now too, where Govt funding has reduced unless the outcome of research is something that can be sold. Shame. Good luck to you and keep us posted. Yes, mirror therapy studies would certainly be an excellent PhD topic!
Oooops, I forgot to add that I don’t know how to set up an email of my posts - I’ve suggested people use RSS feeds instead, but will take a look at the logistics of emailing as well. You can subscribe via Google Reader also, which allows you off-line access to the contents of any blogs that you subscribe to.
[...] Bronwyn - well she’s not quite on our staff - but we do contract Bronwyn to provide one of our postgraduate courses (PG408001 Pain Management) and being both psychologist and occupational therapist means she often brings very interesting perspectives to the postings she makes. Bronwyn’s is a great indepth and impressive blog - I’m impressed with what she is offering our presentation and can only hope that more occupational therapists access what she has to offer. [...]