Restore Wellbeing Osteopathy Atherton

Osteopathy is a holistic form of manual therapy. We treat the whole body, and look at all the parts of your life that contribute to your health.

If you have back pain we might also be looking at your hips or your neck, or even your feet, as all the parts of the body affect each other.

We might look at stressors that are contributing to your experience of pain and find ways to calm your nervous system.

We might also look at activities in your daily life such as work ergonomics, sleeping position, footwear and type of exercise.

Osteopathy works from the belief that these parts are connected, that the way you use your body will affect its structure and vice versa, and that your body has a self-healing mechanism that will bring you back to health when blockages to its function are removed.

Yes, Medicare rebates are available for osteopathic treatments to those with a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan.

Yes, health fund rebates are also available for osteopathic treatments. Some health funds support yoga and meditation, ask your individual fund for more information.

At present you will need to upload your receipt manually to Medicare or to your health fund to receive the rebate. My Medicare Provider number is 1580594T

NOTE I am not providing WorkCover treatments at this time.

When you arrive we will talk about your health, and what’s going on in your body. I will do a few assessments to give me more information. I will talk you through the techniques I plan to use to release tension and bring more ease to your body, and we will create a management plan together. This will usually include some sort of stress management practice, desensitising practice (for chronic pain), or exercise prescription.

Wear comfortable clothing, preferably a loose top and loose pants. I may need to work directly on the skin of your back and other areas. You can bring a pair of shorts to change into if unsure.

Bring your health fund card or medicare card.

Links to any scans you have had recently, or access to these on an app.

Osteopathic treatment can range from gentle to strong manipulations.

In my practice I prefer to work with fascia, ligaments and muscles in a gentle way, also using your own movements to assist in releasing tension. I like to work with your body not against it. I can also offer a very subtle approach with cranial osteopathy.

I generally do not crack joints.

Firstly, let's state upfront, all pain is real, and chronic pain is not your fault. Chronic pain can be debilitating, and together we can improve your experience of pain.

It is important for your GP to rule out any disease process that is causing your pain before you come to me.

My first step is to assess whether there is a neuroplastic component to your pain. If there is any element of neuroplastic involvement this is very good news as you may be able to reduce your pain. If it is fully neuroplastic you may even have the chance to recover completely over time (see the link in the resources section for the research).

The pain signal in these cases can be likened to a faulty alarm signal in the subconscious brain, which is creating very real pain.

We will then explore various techniques you can practice to interrupt and redirect this neural loop. This process can in some instances reduce pain immediately but it may take weeks to months to lead to a lasting reduction in chronic pain.

Chronic pain sessions can be online.

I have trained in a variety of meditation styles, including Instinctive Meditation and iRest yoga nidra meditation. These are both styles of meditation that help create a sense of safety and wellbeing in the body and that allow you to safely be with your experience without needing to change it.

I enjoy crafting bespoke micro meditations to use throughout the day, and longer guided meditations for relaxation, general wellbeing and for somatic tracking. These can also be useful for chronic pain and fatigue.

I match the meditation style I coach to your personal needs.

These sessions can be online.

Many people say that meditation is not for them because it felt uncomfortable and difficult, or feel that they have failed when their mind didn't go blank. This is probably because they were taught a technique that didn't suit them.

Your mind doesn't usually go silent when you're meditating. You might be exploring your inner terrain, and learning what's going on behind the scenes. Or contemplating something uplifting or enjoyable. Or just relaxing and being yourself just as you are. There are hundreds of ways to meditate. They all have benefits. There will be a meditation technique that is just right for you.

Your meditation technique can feel easy and enjoyable, and that's how you know you've got the right technique for you. Your meditation technique might change at different times of your life, in different seasons, or just on different days. You'll know you're doing the right technique because afterwards you'll feel more balance, more calm, more energy and more joy for life.

This is all about finding a meditation practice that you enjoy. In our first session we would start by discussing your past experiences of meditation and your meditation goals (for example, relaxation, pain reduction, emotional wellbeing, mental clarity, stress reduction). I might lead you through a guided meditation at this point, and we would then discuss your response to it. We might try a few different styles of meditation to see what you enjoy most.

We would then together craft a practice for you to try in the next week or two. Perhaps a micro meditation (10-60 seconds) for you to use through out the day, or a longer guided meditation that I would record for you, or exploring a particular meditation technique to practice. For pain reduction we would include somatic tracking practices.

I have a strong interest in neck and jaw pain and headaches. I have trained in cutting edge pain science, and can assist with chronic pain conditions, even when the condition is structural like arthritis. Stress can exacerbate pain, tension and other conditions, and therefore I also offer stress reduction techniques such as meditation.

Osteopathy can treat painful backs, necks, headaches, migraines, concussion, whiplash, certain types of dizziness, sciatica, pudendal neuralgia, sore hips, knees, ankles, feet, plantar fasciitis, shoulders, elbows, wrists and hands, and much more! We can help relieve postural strain and pregnancy related discomfort. As we work holistically, we can make changes in the way the body moves that improve other conditions such as IBS and asthma.