The 'Recent Problem' and 'Ongoing Pain' appointments are designed quite differently and so it is useful for you to have an idea of which one probably better suits your needs.
If you have only recently developed a high level of pain and have not suffered with it in the past then it's likely that the shorter triage appointment is best for you. This is a more focussed session, attempting to arrive at a diagnosis within a short amount of time and to give you some solid advice with the expectation that you will recover naturally over a reasonable amount of time.
The CFT appointments are designed with persistent pain in mind. This describes a situation where your pain has stayed around for much longer than is expected - months and years rather than days or weeks. These sessions are less focussed, being led wherever your unique story needs us to go and it is anticipated that we work on a few issues over a longer period of time - setting specific goals and targets for you to work towards.
The initial session takes up to two hours for us to discuss not just the current picture of pain, but also the 'origin story' of when you first started having any issues with pain. We will need to look at your general health and well-being and spend some time looking for patterns that may emerge which can help us understand your pain.
FAQ
Q: I've seen chiropractors before and I know what I want - can't you just do what they do?
A: Importantly I need you to know that as of July 2025 I am not operating as a chiropractor. This means I purposely don't have the required rights and privileges that a registered chiropractor has access to and this includes the ability to perform manipulation. This reflects my decision to move away from the use of manual therapy rather than my desire to explore other forms of treatment.
The simplest fact I'd like you to know is that if you are specifically looking for manipulation, massage, acupuncture or any type of 'treatment' then you have many options of therapists in the Aberystwyth area who will be delighted to take you on as a client.
Q: Surely the best treatment for back pain is some sort of hands-on treatment?
A: There are some types of back pain that seem to respond to receiving manual therapy, but it may be that these are the types of pain that would naturally resolve without any intervention. Some research even suggests that many people are in fact worse off because they seek treatment. We often hear of people who report astonishing results after receiving treatment of one form or another. These stories are very interesting and seem to challenge the position that manual therapy is of limited use. The truth is that these apparent miracles are incredibly rare and impossible to predict and replicate. Every single form of therapy can produce anecdotes of this kind, which suggests that the type of therapy or intervention may not actually be that important.
Q: Are you saying that it's a placebo?
A: The placebo effect - nowadays called the 'non-specific' effect, or the 'off-target' effect - is a fascinating field of physiology. What is crucial to know is that a placebo effect isn't an imagined effect. If you feel better after a treatment that is unquestionable and it is not just 'in your head'. Your body can do amazing things and if it takes a certain type of treatment to kick start a cascade of healing then the effect can indeed be profound and long-lasting. Again, these results are unpredictable. My feeling is that we could have very simple conversations with our therapists if we asked something like "What is the effect of what you're doing?". I don't think there's much wrong with an answer along the lines of "Well, we're not really sure of the exact reason why you might respond to this treatment - but it might be something to do with how it helps you relax".
Q: I can't see how just talking about my pain will help
A: Firstly - it really can. Having someone to listen you your problem and how it is affecting you is a basic human need. Having someone who can guide you towards solutions to your problem is also very powerful. Secondly, sessions are not really designed to be like having counselling for pain, ideally we look at what is going on with your body and how you move and use your body. By identifying movements and postures that aggravate your pain we can build up your capacity to function pain-free. We will also be looking at anything that may be contributing to your pain state, which will involve some action and goals.
Q: Is this something that will cure my pain?
A: Sorry but no. With persistent, ongoing pain it may be more realistic to set a target of living as well as possible in spite of pain. Think of it akin to something like living with a phobia. A realistic plan to help someone overcome a phobia would be to understand how and when the phobia started; how severe it is; how does it influence your life; how does your general health play a part in the symptoms; do you have some unhelpful strategies around the phobia; do you have unhelpful beliefs about the source of your phobia; are there things that you can do both physically and mentally that would make you feel more in control of your response to the source of the phobia and the way your body behaves when in flight or fight mode?
Dealing with any and all of these factors would take time and success would be measured in terms of how the phobic symptoms can be reduced to a tolerable level - even to the point of living a life where you don't consider the phobia to be that bothersome.
My aim is to put you in control of your pain and your body.