PHYSICAL THERAPY for CHRONIC PAIN in Shelburne, VT
Treatment for chronic pain often fails because it focuses on the symptoms and structure, not the root causes. When you are in chronic pain, you need more than a mechanic; you need a whole-being approach to healing that rewires your nervous system and interrupts pain circuits.
Pain is a reaction to threat.
If you have pain that won’t go away or keeps coming back…
If your pain gets worse when you are stressed, sick, cold, or tired…
If you feel exhausted and depleted…
If you have tried everything and don’t know what to do…
It’s time to heal your nervous system.
Imagine what it would be like if:
Pain didn’t prevent you from doing the things that bring you joy;
You could feel rested, energetic, supported, and balanced every day;
You had the energy to handle tough experiences, and truly thrive;
You knew how to heal yourself when you start to feel off.
You don’t have to be in pain.
Pain is a message from your wise body and it exists for a reason.
I help people understand why they hurt and break the pain cycle so they can thrive.
Want to know if my approach is the right fit for you?
“Working 1:1 with Rachel is truly a gift. She brings so much compassion to her work. I’ve had chronic pain for years, and she is the first person to give me hope.”
—S.P.
Difficulty Sleeping
Frequent Illness
Mood Fluctuations
Hormone imbalance
Depletion
Pain
Chronic Fatigue
Digestive Issues
Poor Concentration
Brain Fog
The Western medical system treats these as separate issues, but they are all connected because they are all signs of a NERVOUS SYSTEM in distress.
IT’S NOT ALL IN YOUR HEAD
It is natural to want to understand why you hurt, especially when your pain has lasted for a long time, and no one can explain why.
If you have pain that won’t go away
If you have been to other providers and haven’t found a real explanation or a solution that works
If you feel like you have to prove your pain is real
It’s time to work with a Certified Chronic Pain Specialist who takes your pain seriously and will help you finally break the pain cycle.
THE PROCESS
01 — Assess the root causes of your symptoms
If you’ve had pain that has lasted for more than 3 months, chances are your injury has already healed, and now you are dealing with a sensitive alarm system. We’ll start with a comprehensive evaluation of your movement system. If you do have tissue damage, we will work together to help your injury heal. If you have a sensitive system, we will work together to help your nervous system heal.
02 — Understand Why you Hurt
The nervous system has two speeds: Fight/Flight/Freeze/Fawn (sympathetic mode) and Rest/Digest (parasympathetic mode).
When you are in sympathetic mode, your energy is shunted to the periphery to help you mobilize to run, fight, or hide. This means that your body stops prioritizing things like digestion, reproduction, and rest. It also means that your body is flooded with hormones that keep your alarm system on alert.
Step 2 is to map your nervous system, understand what activates your pain, and help you see pain as a whole-body response to threat. You will learn all about pain science, and by understanding pain, your nervous system will start to feel safer.
03 — Help your nervous system feel safe again
Because chronic pain is a sign that the nervous system detects danger, it is important to reduce the sense of threat. We’ll meet every 3 - 6 weeks to support you on your journey to healing your nervous system. At each session we will explore embodied, somatic practices to restore your nervous system’s natural rhythm and break the pain cycle. We’ll also work together to develop a personalized wellness plan, including nourishment, rest, yoga, self-care, and pain science practices to help your nervous system feel safe and quiet the pain alarm.
04 — Rewire your nervous system
Neuroplastic Pain, also called Central Sensitization, is caused by nervous system sensitivity and fear. When you can learn to be present with sensation without fear, it decreases the threat. The key to breaking the pain cycle is to teach the nervous system how to accurately interpret sensory information so it becomes less sensitive and reactive. You’ll learn exercises for your nervous system that override pain signals with positive sensations and rewire the fear pain response.
05 — Restore resilience
Once your nervous system feels safe, we will gradually help you build your tolerance to your activators so that you can return to living your life fully. You will learn how to interpret your body’s signals, and how to reintroduce movement and activities you love without tripping the pain alarm and getting trapped in a pain spiral.
INVESTMENT
90-minute Initial Integrative Assessment to determine root causes and develop a plan of care: $250
60-minute follow-up sessions to rewire your nervous system: $150
60-minute CranioSacral Sessions: $150
THE RIGHT FIT
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You don't know why you hurt.
You have been to other providers, but it hasn’t solved your problem.
You want to address the root causes, not just mask symptoms.
You want to build a relationship with a provider who believes you and will never make you feel like your pain is “all in your head.”
You want to gain control over your symptoms and understand how to solve your problem.
You recognize that changing outcomes requires your active participation. You want to be a partner in your healing.
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You are looking for a quick fix
You aren’t in a place in your life where you are willing/able to make some changes
You are looking for passive treatments and don’t want to be an active partner in your healthcare
If you aren't in a place in your life where you are ready and able to make changes, but you know you need to start somewhere, consider booking a CranioSacral session instead of a PT evaluation.
CranioSacral Therapy provides amazing benefits to the nervous system, and is a great place to start for people who need to receive healing. It helps the body remember it’s innate power to heal. It can also help the nervous system calm down enough to be able to benefit from active treatments.
