iSelf help in an online group programme for people who find persistent pain interferes with their ability to lead a normal life. It is a 12-week programme developed to help you decide what is important to you, and to support you to take the next best steps towards being yourself again.
Sessions are Monday and Wednesday every week, between 1:30pm and 2:30pm.
- Mondays are with a peer support facilitator who has a lived experience of persistent pain.
- Wednesdays are with clinicians from the persistent pain service.
Although delivered as a group programme, people will have individual treatment plans and clear goals they are working to acheive.
A typical session includes education, discussion and feedback, and exercise
Topics include:
- understanding pain
- managing activity
- value identification
- sleep
- goal setting
- and more.
Participants are encouraged to contribute to the discussion. Each session starts with a review and reflection on previous content. Participants also have access to online resources.
Using a group approach helps you talk to others in your situation
Persistent pain can be a socially isolating experience with whānau, friends and even treating medical teams not understanding how difficult it can be. In the group you will be able to meet other people in the same situation as you, who understand what you are going through. Group programmes also give people the opportunity to share information and learn from one another.
The programme aims to help people:
- with pain lasting more than 3 months
- with no further medical or surgical investigations or treatments planned
- that do not need urgent psychiatric treatment
- with no drug or alcohol problem
- with ongoing interference of activities of daily living due to pain.
How iSelf help can help you
iSelf help may help if pain is interfering with your attempts to maintain normal daily activities or work. You may feel you are managing quite well, but other ideas and strategies may help to continue your improvement. PEP may help you regain control over your life and achieve your goals despite having pain.
iSelf help is targeted to those who cannot travel to Dunedin or take significant time off work during the day to attend the in-person group.