Ep47: A Paradigm Shift in Thinking About and Treating Chronic Pain​ with Dr. Bronwyn Lennox Thompson

In this episode, we talked about The differences between acute and chronic pain at the physical, neurological and psychosocial level A paradigm shift in thinking about and treating chronic pain patients  Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: What it is, how it works and why it can be particularly beneficial for individuals in managing chronic pain Setting realistic expectations with patients while avoiding any sense of invalidation or skepticism This is a student-led episode under the mentorship of Tiffany Tiu. Jules and Brooklyn are Master of Physiotherapy students from the University of Alberta and McMaster University respectively.  Dr. Bronwyn Lennox Thompson leads the Postgraduate Programmes in Pain and Pain Management at the University of Otago, based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Dr. Lennox Thompson’s clinical background is occupational therapy and psychology, and her clinical and research focus is on supported pain self-management in daily life. Her research interests include lived experiences of chronic pain, consumer/lived experience involvement in research, policy and service development, and supported self-management in painful medical procedures. Her primary academic work is teaching an interprofessional approach to pain and pain management to clinicians from a diverse range of clinical backgrounds. She was awarded the University of Otago Teaching Excellence Award in 2022, and the University of Otago Gold Medal for teaching excellence in 2025.   Resources Acceptance and Commitment Therapy resources by Russ Harris:  https://www.actmindfully.com.au/  ACT Made Simple: An Easy-To-Read Primer on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy by Russ Harris [book] Belton, J., & Darlow, B. (2026). Do We Trust Patients in Pain? What Would Happen If We Did?. JOSPT, 56(1), 1-3. Radical Relief: A Guide to Overcome Chronic Pain by Joe Tatta [book]   Connect with Dr. Bronnie Thompson Blog: https://healthskills.wordpress.com Instagram and Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/healthskillsNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bronniet/   Paincast is dedicated to bringing together researchers, clinicians, and students to discuss topics related to pain and physiotherapy. The primary purpose is to facilitate knowledge translation and critical thinking. Some episodes posit themselves as more educational than others, and some more opinionated than others. The listener is encouraged to listen critically. While there is an effort to incorporate research evidence, and the topics are always researched by the host, we recognize there is room for improvement and there is expertise in the community. As such, we invite constructive critique and that you inform us of any inadvertent errors, so that we may correct them. You may submit your feedback through this form: https://forms.gle/UFfbUHBh8uKwSKgS8 Follow Paincast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paincast.psd/