Learning from chronic pain and ACT

One thing I’ve learned working with people who live with persistent pain is just how unique every story really is. No two journeys are the same. Everyone brings their own experiences, and those experiences shape how pain feels and how it affects daily life.

Sometimes, I get to see a small shift that makes a big difference for someone, and that’s the most rewarding part of what I do. Other times, it feels much more challenging, like nothing I’ve offered has helped in the way I’d hoped. Those moments keep me searching.

What they leave me with is a drive to keep learning. To keep exploring new ideas, skills, and approaches that might help the next person find their way forward.

Over the last, I’ve been diving into something called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). In the context of pain it’s less about “getting rid of pain” and more about helping people reconnect with what matters most in their lives, even when pain is still there.

There seem to be aspects of this treatment that could be very useful for people with persistent pain and I have started to utilize portions of it when appropriate.

Written by

Samuel Bulten

Exercise Physiologist | Masters in Medicine (Pain Management)

Director, Adapt Movement

Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. These blogs are written by Sam Bulten and represent his opinions and insights and are based on his experience and interpretation of the research. As Sam is a human, these opinions and insights are not absolute truths.