Meet Claire Richardson — Chronic Pain Coach & Advanced Practice Osteopath, Melbourne

Our Mission

Our mission at Wayfinder Pain Consulting is to help individuals navigate the complexities of chronic pain, guiding them towards a more meaningful, fulfilling life. We provide the support and tools necessary to manage pain in a way that enables people to reconnect with what matters most, embrace daily activities, and regain a sense of purpose and well-being. Together, we’ll help you find a way forward, no matter what chronic pain may bring.

Dr Claire Richardson (Advance Practice Pain Management Osteopath) in consulting room

Meet Claire Richardson - Your Pain Coach & Advanced Practice Osteopath

Advanced Practice Pain Management Osteopath
B.Sci (Clin.Sci) M.H.S. (Osteo) Prof. Cert. Pain. Sci

Hi there! I’m Claire, and I’m passionate about helping people just like you reduce pain, regain function, and get back to the activities they love. Living with chronic pain can be overwhelming, but with the right support, you can take control and start living life on your terms again. I'd love to help you do so!

I created Wayfinder Pain Consulting to make it easier for you to access high-quality pain coaching and education. After seeing long waitlists for quality pain management programs in Melbourne, I wanted to offer a solution that helps you get the most out of the therapies and treatments you’re already using by providing personalised coaching to help you manage your pain more effectively.

I’m one of the few Advanced Practice Pain Management Osteopaths in Australia, as titled by Osteopathy Australia. I also hold a Professional Certificate in Pain Science from the University of South Australia, so you can be sure you’re getting evidence-based, up-to-date advice and support.

Through Wayfinder Pain Consulting, I offer personalised Pain Coaching either in-person or online, to meet you wherever you are on your pain journey. Whether you're struggling with chronic pain and searching for someone to help you find your way out of the dark, managing a complex condition, or just need someone to help you navigate your treatments, I’m here to guide you every step of the way.

Additionally, I work with BOOST Health Labs, an evidence-based telehealth chronic pain platform, and have previously supervised students at the RMIT Chronic Pain Clinic, ensuring that I’m always at the forefront of the latest research and pain management strategies.

If you’re ready to start living a life beyond pain, I’d love to help you get there. Let’s work together to create a plan that fits your unique needs, so you can feel better and do more of what you love!

What we do:

The simplest way we can sum up our work is: We assist people living with chronic pain to improve their quality of life. The way we achieve this looks different for each patient we see, because each person's contributors to life quality are unique!

We help people to:

  • Feel more in control of their symptoms.

  • Understand their pain triggers and amplifiers.

  • Understand how much, and what kind of exercise or movement is helpful for them.

  • Learn strategies they can use to decrease their pain.

  • Find ways to comfortably return to important life activities such as work, socialising, hobbies and exercise.

  • Feel empathetically supported whilst they navigate the chronic pain experience. 

We help patients in pain

We offer bespoke CPD education sessions for allied health clinics and clinicians. Some of the topics we have assisted clinicians to consolidate their understanding of have been:

  • Central Sensitisation- Physical Assessment of a patient with chronic pain

  • Principles of rehabilitation for pain

  • Goal setting and motivational interviewing

  • Get in touch for a bespoke proposal for your team

  • we'd be thrilled to help!

We help clinicians to confidently treat people experiencing chronic pain

Treatment and Services

Wayfinder offers pain coaching for people experiencing chronic pain. Pain coaching is a style of treatment that aims to empower people experiencing pain. 

We understand that your pain is real - even if you've had confusing scan or test results.

Pain coaching is highly individualised depending on the person we are working with - their pain experience, their goals, aspirations and preferences. Some of the ways we help people are:

  • Exercise management and adjustment (to prevent and improve pain flares)

  • Pain education - assisting people to understand how pain works, their individual triggers and relievers

  • Nervous system relaxation strategies

  • Sleep improvement strategies

  • Nutritional advice for chronic pain relief

  • Sensory retraining exercises (gentle movement or sensory exercises designed to treat nerves)

  • Goal setting - to help people return to their valued activities, such as work or hobbies, in a gradual manner so as to prevent pain flares and overwhelm.

  • A friendly, supportive ear to chat to, who just happens to know a lot about the science of chronic pain treatment, but will always be curious to learn about your individual pain experience. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

General

  • Pain coaching is a personalized approach to help people manage and reduce chronic pain based on their unique circumstances, goals, and lifestyle. It takes into account not just the physical limitations of pain but also the emotional, social, and occupational challenges faced by people living with chronic pain. Claire's pain coaching sessions aim to help you function better in the world, applying strategies that reduce physical, emotional, and workplace discomfort.

  • Pain coaching offers a thorough approach to chronic pain by addressing all the factors that contribute to it. Such contributors are individual, but could be: physical deconditioning (weakness around the area of injury), sleep, stress, nutrition, inflammation, over or under-doing activity, the list goes on! Many of our clients have tried multiple therapies with limited or short-term results. We help people calm their pain system, improve tolerance to daily activities (like work and hobbies), and return to living life on their own terms, not pain's terms.

  • Pain coaching can help with a variety of chronic pain conditions, including:

    • Back pain

    • Fibromyalgia

    • Migraines

    • Arthritis

    • Neck pain

    • CRPS

    • Knee pain

    • And more...

  • No, you don't need a doctor's referral to start pain coaching. However, it's important to work alongside your healthcare provider to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive approach to pain management. Your pain coach will communicate with your care team to ensure that pain coaching enhances, rather than works against, other therapies you're receiving.

  • During a session, you’ll discuss your pain experience, explore triggers, and learn tools to help manage and reduce your pain. Sessions may include:

    • Body relaxation techniques (to assist with muscular tension or guarding)

    • Exercises to improve movement tolerance

    • Sensory retraining activities (calming down nerves which contribute to pain)

    • Mindfulness exercises

    • Goal-setting strategies

    • Exploring your unique causes of pain such as sleep, diet or activity triggers

    These approaches help you gain better control over your pain and improve your quality of life.

  • The timeline for results can vary depending on the individual and the severity of the pain. Some people experience improvements after a few sessions, while for others, it may take several months of consistent effort. The key is to remain committed to the strategies and techniques discussed during the sessions.

  • Yes, virtual pain coaching sessions are available!

    You can connect with your coach via video call from the comfort of your home or while traveling, making it easy to access support no matter where you are.

    We also offer in-person appointments in Oakleigh or Carnegie. 

  • Pain coaching sessions typically last 1 hour and cost $240. Shorter appointments are available for existing patients with less complex cases, priced on a pro-rata basis:

    • 45-minute session: $180

    • 30-minute session: $120

    We also offer a free 15-minute exploration phone appointment for prospective patients who would like more information about pain coaching or to determine if their condition is suitable for this type of therapy.

  • Yes! Pain coaching can help you develop strategies to improve your sleep, despite chronic pain.

    Poor sleep is linked to worsening of pain and is a pillar of our approach to pain management.

If you have any further questions or would like to book an appointment, feel free to contact us or schedule your free 15-minute exploration call today!