Tess Cramond Pain and Research Centre

Pain is not in your head. If you have pain, it is real, and we believe you. We hear you, and we are here to help you with that.

People are often very desperate for help, and our role is to provide as much support as we can. We genuinely care and are truly interested in your story and how pain has impacted your life. We know that for many people, this has been a very challenging time.

Some of your past health experiences may have focused on treating either the body or the mind. At the Pain Centre, we recognise that the mind and body are deeply connected.

When you come to our clinic, arrive with some questions in mind—your most important questions for the clinician that day. It can help to take notes afterward, since it’s hard to remember everything discussed in an appointment.

Before your first appointment, we will contact you regularly to keep you updated so you know what’s happening. Your first visit will be an outpatient appointment, where we will sit down with you and discuss your pathway of care.

As a psychologist, I’m here to help you with the impact of pain—sleeping difficulties, mood, and how to cope with persistent pain. There is real hope that we can make a difference. We can work with you to help improve your quality of life. You don’t need to wait for every bit of pain to disappear before making small steps and finding small wins.

Occupational therapy is diverse and holistic. With complex pain, it’s not just physical—there are emotional and cognitive aspects too. Pain is a whole‑person experience.

We value the opportunity to build partnerships with our patients. We understand there is more to you than a painful back or symptoms in your leg. You are more than the symptoms you present with.

We won’t be able to fix your pain completely. We can’t promise to take it away. But we can help you manage it so you can return to a life that feels worth living again.

It’s important to know that your pain is real. We are here to listen and to help you. We want to support you in living a valued life.

Our message to people before they come into hospital is this: we are genuinely interested in your story, and we will provide as much support as we can.