Written by Louis Chalouhi, Counsellor (Master’s in Counselling), ACA Level 2 and PACFA member.
Last updated
Living with ongoing pain or illness affects much more than the body.
It can change your work, relationships, sleep, mood and sense of who you are.
My decades in nursing and healthcare give me a strong understanding of the physical side of illness, and counselling focuses on the emotional and practical side.
Together we look at how pain and emotions affect each other, and build strategies that support your quality of life.
Counselling may help if you’re
- Living with back pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraine or another persistent pain condition
- Adjusting to a diagnosis such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer or an autoimmune condition
- Feeling frustrated, anxious or low because of pain
- Finding it hard to sleep, work or enjoy the things you used to
- Grieving the changes illness has brought to your life
Concerns I work with
- Chronic pain
- Chronic illness adjustment
- Sleep difficulties
- Carer stress
How I help
I use ACT, CBT and somatic-informed approaches to help you relate differently to pain and focus your energy on what matters most.
- Understand your pain storyWe explore how pain affects your daily life, emotions and relationships.
- Build coping skillsYou learn pacing, relaxation, thinking and mindfulness skills for the harder days.
- Reconnect with lifeWe set goals around the activities, people and values that matter to you.
Part of your care team
Counselling sits alongside the care you receive from your GP, specialists and allied health team.
Please keep them involved in decisions about your pain and treatment.
In person or online
I see clients in person in Bella Vista, Liverpool and the Inner West, and online by Zoom or phone, anywhere in Australia or overseas.
Appointments run Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 7pm, subject to availability, and the days at each room vary.
You can book directly, with no GP referral needed, and your first step is a free 15-minute call.
Read more about online counselling, or about fees, rebates and booking.
Common questions
Why see a counsellor for physical pain?
Pain is real and physical, and it also affects your emotions, sleep and stress levels.
Counselling helps with that emotional side, so you have more tools for the harder days.
Do you run chronic pain groups?
Yes.
I run small chronic pain management groups of up to 10 people, exploring the connection between physical pain, emotions and wellbeing.
Can I have sessions online if travel is hard?
Yes.
Zoom and phone sessions mean you can attend from home on the days travel feels like too much.
Support at any hour
Mind Therapy Room offers booked appointments, so for urgent support please use one of these services.
- Emergency000
- Lifeline, 24 hours, 7 days13 11 14
- Beyond Blue1300 22 4636