Chronic pain: why one session or one technique isn’t enough

Quite often, people walk into my clinic hoping their pain will vanish after one session. I always tell them – I wish it worked that way! But when pain has been hanging around for months or even years, it’s never just one layer we’re dealing with. And that means we need to work through those layers, step by step.

Why one session won’t fix it

When pain has been part of your life for a while, it leaves its mark on your muscles, tissues, and even your nervous system. A single treatment might bring short-term relief, but the body tends to slip back into its old patterns. Real change takes time – simply because the problem itself has built up over time.

No such thing as a magic technique

In my work, there isn’t one miracle method that works for everyone. Over the years I’ve learnt many different techniques – fascia therapy, joint mobilisation, connective tissue work, vagus therapy – and the truth is, the magic happens when I combine them. Sometimes the first step is calming the nervous system, other times it’s freeing up the fascia or working directly on a scar. It all depends on which “layer” is asking for attention.

Layer by layer

I like to describe the body as being a bit like an onion. Peel away one layer, and underneath there’s always another. In each session, we might release the surface tension first, and then the next time we can go a little deeper. That steady, layered progress is what makes lasting change possible.

Your role in the process

My hands can guide the treatment, but your commitment makes all the difference. Coming regularly, doing the simple home exercises I suggest, and making small lifestyle tweaks – all of these help your body hold on to the changes we make. It’s teamwork between us.

Conclusion
Working with chronic issues is always a journey – not a quick sprint, but a steady process of uncovering and restoring. And for me, the best part is seeing someone gradually open up, move more freely, and get their life back without the constant nagging pain.

👉 If you’d like to feel what it’s like when the layers of tension start to melt away, I’d love to welcome you here at Lifestate Clinic.