To help people in the Smithers area deal with chronic pain, training for workshops are being held in town this week through The University of Victoria Centre on Aging
Coordinator John Murphy says 6 volunteers have already committed – which he says so far is a bare minimum to start up the workshops, with plans to have 10.
“That to start off is enough, we will be offering other cross training for the individuals.”
The six week workshops are planned to start on the 14th as part of the Chronic Pain Self Management Program.
“What we do is teach them self management tools,” to keep them out of chronic pain, explains Murphy. “And then over the six weeks they learn all the tools – like regular physical activity, how to manage fatigue – better breathing…”
He says they typically offer 8-12 spots for people to use the service for free with a maximum of 16.
They’ll be holding the workshops in the Smithers Healthy Living Centre.