Values
The values I’m about to share aren’t just philosophical concepts, they’re the foundation of how Bigger Than Pain was built. Each forms a cornerstone of my approach to working with people in pain and has emerged from both my personal journey and professional experience. Understanding these principles helps illuminate why some approaches succeed where others have failed.
I recognise that it is my privilege to be trusted by the people that I work with. We all have an incredible feat of biological evolution called a body and you trust me to help you improve upon the current status of your body.
I don’t take that lightly.
As you may have read in the “About David” section, I’ve walked my own path of pain, suffering and struggle.
Although I (nor anyone else) can fully understand your experience of a painful body, I am fortunate to draw on many years and many clients worth of experience and problem solving to assist you with your body.
Over the years, the many frustrations and struggles that I encountered on the professional side of the therapeutic experience have shaped how I like to work.
The values that I aim to hold and bring forth in my work are as follows:
- Trust
- Respect
- Honesty
- Communication
- Self sovereignty
- Life Long Learning
Those words may not mean the same thing for both of us so I would like to very briefly break this down for you.
The values I’m about to share aren’t just philosophical concepts, they’re the foundation of how Bigger Than Pain was built. Each forms a cornerstone of my approach to working with people in pain and has emerged from both my personal journey and professional experience. Understanding these principles helps illuminate why some approaches succeed where others have failed.
I recognise that it is my privilege to be trusted by the people that I work with. We all have an incredible feat of biological evolution called a body and you trust me to help you improve upon the current status of your body.
I don’t take that lightly.
As you may have read in the “About David” section, I’ve walked my own path of pain, suffering and struggle.
Although I (nor anyone else) can fully understand your experience of a painful body, I am fortunate to draw on many years and many clients worth of experience and problem solving to assist you with your body.
Over the years, the many frustrations and struggles that I encountered on the professional side of the therapeutic experience have shaped how I like to work.
The values that I aim to hold and bring forth in my work are as follows:
- Trust
- Respect
- Honesty
- Communication
- Self sovereignty
- Life Long Learning
Those words may not mean the same thing for both of us so I would like to very briefly break this down for you.
Trust
Trust is built gradually through actions, not just words.
I’ve walked the path of having my pain experience dismissed and minimised so I know how frustrating and isolating that feels. I remember clearly what it was like to have practitioners who I felt didn’t really believe what I was saying.
In our work together, your experience is always the starting point. I listen to understand as best I can, not just to formulate my next response.
This trust extends both ways—I’m transparent about what I know and don’t know, and I share the evidence (if you’re interested) that informs my approach so you can make informed decisions about your own care.
Throughout the Bigger Than Pain journey, trust develops naturally through honest conversations, reliable information, and seeing gradual but meaningful progress in your recovery.
For me this is of paramount importance. A person working in relationship with another to achieve an outcome is much more likely to succeed if there is trust between both parties.
Most often in clinic or in my online material you will hear me speak about threat and safety. Trust sits right in the intersection of those things.
A lack of trust = a lack of being sure that you will be safe to follow the suggested advice = a lesser chance of taking onboard change
A lot of trust = a much higher chance of your nervous system perceiving safety when accepting guidance and change = higher chance for progress
I work hard to build and maintain trust with everyone that I work with.
Trust
Trust is built gradually through actions, not just words.
I’ve walked the path of having my pain experience dismissed and minimised so I know how frustrating and isolating that feels. I remember clearly what it was like to have practitioners who I felt didn’t really believe what I was saying.
In our work together, your experience is always the starting point. I listen to understand as best I can, not just to formulate my next response.
This trust extends both ways—I’m transparent about what I know and don’t know, and I share the evidence (if you’re interested) that informs my approach so you can make informed decisions about your own care.
Throughout the Bigger Than Pain journey, trust develops naturally through honest conversations, reliable information, and seeing gradual but meaningful progress in your recovery.
For me this is of paramount importance. A person working in relationship with another to achieve an outcome is much more likely to succeed if there is trust between both parties.
Most often in clinic or in my online material you will hear me speak about threat and safety. Trust sits right in the intersection of those things.
A lack of trust = a lack of being sure that you will be safe to follow the suggested advice = a lesser chance of taking onboard change
A lot of trust = a much higher chance of your nervous system perceiving safety when accepting guidance and change = higher chance for progress
I work hard to build and maintain trust with everyone that I work with.
Respect
Linking in closely with trust is a sense of respect.
I always aim to respect your experiences, to respect your preferences, beliefs and values and I encourage every client to always feel able to communicate with me around this topic.
Respect and trust also have a large impact on adherence. Change is difficult and can be messy. Having the respect and trust for yourself, the person you work with and for the work itself is an often un-spoken part of making longer term progress.
Bigger Than Pain’s personalized approach respects your unique pain journey. The program acknowledges that your experience is valid and provides options that adapt to your specific needs.
Respect
Linking in closely with trust is a sense of respect.
I always aim to respect your experiences, to respect your preferences, beliefs and values and I encourage every client to always feel able to communicate with me around this topic.
Respect and trust also have a large impact on adherence. Change is difficult and can be messy. Having the respect and trust for yourself, the person you work with and for the work itself is an often un-spoken part of making longer term progress.
Bigger Than Pain’s personalized approach respects your unique pain journey. The program acknowledges that your experience is valid and provides options that adapt to your specific needs.
Honesty
Respect means acknowledging you as a person—not just as a client or patient. Your pain doesn’t define you, and neither do your limitations or challenges.
I respect your time, your intelligence, and your boundaries. I recognize that you’re the expert on your own experience, and my role is to provide guidance, not commands.
This respect extends to how I share information. I always aim to explain concepts simply, ensuring you understand the “why” behind any recommendation I might offer.
I really believe that you deserve help that appreciateds all parts of you – not just addressing your symptoms but respecting your values, preferences, and goals. Your journey to this point has been unique, and the approach to your recovery should reflect that individuality.
In the Bigger Than Pain community, this respect creates a foundation where everyone’s experience is validated and personal boundaries are honoured.
I always aim to respect your experiences and your preferences,s and I encourage every client to always feel able to communicate with me around this topic.
Respect and trust also have a large impact on adherence. Change is difficult and can be messy. Having the respect and trust for yourself, the person you work with and for the work itself is an often un-spoken part of making longer term progress.
Put simply, I always aim to deliver my best for you. If there is something that I am not able to be certain or definitive about, I will tell you this.
I have had the experience of being led down a path of treatment that was based on a lack of honesty and the experience was chaffing for me.
I cannot expect anyone to trust me or hold respect for the process we work together on if that is not rooted in honest feedback & honest communication.
I won’t tell you I can “fix” you, because I don’t believe you’re broken. I won’t guarantee immediate results, because real change often takes time. And I won’t claim to have all the answers, because pain is complex and individual.
What I will do is share what my experience has shown, and what might help based on your specific situation. I’ll be straightforward about what’s working and what isn’t, and adjust our approach accordingly.
This honesty extends to challenging unhelpful beliefs when necessary—not to dismiss your experience, but to help you move beyond limitations that may be holding you back.
Honesty
Put simply, I always aim to deliver my best for you. If there is something that I am not able to be certain or definitive about, I will tell you this.
I have had the experience of being led down a path of treatment that was based on a lack of honesty and the experience was chaffing for me.
I cannot expect anyone to trust me or hold respect for the process we work together on if that is not rooted in honest feedback & honest communication.
I won’t tell you I can “fix” you, because I don’t believe you’re broken. I won’t guarantee immediate results, because real change often takes time. And I won’t claim to have all the answers, because pain is complex and individual.
What I will do is share what my experience has shown, and what might help based on your specific situation. I’ll be straightforward about what’s working and what isn’t, and adjust our approach accordingly.
This honesty extends to challenging unhelpful beliefs when necessary—not to dismiss your experience, but to help you move beyond limitations that may be holding you back.
Communication
For me this is a central part of the process of creating change.
Words often fail us when it comes to a pain experience or how that pain experience affects us.
Pain is messy, the language around it can be messy and clarity of communication becomes even more important in this context.
Clear communication is essential for understanding and progress. The Bigger Than Pain approach emphasises clear explanations that empower you with knowledge rather than keeping you dependent on expert guidance and I always strive to explain any complex concepts in accessible ways, check for understanding, and create space for questions
I know from my own experience how frustrating it can be to receive vague explanations or to feel confused after an appointment. That’s why I prioritize making sure you understand not just what we’re doing, but why we’re doing it.
Good communication also means listening—truly hearing your concerns, questions, and insights. Your feedback shapes our approach and helps us adjust when needed.
Communication
For me this is a central part of the process of creating change.
Words often fail us when it comes to a pain experience or how that pain experience affects us.
Pain is messy, the language around it can be messy and clarity of communication becomes even more important in this context.
Clear communication is essential for understanding and progress. The Bigger Than Pain approach emphasises clear explanations that empower you with knowledge rather than keeping you dependent on expert guidance and I always strive to explain any complex concepts in accessible ways, check for understanding, and create space for questions
I know from my own experience how frustrating it can be to receive vague explanations or to feel confused after an appointment. That’s why I prioritize making sure you understand not just what we’re doing, but why we’re doing it.
Good communication also means listening—truly hearing your concerns, questions, and insights. Your feedback shapes our approach and helps us adjust when needed.
Self Sovereignty
If your first response to “self sovereignty” is “eh?!” (or something stronger!) then bear with me for a moment. Those words can be taken in many directions. As they relate to the work that I do and to you, here is what I mean:
I will always aim to assist you towards being able to self manage in the future. You are not a passive receiver of care but an active participant in your recovery.
My ultimate goal in all of this work is to educate, validate and inspire people towards a better relationship with their body. Towards a more enjoyable experience of their body. This means equipping you with knowledge, skills, and tools that increase your independence and confidence.
That likely involves much more than what you may have experienced before in other treatments or processes.
Whilst symptom relief is obviously one of the main primary aims for our work together, once achieved, the focus should shift to enabling you to minimise future episodes of something similar.
I believe that I am able to assist you towards this quite comprehensively and ultimately that this will save you a lot of pain, worry and expense in the future.
Lasting change comes much less from what I do to you, but from what you learn to do for yourself. True healing happens when you reclaim ownership of your body and your health.
Within the Bigger Than Pain online courses and in clinic with me, every resource and practice is designed to transfer power back to you, helping you become less reliant on healthcare providers and more confident in your own abilities.
Self Sovereignty
If your first response to “self sovereignty” is “eh?!” (or something stronger!) then bear with me for a moment. Those words can be taken in many directions. As they relate to the work that I do and to you, here is what I mean:
I will always aim to assist you towards being able to self manage in the future. You are not a passive receiver of care but an active participant in your recovery.
My ultimate goal in all of this work is to educate, validate and inspire people towards a better relationship with their body. Towards a more enjoyable experience of their body. This means equipping you with knowledge, skills, and tools that increase your independence and confidence.
That likely involves much more than what you may have experienced before in other treatments or processes.
Whilst symptom relief is obviously one of the main primary aims for our work together, once achieved, the focus should shift to enabling you to minimise future episodes of something similar.
I believe that I am able to assist you towards this quite comprehensively and ultimately that this will save you a lot of pain, worry and expense in the future.
Lasting change comes much less from what I do to you, but from what you learn to do for yourself. True healing happens when you reclaim ownership of your body and your health.
Within the Bigger Than Pain online courses and in clinic with me, every resource and practice is designed to transfer power back to you, helping you become less reliant on healthcare providers and more confident in your own abilities.
Life Long Learning
Life Long Learning: I am hungry for knowledge. Helping people with pain is my thing.
And there are so many interconnected avenues of learning open to me (and you) that can significantly impact on how we create change.
A non-exhaustive list of sample areas are as follows:
- Sleep
- Psychology
- Circadian Biology
- Immune factors
- Hormones
- Diet
- Behaviour Change
- Scientific research
- Communication
- Exercise
I certainly am not (yet!) an expert in any of the above and I am forever researching, reading and collating information to then “connect the dots” to form an actionable strategy for a person in pain.
As you can imagine, I feel like I will never stop learning and working and I encourage you to learn as much as you feel you need to help you towards self management in the future.
I am committed to continual growth and development in my understanding and practice. Pain science is evolving rapidly, and I stay current with research and emerging approaches.
This commitment to learning means that my approach isn’t rigid but that it adapts and evolves as I integrate new information based on both research and clinical experience.
I aim to bring the same curiosity and openness to each person I work with, recognising that each individual teaches me something new about pain and recovery.
This extends to how I view your journey as well – it is a process of discovery and learning about your body, your pain, and your capacity for change. Together, we explore and learn, building your understanding alongside your physical recovery.
The Bigger Than Pain community embraces this spirit of curiosity and continuous improvement, creating a space where questions are welcome and insights are shared.
Life Long Learning
Life Long Learning: I am hungry for knowledge. Helping people with pain is my thing.
And there are so many interconnected avenues of learning open to me (and you) that can significantly impact on how we create change.
A non-exhaustive list of sample areas are as follows:
- Sleep
- Psychology
- Circadian Biology
- Immune factors
- Hormones
- Diet
- Behaviour Change
- Scientific research
- Communication
- Exercise
I certainly am not (yet!) an expert in any of the above and I am forever researching, reading and collating information to then “connect the dots” to form an actionable strategy for a person in pain.
As you can imagine, I feel like I will never stop learning and working and I encourage you to learn as much as you feel you need to help you towards self management in the future.
I am committed to continual growth and development in my understanding and practice. Pain science is evolving rapidly, and I stay current with research and emerging approaches.
This commitment to learning means that my approach isn’t rigid but that it adapts and evolves as I integrate new information based on both research and clinical experience.
I aim to bring the same curiosity and openness to each person I work with, recognising that each individual teaches me something new about pain and recovery.
This extends to how I view your journey as well – it is a process of discovery and learning about your body, your pain, and your capacity for change. Together, we explore and learn, building your understanding alongside your physical recovery.
The Bigger Than Pain community embraces this spirit of curiosity and continuous improvement, creating a space where questions are welcome and insights are shared.
Your Recovery Journey
These values aren’t just philosophical ideals—they’re practical principles that guide every aspect of the work I do. When trust, respect, honesty, communication, self-sovereignty, and lifelong learning come together, they create an environment where real transformation becomes possible.
If you’ve felt frustrated by approaches that haven’t honored these values—that haven’t truly respected your experience, communicated clearly, or empowered you—then perhaps it’s time to experience a different way.
The path to becoming Bigger Than Pain begins with these foundational values. I invite you to discover how this approach might support your journey toward a life where pain no longer defines your limits or dictates your choices.
Learn more about Bigger Than Pain here.
Your Recovery Journey
These values aren’t just philosophical ideals—they’re practical principles that guide every aspect of the work I do. When trust, respect, honesty, communication, self-sovereignty, and lifelong learning come together, they create an environment where real transformation becomes possible.
If you’ve felt frustrated by approaches that haven’t honored these values—that haven’t truly respected your experience, communicated clearly, or empowered you—then perhaps it’s time to experience a different way.
The path to becoming Bigger Than Pain begins with these foundational values. I invite you to discover how this approach might support your journey toward a life where pain no longer defines your limits or dictates your choices.
Learn more about Bigger Than Pain here.