Our People / Psychology
Back pain can be as much of a mental burden as physical. At Brighton Spinal Group, our psychologists specialise in chronic pain management as well as Sports Psychology. Psychology is concerned with the link between brain and behaviour and can offer motivational and pain management techniques.
| Paul Mutimer |
Psychologist |
Paul Mutimer is a qualified Psychologist, Welfare Worker and Tennis Coach. He has worked at Brighton Spinal Group. for the past 10 years and deals mainly with pain management. He has a special interest in stress management, sports performance and the use of meditation and mental imagery. He has combined his experience as a tennis coach and psychologist to write his motivational book "Zen Tennis" which was published in 1997 by Harper/Collins. Paul currently works with Tennis Australia coaching the elite juniors. Paul also uses hypnosis for clients battling cigarette addiction. The treatment involves one session which lasts between 1-2 hours. Most people report that the session is relaxing, enjoyable and effective. |
| Robert Postlethwaite |
Psychologist |
Rob graduated with a Masters Degree in Psychology from La Trobe University in 1981. The research for his thesis was done at the Alfred Hospital, investigating pain management strategies for patients undergoing open-heart surgery. Following his graduation, he commenced work at Pleasant View in Preston working with alcohol and drug problems and later at Pentridge as manager of the Prison's Alcohol and Drug Programme.
In 1988, he went into private practice to pursue his interest in chronic pain. He has consulted at the Geelong Pain Clinic for three years and with the Lewis Musculoskeletal and Pain Management programme at Cedar Court Rehabilitation Hospital since 1991.
Chronic pain impacts on most aspects of a person's life and coping with it is a huge psychological challenge for the individual. It requires a lot of learning about pain and injury/illness and creates considerable distress for the sufferer. In this context, Rob's focus is how you cope with what you have. Those who work at overcoming the psychological and physical challenges maintain some quality of life; those who give up run the risk of losing that quality of life. Rob sees his task as a psychologist is to assist people to overcome the distress and to maintain as much quality as possible. |