Welcome to Manage My Pain, a best-practice service for individuals living with chronic pain. I am Iris, a Pain Coach, and I am here to help you understand the causes of your pain and explore practical steps to regain control and improve your quality of life.

ABOUT PAIN

We feel pain because our body wants to protect us. Normally, pain will go away once an injury has healed. When pain persists, it has lost its protective function. It over-protects us and can prevent us from engaging in activities that enhance our well-being and give life meaning.

Conditions like osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and chronic low back pain can also lead to this overprotective response. While eliminating pain completely may not be possible, there are many effective ways to manage it and improve your quality of life.

Chronic pain is influenced by a combination of factors: biological (what’s happening in our body’s tissues), psychological (how pain affects our emotions and daily life), and social (how our environment impacts our pain). By using a biopsychosocial approach, my goal is to empower you to take control of your pain and improve your well-being.

What is Pain Coaching?

Pain coaching supports individuals in managing persistent pain through a collaborative approach that combines pain education, acceptance, mindfulness, and psychosocial support, helping to take the edge off pain and enhance quality of life.


What is involved in Pain Coaching?
  • 5 sessions over a 2-3 month period

  • Pre-assessment using pain questionnaires you can fill in online

  • A chat about your pain journey in our first session

  • From there, we work together to find your own path forward - one step at the time

Prices

60min initial session - $180 

60 min follow up sessions - $180

30min follow up session- $90

CLINICS AT:

KARORI MEDICAL CENTRE, 146 Karori Road, Wellington

and

ARC WELLNESS, 89 Upland Road, Kelburn, Wellington

to book, scroll to bottom of the page

Invitation to Collaborate

Interdisciplinary teamwork is the gold standard of person-centred pain care, and I am always keen to collaborate with other healthcare professionals such as GPs, specialists, physiotherapists etc. to ensure the best possible outcome for my clients.



for more information on chronic pain, see:

Pain Chats – The Right Advice is Your Best Pain Medicine

Iris Humm – some relevant and some not so relevant information

I have a University of Otago postgraduate certification in Pain and Pain Management, studied pain with the Neuro Orthopaedic Institute (NOI), and I am a member of the New Zealand Pain Society. I was an invited speaker at the 2025 New Zealand Pain Conference, where I presented on pain coaching in primary care. I am continuing my studies because pain management has become my passion.

I was a student at the Wellington School of Practical Philosophy for many years which has influenced some of my work - as has the study of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and knowledge gained from a decade of using movement-based pain management including Pilates and the Schroth Method for idiopathic scoliosis.

Originally from Austria, I have lived in four countries and spent three years travelling the world – including two years with our children.

Our golden retriever JayJay has found over 3000 golf balls