Internship Program
Description
The Victoria Pain Clinic offers a limited number of training opportunities for experienced health professionals who want the opportunity to work with a skilled interdisciplinary team in a residential setting. The internship program is for ten days and corresponds to one ten day treatment program. Interns are expected to commit to full participation (i.e. full-time for the ten day period). The internship program is open to practising health professionals and students enrolled in health care programs. Interns fully participate in all aspects of the group therapy and have the opportunity to observe the individual therapy (and participate/practise commensurate with their qualifications and experience). Interns are expected to help out as needed in various aspects of the program.
We do not have accommodation for interns and they should make their own accommodation arrangements. Please contact us for further information.
Fees
The cost for the internship program is $300.00 (to cover meals and photocopying).
We recommend that interns read Dr. Greenwood's books prior to participating. If the books is not available in your local bookstore, they can be ordered from the Clinic.
Historically our interns have come from a wide spectrum of the health professions including medicine, psychology, physiotherapy, nursing, massage and bodywork, acupuncture/acupressure, counselling, naturopathic medicine, chiropractic, etc. Student interns have come from allopathic and naturopathic medical schools, graduate nursing programs, counselling, and residential care.
Testimonials
The program offers a unique opportunity - a way into the puzzle of chronic pain. Within this the client gets support for change instead of denial or distraction; and tools for change are provided. ....Patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome seem to need this type of approach as well as the 'injured' chronic pain patient.
Dr. Dianne Woodruff, movement therapist, Ontario
I gained a vision of another way of doing things and a sense of personal direction and have since gone on to practice several aspects [of the program] in my medical practice.
Dr. Nigel Ogston, family physician, Ontario
The program's strongest features are the staff, the program intensity, residential components, modalities ... food, support, humour.
Dr. Peter Joy, psychologist, B.C.
Most healing environment I've seen for 'ordinary' folk .... I saw what is possible and realistic for patients.
Dr. Scott Rogers, chiropractor, California
The program's strongest features are warm, supportive staff, knowledgable, professional, encouraging....excellent accommodations, food and grounds.
Terry Peacock, psychologist, Alberta
It is a wonderful program and serves as an excellent introduction to what needs to be done by a person to move on and deal with the chronic pain.
Dr. Liza Austin, naturopathic physician, B.C.
The program's strongest features are the multidisciplinary approach and looking at chronic pain through a different paradigm. Also that most staff have also experienced chronic pain at some level themselves and are very open about their journey.
Diane McGavin, R.N. and Hellerwork practitioner, B.C.
The program's strongest feature is the combination of physical, mental, and emotional healing. I would like to see this model of therapy used more often.
Susan MacGregor, counsellor, B.C.
I gained a validation of my perspective of health/disease in terms of integration of all aspects of an individual.
Leslie Smith, massage therapist, Washington
As an orthopaedic surgeon I know that surgery is not the certain answer. There was no doubt that the people I saw in the programme were remarkably changed at the end of the ten days. As a learning experience for me, I rate the internship experience an 8 (out of 10).
Dr. D. Wilkinson, orthopaedic surgeon, Saskatchewan.
The internship provides a wonderful opportunity for others to see one method of putting it all together in action.
Cheryl Ogston, physiotherapist, Ontario
I think the strongest features of the program are: 1) putting into practise the integration of mind-body-spirit, 2) the ability to get clients to take responsibility 3) the intensity of the program, and 4) the skill of the staff.
Dr. Nance Wardle, physician psychotherapist, B.C.
Braving The Void