Beyond the Clinic: Rethinking Pain Through Culture and Community Wisdom

Pain doesn't just happen in bodies or get fixed in clinics - it lives in our communities, cultures, and everyday conversations. Real healing begins when we listen to people's stories and recognise the power of connection, compassion, and shared wisdom.

Beyond the Clinic: Rethinking Pain Through Culture and Community Wisdom

Pain doesn't just happen in bodies - and it certainly doesn't only get fixed in clinics. Chronic pain, especially the kind that gets 'stuck', lives in our communities, cultures, and everyday conversations. The integral view of pain recognises this. It tells us that healing begins when we listen to people's stories, believe what they say, and compassionately reconnect them to social spaces and activities that bring meaning and purpose.

At Leeds Beckett, we've been working with partners in Bradford to evaluate and inform a pioneering initiative called Rethinking Pain. This community-based support service is designed for people living with chronic pain. At its heart are health coaches - trained listeners, guides, and connectors - who help people rediscover what matters to them and rebuild lives around it.

Rethinking Pain isn't just a service - it's part of a cultural shift. It challenges the old idea that pain is only a medical problem. Instead, it embraces pain as a deeply human experience, shaped by relationships, environments, and shared wisdom. Medicine has a role but is not the only player. We believe this is the future of pain care: not just treating symptoms, but nurturing wellbeing through connection, compassion, and community.