We will be presenting on our interdisciplinary pain education group and the non-pharmacological management of chronic pain post SCI. This education group was developed in 2018 as a quality improvement initiative for our in-patient clients and has been an evolving work in progress. Our group program is now offered to both in-patients as well as to out-patients in a virtual format. We will present some of the data we have collected thus far and will discuss barriers and facilitators to pain management in persons with SCI.

Dr. Rebecca (Becky) Mills, Ph.D., L. Psych

Rebecca Mills has been a practicing Clinical Neuropsychologist for close to 30 years, and she has worked at the Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation for over 23 years.  Rebecca has a passion for understanding the interactions among emotions, cognitions, and neuro-biological functioning, including people’s experiences with persistent pain.  She does a blend of assessment, intervention, and consulting with the neuro-rehab team, and she also enjoy mentoring students.”

 

Erica de Passillé, PT

Erica is a Physiotherapist with 19 years of experience, including the last 16 years at the Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation in Fredericton, New Brunswick.  Erica’s areas of interest and expertise include chronic pain management and use of technology in neurorehab.  Erica graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy in 2003.  She has completed a wide range of post-secondary courses in neurorehab, chronic pain and two yoga therapy courses. She has certification and advanced training in NDT as well as RT300 FES. Erica has co-developed an in-patient pain education group at the Stan Cassidy Centre and she and her colleagues were awarded a runner-up award for the Horizon Health Network 2020 Quality Quest Award for this project. She has delivered a variety of education sessions and presentations to colleagues across New Brunswick and Canada. Erica has participated in Knowledge Translation initiatives through the Pain Science Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association as well as the Rick Hanson Institute Knowledge Mobilization Network. Erica is a member of the Spinal Cord Injury Network of the Atlantic Provinces. She has had an opinion article published in Synapse: Canadian Physiotherapy Association Neurosciences Division Journal, along with abstracts published in the Journal of Spinal Cord Injury. Erica lives in Fredericton New Brunswick with her husband and two daughters, and she is an avid downhill skier, runner, and yogi.

 

Allison Banks, OT

Allison is a registered Occupational Therapist at the Stan Cassidy Rehabilitation Centre in Fredericton, New Brunswick.  She has 16 years of experience working in neurological rehabilitation with adults. She is certified in Neurodevelopment treatment, myofascial release, graded motor imagery, functional muscle stimulation, manual edema mobilization, assessment of motor and process skills, Kinesiotape 1,2,3 , cognitive therapy and has extensive knowledge around sexuality and disability.  She has a keen interest in working with her clients on pain management. She is a certified Yoga Instructor. She incorporates mindfulness and yoga with her clients. She lives with her husband and two girls in Fredericton.