You’re with Pain Free Living podcast hosts Bob Allen (osteopath) and Clare Elsby (therapy coach).

In this episode, you’ll find out how hands-on osteopathy and therapy coaching complement each other. We take you from your first contact with a therapist, whether it's for your physical or mental health, to safe signposting when something sits outside our scope.

We look at why osteopaths aren’t “just for low back pain,” what clinical training and diagnosis mean in practice, and how red-flag awareness (like potential medical emergencies such as cauda equina syndrome) protects you.

Clare shares how a free discovery session helps triage issues like anxiety, panic, or health worries — and when her network of psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and counsellors is the right next step.

You’ll also hear real-world stories like long-standing knee pain solved by treating a restriction in the opposite hip and parents who, while supporting their neurodiverse children through assessment, recognise similar patterns in themselves. The conversation also looks at what psychoeducation plus practical workarounds can unlock.

Don’t worry if any of this feels overwhelming, awareness is always the first step. Our job is to keep you safe, seen, heard, and making progress with the right person at the right time.

If today’s chat helped, subscribe, share this with a friend who’s stuck, and join the newsletter for more practical, jargon-free health guidance.

5 Key Takeaways

• Osteopathy goes beyond back pain: whole-body assessment, clinical reasoning, and the ability to diagnose and refer when needed.
• Scope of practice matters — knowing when to treat and when to signpost keeps care safe and effective.
• Red-flag awareness (e.g., suspected medical emergencies such as Cauda Equina Syndrome) = prompt referral; safety first, always.
• Therapy coaching triages issues like anxiety or low mood and, when appropriate, connects you to clinical therapy.
• Your mind and body aren’t separate: combining physical care with psychoeducation often accelerates progress.

Resources

More on Cauda Equina Syndrome: https://www.ihavecaudaequina.com/cauda-equina-syndrome/

Find out more about us and stay connected

😎 Learn more about Bob’s story https://bit.ly/BobsOsteoStory

🤩 Find out more about Clare’s work https://www.clareelsby.com/

📰 Sign up for our Pain Free Living newsletter https://bit.ly/PFL_newsletter_signup

🎙️ Connect with us on socials & podcast platforms https://linktr.ee/Painfreeliving