Few can speak with more authority than Ben Mitchell on the subject of pain.

The 42-year-old has just launched out on his own as a pain coach under the name Your Life Matters.

In 2014, and after suffering with severe back pain for a couple of years, he was diagnosed with spinal arthritis, or to quote its medical term ‘ankylosing spondylitis’.

It means the father of one spends almost all his days in significant pain and discomfort.

On the suggestion of his wife, Melissa, he started looking at training as a life coach to help people in similar situations.

And now, after qualifying, he’s taken the plunge and left his previous job at J.P.Morgan to go self-employed, working exclusively for people who are living with chronic pain.

Ben, who lives in Ashley Cross, Poole, said: “When you get diagnosed with an incurable disease it makes you re-evaluate your life.

“What’s important and what do I want to do with my life? They were the two questions I asked myself.

“When I reflected on this, I realised that through the power of coaching I could achieve both.

“Helping people to live their best life and reach their full potential is a personal passion of mine.

“I aim to inspire and better equip people to come to terms with, manage and deal with long-term pain conditions with increased confidence.

“As pain sufferers know only too well, this may include looking at nutrition, sleep patterns, stress levels, physical activity, mindset, how you plan and structure your days and any other areas of life that might be exacerbating pain levels.

“Through the coaching process, of careful questioning, reflections, planning and goal setting I can help you to feel back in control of your body and health once again.

“I live and breathe pain every day and I know how incredibly hard it is.

“When I sit down with people, they’ll know that ‘he gets me’ and that I know what they’re going through.

“Living with chronic pain myself has perfectly positioned me to help and inspire others.

“The incredible results I have seen with clients I have worked with gave me the confidence to set-up my business so that I can make a real difference to the lives of those living in pain.”

Ben has been married to Melissa for five years and has a 16-month-old son, Jude.

Your Life Matters offers bespoke 1-2-1 coaching for an initial three months and also year-long packages.

Ben said: “Through the coaching process of careful questioning, reflections, planning, and goal setting I can help you to feel back in control of your body and health once again.

“It’s my firm belief that when it comes to pain, it really does mean everything to speak to someone who completely understands what you are going through – and that person can be me.”

• yourlife-matters.co.uk

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