About Me
Dr. Graciela Rovner
Hello! I’m Graciela
Doctor in Rehabilitation Medicine, Senior Pain Specialist Physiotherapist & the only physiotherapist ACT trainer, recognized by the international ACBS.
I am originally from Argentina and lived in many countries: Italy, Brasil, France, the USA, and for many years in Sweden.
My specialization in pain and trauma has its roots in my own experience of emotional and psychological abuse while growing up. On top of that and due to my chronic pain and asthma, the doctors recommended refraining from physical activity. This was plain torture for me as a child that loved to climb trees and hang from the rings. So all that energy was medicated with heavy doses of benzo and corticoids, which in turn made me overweight…. and very unhappy.
I started with body awareness (Eutoni, Feldenkrais, expressive arts & dance) and with Tai chi and Qigong during my teens. I moved to a Zen monastery and also practiced daily with a Taoist community as a young adult. I rehabilitated myself and at the age of 40, I started to run again, which has been forbidden (and still is if you see the x-rays of my knees).
Now, at my 60’s I run and also swim in the sea every day (and the Northern Sea is quite cold, it moves between -4°C and +20°C). I also practice yoga every day and do my short emBODy training programs for balance, strength, cardio, and flexibility. I rest when I sleep and also actively recharge batteries with my family, also on the yoga-matt and when painting, drawing, and writing.
My Approach & Values
As a clinician, supervisor, and trainer, I am passionate about inspiring health professionals to grow into their full potential AND build healthy lives for themselves too!
I approach my work as a creative process. I develop clinical models, novel teaching and learning techniques, and compassionated supervision modalities.
I am dedicated to clinical research on a small scale, and the revenue from the courses uncut sustains this research.
Since 2019 I am not working clinically, which I miss. What I also miss much is working in a bottom-up a non-hierarchical clinical setting. Those with a more comprehensive view of health and where each professional can blossom. Where the interventions target lifestyle changes that, in turn, prevent and cure chronic conditions. I love to work in non-hierarchical organizations.
Behavioral changes and behavioral medicine are not only for chronic or non-communicable conditions; the whole COVID pandemic has been handled MOSTLY by behavioral changes!
My Experience
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Training and implementation of ACT for the inter-professional team (Work Integrated learning)
- Clinical development
- Behavioral physiotherapy
My Education
- PhD. In Rehabilitation Medicine (ACT and Pain)
- MSc. in Organizational Psychology
- MSc. in Physiotherapy
- MSc. in Clinical Medical Sciences
- Bsc. in all the above and in University Education
- Peer Reviewed ACT trainer by ACBS – the only physiotherapist in the world 🤗
If you want to read more about me
you find my personal page ‘Graciela 60+’ here.
and my updated CV here
Do you have any questions?