Supporting someone with MS: a physiotherapist's perspective | S8E21

Supporting someone with MS can be rewarding, but it also brings challenges. In this episode of Living Well with MS, Geoff Allix speaks with physiotherapist, mindfulness teacher, coach and Overcoming MS Program Facilitator-in-training Susan Czyzo about supporting people living with multiple sclerosis while also looking after your own wellbeing. Drawing on both her professional experience and her personal perspective as a family supporter, Susan explores why sustainable lifestyle habits matter, how coaching can help people make lasting changes, and why movement, mindfulness and self-compassion all have a place in living well with MS. They also discuss the growing evidence for lifestyle approaches alongside MS treatment, the importance of personalised care, and why healthcare professionals should remain open to conversations about healthy lifestyle choices. Whether you're living with MS yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers thoughtful, practical insights into building resilience, hope and wellbeing over the long term. Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio. 01:49 Meet Susan and her holistic approach to wellbeing 06:25 Why the Overcoming MS programme stood out 08:29 Lessons from becoming an Overcoming MS Program Facilitator 11:16 Lifestyle, evidence and conversations with healthcare professionals 12:21 Moving beyond fixing towards empowering people 16:15 How coaching helps people create lasting healthy habits 19:50 Supporting a loved one through an MS diagnosis 23:09 What living well with MS really means 27:50 Looking ahead as part of the Overcoming MS community Listen to Stories of Hope from the Overcoming MS community New to Overcoming MS? Learn why lifestyle matters in MS - begin your journey at our 'Get started' page Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub Visit the Overcoming MS website Follow us on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube Pinterest Don’t miss out: Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS here. Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected]. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.