Self-Trust is a chiropractic clinic on Carlyle Street in Sydenham, run by Dr John Sutherland, who has more than 20 years in clinical practice. It is ACC approved, so a recent injury can be seen without a GP referral, and it looks after the whole family, from newborns to the elderly. The clinic treats lower back pain and sciatica, neck pain, headaches and migraines, shoulder and hip pain, and sports or accident recovery. For complex or ongoing symptoms Dr Sutherland also uses Applied Kinesiology to look past the pain to the patterns behind it. A new patient visit is $100 (as at 2026), covering the consultation, assessment and a first adjustment where appropriate.
Free parking is right outside the door, and the clinic is open six days a week, including Saturdays, with early mornings and late nights too. Same-day online appointments are often available. Regular visits are $60 for adults and $50 for children and students (as at 2026). The clinic describes itself as one of the most affordable in Christchurch, and it suits everyone from a desk worker with a stiff neck to a child or a player recovering from a knock. Chiropractic here rests on the link between the spine and the nervous system, so adjustments aim to restore joint movement and reduce pain.