Pain psychology
 

is an approach to treating chronic pain that focuses more on your brain than on fixing tissues at the site of your pain. It is supported by a mountain of evidence showing that the longer pain persists, the more likely it is caused by learned neural circuits in the brain rather than by damage in your tissues. This field, sometimes called mindbody medicine, encompasses a range of approaches—pain reprocessing therapy, JournalSpeak, emotional awareness and expression therapy, psychoeducation, psychotherapy modalities, biofeedback, and others—all effective for many people. But it's easy to get lost amid all these approaches, and people in pain who stumble upon this work are often confused by the tangle of advice.

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Which is where this site comes in. It emerged from my own search for clear, practical advice during a decade spent applying pain psychology to my own recovery and then to the recovery of scores of clients. I learned that details matter, and that even for people in pain who know all about this field, blindspots are common. Every person's nervous system is unique, and so these tools can fail when they are offered without nuance and adaptation. 

 

Many people can benefit from a coach who knows this work and its pitfalls intimately, and who is an expert at applying them to an array of symptoms and people. To that end, this site offers two things: one-on-one coaching at affordable rates and group coaching courses. 

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If you've been let down by other approaches and you're willing to try a new way of approaching your pain and your life, you can begin by reading the content on this site or reaching out to have a chat. I'm happy to help you figure out if this is a fit.

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Above all, know that recovery is possible, because neuroscience shows that chronic pain is not a simple readout of the health of your tissues—it is a complex experience created by the brain, and because the brain can change, it can unlearn chronic pain no matter the state of your body. It has happened for thousands of people, even those who've been in pain for decades, and it can happen for you too. 

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Note: This site is currently being constructed and may appear unfinished as content is revised and added. 

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