Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain

RuPaul says, “If you can’t love yourself…how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?” Today, we explore this concept in depth. The core message today: if it’s hard for you to love yourself, that is not your fault. I probably repeat that about 10 times in today’s episode. If you need to hear that - 10 times - then you’re like me. And you’re in the right place. Join us.In this Episode:🔹 We problematize Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and I make a case for retiring his theory to the dustbin of psychotherapy. It belongs with penis envy. In the past.🔹 Attachment is a primary human need. Perhaps it’s THE primary human need.🔹 Relationships are hard. That is normal.🔹 If relationships are hard for you, you are normal.🔹 And, if it’s hard for you to love yourself, that is not your fault.🔹 Learning to love yourself will make your relationships better.🔹 But, being loved by others for who you truly are - that will also make your relationship with yourself better. These things go hand-in-hand.What if your primary attachment figures didn’t appreciate you for who you truly were? Today, we explore relationships, attachment, identity development, relational needs, and we connect it all to chronic pain and to healing.–Find Sean:Visit My Website to Learn More or to Request a Consultation for TherapyTMS Treatment & Support Group Now Enrolling, Starts February 24th, 2026–Sean’s Free Email List: Join the List for Free Updates and Advice–Click Here to Ask a Question on the Podcast–Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Books by Dr. Sue Johnson: https://drsuejohnson.com/books/Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Dr. Lindsay Gibson: https://www.lindsaycgibson.com/books.html–…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes,

When Alexander Rosan became a bodyworker, he intuitively saw a connection between emotions and pain. He wasn’t trained to work with emotions, but he instinctively found his way into helping his clients process their emotions by attuning to and working with their bodies.In this Episode:🔹 An explanation of bodywork.🔹 Thinking past traditional training in order to connect mind and body.🔹 “There’s something beyond just massaging the body.”🔹 Alexander’s story about “the first time someone started crying underneath my hands.”🔹 Alexander helps connect the world of neuroplasticity to the world of working with the body as a massage therapist and bodyworker.🔹 “There is, ultimately and truly, nothing to be afraid of…as scary as that sounds.”This is a great conversation. It’s an excellent opening to reflect on how you might want to bring your own physical body deeper into your emotional healing process.–Find Alexander: www.alexanderrosan.com(In-Person Bodywork in Portland, OR)–Find Sean: Visit My WebsiteTMS Treatment & Support Group Now Enrolling, Starts February 24th, 2026–Sean’s Free Email List: Join the List for Free Updates and Advice–Click Here to Ask a Question on the Podcast–Resources from Today’s Episode:Somatic IFS by Susan McConnell–…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.If you're enjoying the...

You know you have TMS. So now, what do you do? Great question. This episode revisits the three clear steps that heal chronic pain and chronic symptoms. We deep-dive into all three. Let your brain hear this. Then, you can apply what you learn. Then…you’ll start to feel your body healing.In this Episode:🔹 Understanding, internalizing, and believing the correct facts about chronic pain.🔹 How to think psychologically, not physically.🔹 Connecting your pain and your symptoms to your emotional life.🔹 Accepting existential mystery in your healing and releasing the need to “understand” everything.🔹 Learning how to redirect the “oh no” to “...okay.”🔹 And, the hardest part: a thorough discussion about patiently attuning to your true self in order to heal your pain.🔹 There are no bad parts. In today's analysis of "no bad parts," we get into some pretty extreme examples. And if you can develop empathy for a horrifying fascist, you can certainly develop empathy for yourself.–Find Sean:Visit My Website to Learn More or to Request a Consultation for TherapyNow Enrolling: TMS Treatment & Support Group Starting February 24th, 2026–Sean’s Free Email List: Join the List for Free Updates and Advice–Click Here to Ask a Question on the Podcast–Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:The Way Out by Alan Gordon and Alon ZivMind Your Body by Nicole SachsNo Bad Parts by Dr. Richard SchwartzThe Divided Mind by Dr. John SarnoAdult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Dr. Lindsay Gibson–…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain.

Jade Beall discovered Dr. Sarno in 2000. She was in massage school. So, she’s been in this world for a long time. She discusses her history of trauma, her history of psychosomatic symptoms, and her story of profound healing. Jade is so open, and she’s so generous with her life story. This is a really good one. You’re going to feel seen.In this Episode:🔹 A massage healer’s take on healing herself and on facilitating healing for others.🔹 Jade tells her story about landing on the earth in a very sensitive body and in a very dysregulated family.🔹 She discusses her experience with trauma, and with so many TMS symptoms, including: body dysmorphia, chronic headaches, migraine, chronic low back pain, urgent bladder, boils, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, high blood pressure, tinnitus, and more.🔹 “My default was to hate this body.”🔹 I thought feeling beautiful was to “convince myself that I liked the way I looked.”🔹 Then, I learned about true, deep self-love.Jade has a miraculous story of healing, both emotional healing and physical healing. Her story is going to inspire you.–Find Jade:Website: www.jadebeall.comInstagram: @jadebeallPodcast: You’re Too Sensitive–Find Sean:Visit My Website to Learn More or to Request a Consultation for TherapyTMS Treatment & Support Group Now Enrolling, Starts February 24th, 2026–Sean’s Free Email List: Join the List for Free Updates and Advice–Click Here to Ask a Question on the Podcast–…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like...

This is the question. How do you know if emotional and psychological modalities will help your pain and your symptoms? How do you know if your symptoms count? Right? Today, we answer exactly that.In this Episode:🔹 A clear definition of TMS and of Neuroplastic Symptoms.🔹 The way symptoms arise emotionally.🔹 The way symptoms arise psychologically.🔹 The way symptoms arise due to a lack of attunement and alignment with the true self.🔹 An invitation to surrender as part of your healing. Your human consciousness is limited, and you can't know everything.🔹 A list of common manifestations of TMS.🔹 Three clear suggestions to help you answer: “is my *insert symptom here* TMS?”You’re going to get a lot of information here in this back-to-basics episode. Let your brain take it in. This is the healing.–Find Sean:Visit My Website to Learn More or to Request a Consultation for TherapyNow Enrolling: TMS Treatment & Support Group Starting February 24th, 2026–Sean’s Free Email List: Join the List for Free Updates and Advice–Click Here to Ask a Question on the Podcast–Resources Mentioned in Today's Episode:ATNS Provider Directory:https://www.symptomatic.me/practitioner-directory#!directory/map/ord=rndCurable App:https://www.curablehealth.com/–…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mindbody healing.

Saahil Shenoy had “a whole bunch of rituals” to help him deal with pain. Stretching, creams, Epsom salts, two hours a day, “I need all this stuff to function”...many of you understand the feeling. And, as an athlete, Saahil’s pain was a crushing roadblock. In this episode, he tells us his pain recovery story. It seems like a miracle. But it’s really just brain science.In this Episode:🔹 How mindbody healing resonates for athletes specifically🔹 How Saahil completely changed his mental perspective and eliminated so much physical pain🔹 “Let’s just see what happens if you do the same activity, but you remove maybe two of the stretches”🔹 Using Internal Family Systems work to access the emotional connection to pain🔹 Getting existential🔹 …and, eventually, Saahil makes his way into healing his chronic physical painThis is an inspiring story. Join us.–Find Sean:Visit My Website to Learn More or to Request a Consultation for TherapyClick Here to Ask a Question on the Podcast–Sean’s Free Email List: Join the List for Free Updates and Advice–Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Charlie Merril (physical therapist): www.mperformance.com | Charlie Merril’s Instagram–…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mindbody healing.

For those who celebrate, it’s that time of year. We’re dealing with the combo of holiday childhood nostalgia …and trauma.Where does your chronic pain come from? And your chronic symptoms? It’s not your old injury. It’s not your undetectable embedded infection. It’s your trauma—and the patterns of self-abandonment your trauma caused.In this episode:🔹 Nostalgia from my childhood Christmases.🔹 The complex dynamics of interpersonal trauma.🔹 Trauma isn’t what you’ve been through, it’s how it impacted you.🔹 A core impact of trauma: it leaves you more oriented towards self-abandonment than self-attunement.🔹 Self-abandonment causes emotional repression and chronic pain.🔹 Self-attunement is the work of healing from trauma.🔹 Self-attunement is the work of healing from chronic pain.🔹 Today, we get deep into self-attunement.🔹 …and the profound connection between self-attunement and healing chronic pain.–Find Sean:Visit My Website to: Request a Consultation for TherapyClick Here to: Ask a Question on the Podcast–Sean’s Free Email List: Join the List for Free Updates and Advice–…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mindbody healing.

Nora’s been where you’ve been–in the depths of despair over her symptoms. She had severe back pain, terrible IBS, and truly all-consuming insomnia. Now, she’s fully recovered from all of the above. Listen to her amazing story for inspiration and for guidance.Nora’s the co-founder and developer of a mindbody recovery app called Nervana. (Nervana, like nervous system meets nirvana.) Good, right? Nervana is brand new, it’s informed by the latest research, and it uses state-of-the-art technology to deliver mindbody healing to you. You can be one of the first to try Nervana, Search Nervana in the App Store or find Nervana online at trynervana.com. Use code SEAN50 for $50 off.–Try Nervana:Search Nervana in the App StoreFind Nervana Online: trynervana.comUse code SEAN50 for $50 off at checkout–Find Sean:Visit My Website to: Request a Consultation for TherapyClick Here to: Ask a Question on the Podcast–Sean’s Free Email List: Join the List for Free Updates and Advice–Resources mentioned in today’s episode:Waking Up App (for Meditation and Mindfulness)Curable AppTMS Wiki–…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mindbody healing.

Most discussions about breaking intergenerational trauma cycles are discussions about parenting. Awesome. That's great. And... what if you don't have children? What will you pass on? Does your healing matter to anyone aside from yourself? Join us for a conversation about breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma when you're gay and/or when you don't have children.In this episode:A vision I had in a dream (...yeah)Some personal examples of intergenerational traumaBreaking cycles of intergenerational traumaA discussion of the unique energy that you carry in your beingThe universal human need to be seen and knownAn invitation for you to explore how you can help heal intergenerational trauma simply by putting your energy out into the worldAn invitation to ask yourself: Will my healing matter to anyone aside from me?–Find Sean:Visit my website to: Request a Consultation for TherapyClick here to: Ask a Question on the PodcastFree Email Updates: Join the List for Free Updates and Advice–…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mind-body healing.

Amy Yarin’s had over 30 different diagnoses. Back pain, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, tinnitus, idiopathic hypersomnia, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, car accident, an extra rib, opioid addiction.... She was bed-bound with “24-hour 1500/10 pain.”And now she’s doing great! Isn’t that wild? If you doubt the power of mind-body work, this episode is for you. Join us for Amy’s astounding TMS recovery story. This is a modern-day miracle.–Find Sean:Visit my website to: Request a consultation for individual therapyClick here to: Ask a question on the podcast–Resources from today’s episode:YouTube | Gigi Cockell / Dan Buglio Interview–…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mind-body healing.

Freedom from pain. We all talk about it. We all want it. But… what does freedom really mean? What does freedom mean to you?In this episode:A few mind-body client testimonialsThe importance of “freedom” as a valueCultural associations with the term “freedom”Confusion about the meaning of “freedom”The co-opting of the term “freedom”The tendency we have, as people who’ve suffered from chronic pain, to ignore our inner guidance and, instead, take cues from the external world. But external cues don’t always apply to our inner selves.An invitation to tune in to yourself to ask, “What does freedom mean to you?”Mentioned in this episode:WNYC | The Brian Lehrer ShowAnat Shenker-OsorioWords to Win By PodcastNina Simone: I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free–Find Sean:Visit my website to: Request a consultation for individual therapyClick here to: Ask a question on the podcast–…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mind-body healing.

Caryn Sherbet, LMSW (they/she) is a trans nonbinary therapist who specializes in OCD, chronic pain, and sexual trauma. Often, they work at the intersection of all three. Caryn talks about how patterns of avoidance tie all three together. They talk about the need to move away from "fixing" and "controlling" in order to heal. They talk about learning to tolerate existentially intolerable phenomena. They talk about making sacrifices in order to be true to yourself and true to your body. And they talk about how healing does not happen easily for everyone. Healing, sometimes, is a long, deep project, especially for people living with a lot of trauma and with a lot of fear. We talk about managing expectations in Pain Reprocessing Therapy.Caryn highlights the difficulties the trans community faces when it comes to feeling “safe.”And let me say: we, as a society, need to do better. We need to create the possibility of safety for all people. That includes trans people. On that front, we have a lot of work to do.This is a great conversation. Join us.Also, in this episode, Caryn and I discuss various therapies, most of which are referred to by acronyms. So – if you’re interested, or if you’re confused – here’s a list of the therapies we mention:PRT: Pain Reprocessing TherapyCBT: Cognitive Behavioral TherapyDBT: Dialectical Behavior TherapyIFS: Internal Family Systems TherapyERP: Exposure and Response Prevention (treatment for OCD)ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy–Find Caryn:Website: www.carynsherbettherapy.comPsychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/caryn-sherbet-new-york-ny/1043122–Find Sean:Visit my website: Request a consultation for individual therapyClick here to: Ask a question on the podcast–Other Resources from Today’s Episode:Kristina Armenakis: www.kristinaarmenakis.comB. F. Skinner and Extinction in PsychologyTriska Psychotherapy: www.triskapsychotherapy.com–…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most

Shame is an emotion, not a thought, not a belief. Shame is something to feel. The feeling of shame kicks off negative thoughts and beliefs...but what if you just treated your shame as an emotion? Then you could feel it... and let it move out.Today, Ellen Ronka teaches us how to train out of chronic shame using the same Pain Reprocessing Therapy techniques we already know. We can feel it rather than fear it. We can feel it without "believing" the story behind it. For example, you don't need to believe the "story" that your knee hurts because there's something structurally wrong with it. We know your knee actually hurts because of psychological conditioning. What if you're feeling shame because your brain is just familiar with that neural network? Not because you "did something wrong"? When you see this truth, then you can let go of attachment to the negative thoughts, allow yourself to feel the feeling of shame, and let the feeling pass through you. This is deep work. Join us to learn how your shame undergirds your pain and symptoms, and to learn how to allow and then release shame.This is Part 2 of the conversation. I’d recommend you start with Part 1 and then join us here for Part 2.–Find Ellen:Chronic to Cured Coaching Program: www.chronictocured.com–Find Sean:Visit my website to: Request a consultation for individual therapyClick here to: Ask a question on the podcast–…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mind-body healing.

How to deal with shame? How to heal from chronic pain and conditions? What are the “right” things to do? What if I’m doing the “right” things the “wrong” way? Why is shame so central to chronic pain healing? Today we talk with psychotherapist Ellen Ronka, LCMHC for Part 1 of How to Handle Shame.We get into: how to feel your emotions in order to heal, your emotions mean something about you and what you need, unlearning emotional processing blueprints from your family of origin, the centrality of shame in chronic pain conditions, and so much more. This is a rich, long conversation–so we’re going to have it in 2 parts. Join us today for part 1. And we’ll do part 2 next week.–Find Ellen:Chronic to Cured Coaching Program: www.chronictocured.com–Find Sean:Visit my website to: Request a consultation for individual therapyClick here to: Ask a question on the podcast–…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mind-body healing.

It’s been a long, long road. Your symptoms have finally led you to mind-body work. We’re here now.There’s so much to this life–so many things still to learn, so many ways still to grow. But, at least when it comes to chronic pain healing, you’ve reached the end of the line. There’s no more asking “what’s wrong with me?” and “why do I feel this way?” Because now you know. You know the answer. This is it. Allow this to be. Stay. There’s nowhere else to go. Move into the neighborhood. You live here now.You’ve finally reached the answer.Join the conversation today cuz we’re talking about how to stay …and how to heal.–Find Sean:Visit my website to: Request a consultation for weekly individual therapyClick here to: Ask a question on the podcast–…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mind-body healing.

Deb Malkin is a massage therapist, a hypnotist, and a pain coach. She helps people unlock the skills of pain elimination through understanding (and embodying) the neuroscience of the mind-body connection. It’s the same exciting stuff we talk about on this podcast. Deb gets it.Deb’s also active in the world of body liberation and fat liberation. She brings that mindset to her work with the Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms. She and our colleague Amy Schere, LCSWA spoke on anti-fat bias at the ATNS conference and, honestly, caused a bit of a stir. This is a paradigm shift. Join us today cuz we’re talking all about it on the podcast.–Find Deb:Deb’s website: https://thecuriositycure.com/Deb’s podcast: The Curiosity Cure–Find Sean:Visit my website to: Request a consultation for weekly individual therapyClick here to: Ask a question on the podcast–Other Resources from Today’s Episode:Find info about: Amy Schere, LCSWAATNS Website: https://www.symptomatic.me/–…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mind-body healing.

Dr. Gabor Maté is a physician in Canada. He’s an expert on addiction, childhood development, and trauma. His teachings highlight the conflict between two fundamental human needs: attachment and authenticity.(And, no. He's not actually an interview guest. We're just talking about his work.)People who struggle with chronic pain are the kinds of people who were taught somewhere along the line that we’re not truly allowed to be ourselves. We’re the kind of people who had to give up some (if not a lot) of our authenticity in order to maintain our attachments to others.Chronic pain is caused by fear of sensations in the body, fear of emotions, and fear of the true self. If you’re struggling with chronic pain, this is your invitation to tune in to your authentic self. In doing so, you’re teaching your brain and your nervous system that it’s okay to be you. It’s safe to be you. Let’s talk about it. This is going to help you.–Find Sean:Visit my website to: Request a consultation for weekly individual therapyClick here to: Ask a question on the podcast–Resources from Today’s Episode:When The Body Says No by Dr. Gabor MatéIn The Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Dr. Gabor MatéThe Myth of Normal by Dr. Gabor Maté–Journal Prompt:What authentic parts of YOU have you had to sacrifice in order to retain your attachment to your family, your community, and society?In order to remain attached to _, I’ve had to sacrifice_.–…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mind-body healing.

Skylar Whitman was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (also called juvenile idiopathic arthritis) in 6th grade. She was 11. Her story started young. On top of the RA, she’s struggled with migraines, musculoskeletal pain, joint pain, severe wrist pain, and much more. Given her history with these symptoms, her story of recovery is seriously profound.Listen as Skylar moves from “these are the cards I’ve been dealt,” and “I’m a victim” to true, robust mind-body healing. Mind-body medicine has the power to shift the symptoms of autoimmune conditions. If you want proof, Skylar’s story is for you. She goes from having twelve to fourteen different swollen joints, to finding mind-body work, to her rheumatologist suggesting she could be entering remission. It’s an inspiring ride. Join us.Find Sean:Visit my website to: Request a consultation for weekly individual therapyClick here to: Ask a question on the podcastFind Skylar:PDF starter kit: https://healingwithskylar.com/Instagram: @healingwithskylar | @skylarwhitmanResources Mentioned on Today’s Episode:Ellen Ronka’s Program: Chronic to Cured with Ellen RonkaMind & Fitness Podcast Interview with Ellen RonkaMind & Fitness Podcast Interview with Skylar Whitman…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mind-body healing.

I'm going to throw out a hypothesis: You Deserve To Be Your True Self.Right? Doesn't everyone? I hope so. Now, I don't know all the existential laws of the universe. But I'm learning to tune into my body, which is part of this universe. And I'm helping you learn to tune into your body, also part of this universe. Let's learn to trust our bodies. Today we're exploring the traumas that cut us off from our true selves... and we're talking about how to heal. We're getting existential today, it's the season finale, and you're gonna like this one.Contact Me:If you're ready to take your healing deeper, become a 1-on-1 therapy client. Visit my website to request a consultation: www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.comBook Mentioned: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer…and you’re listening to the Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain PodcastTherapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, and leave a written review. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mind-body healing.

Katie Estridge, PT, PYT is a physical therapist, professional yoga therapist, pain coach, and meditation teacher. She shares her amazing journey from a severe regular migraine sufferer to chronic-migraine-free. And you already know what cured her: Mind-body work. Now she offers this as part of her physical therapy practice. Join the conversation as Katie tells us how she recovered, talks about the mind-body lens turning her professional world upside down, feels "this is negating my whole profession," and then finds a way to beautifully blend the physical, the psychological, and the emotional to help her patients recover from pain and other chronic conditions. It's inspiring. This is a great one.Find Katie:Website: qcpyt.com (it used to be queencitypyt)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queencitypytAnd Katie does work for: https://www.curablehealth.com & https://www.theaftercancer.comFind Sean:If you're ready to take your healing deeper, become a 1-on-1 therapy client. Visit my website to request a consultation: www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com…and you’re listening to the Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain PodcastTherapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, and leave a written review. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mind-body healing.