Chronic Pain Therapy/ Mind-Body Syndrome Therapy
- Are you experiencing chronic pain, fatigue, or other mystery symptoms that doctors cannot solve?
- Have you been to numerous doctors, chiropractors, and alternative health practitioners spending thousands of dollars and are ending up nowhere?
- Have doctors told you that your symptoms are “all in your head”?
Your frustration and stress is very understandable. Many of these mysterious symptoms can be categorized as Mind-Body Syndrome (MBS), also known as Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS), neuroplastic pain, and nervous system sensitization. Importantly, Chronic Pain Therapy/ Mind-Body Therapy can help. We support clients in-person in Ventura and online all over California.
Examples of Mind-Body Syndromes:
Fibromyalgia
Chronic Back Pain
Migraines
Chronic Pain
Chronic Pelvic Pain (Vulvodynia, Interstitial Cystitis, Prostatitis)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Chronic Fatigue
Long Covid
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
TMS/ Mind-Body Syndrome Personality Types:
Type A
Motivated, Achiever
Highly Self-Critical
Have Childhood Trauma
Come from high pressure families
Perfectionist
Frequently feeling guilt
Wanting to be good or liked
Have a hard time expressing feelings
(not all traits are needed for a MBS Diagnosis)
Sound familiar?
Many people experience significant improvement and recovery when they learn how the brain and nervous system contribute to chronic symptoms.
About Mind-Body Syndrome/ Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS)
Mind-Body Syndrome was brought into the mainstream by the late Dr. John Sarno. He published his first book Mind Over Back Pain in 1982. Sarno found that subconscious emotional states were driving chronic pain disorders in his patients.
He coined the term Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS), a term still used today to describe many different mind body disorders. Interestingly, Sarno found when the subconscious emotional states were released, the mind-body syndrome disappeared.
Fast forward to today, you may have heard the buzzword Neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity means that our brains are malleable, they can change. Basically, every time we learn something new or do something physically, our brain is changing, new neural connections are being created. Researchers have also found that thinking changes the brain too! Learn more HERE.
Wondering if your symptoms may be neuroplastic or connected to nervous system sensitization? Take the quiz here at Symptomatic.me
How Therapy For Chronic Pain & Illness Works
We blend the emotional work of Dr. Sarno with new neuroplasticity techniques from Pain Reprocessing Therapy and Brain Retraining. Additionally, we are influenced by the emotional expression work of Dr. Howard Schubiner, the author of the popular workbook Unlearn Your Pain. Dr. Schubiner has also been involved in many clinical studies with Mind-Body Syndromes. Importantly, the findings are that these neuroplasticity methods are helping people heal.
Somatic Therapy can also assist people with mind-body syndromes. Many people with these syndromes have nervous system dysregulation- inability to relax, sleep issues, feeling nervous all the time. We use somatic tools to support our clients in feeling more calm, regulated, and safe within themselves.
Trauma and complex trauma can leave your nervous system stuck in survival mode. In prolonged survival states, symptoms like pain, fatigue, and illness start to show up. Overall, when a person’s system is more regulated using somatic techniques, healing can take place.
Therapies For Chronic Pain & Illness
Pain Reprocessing Therapy
First off when I work with a new client, I teach them the tools from Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT). These tools help to break the fear loop that is associated with symptoms. Basically, these cognitive and somatic tools help the brain to unlearn pain and symptoms. I have trained with Alan Gordon, LCSW and Dr. Howard Schubiner, some of the developers of the therapy. Importantly, a groundbreaking study was published in 2021 highlighting the effectiveness of Pain Reprocessing Therapy for back pain- The Boulder Back Pain Study.
Emotion Awareness and Expression Therapy
Many people with these syndromes learned to stuff feelings, hold in healthy core emotions such as anger or sadness. Mainly, Emotion Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) helps people to safely and fully express these important emotions. Shoving emotions down does have a big impact on the nervous system load which creates symptoms. I have trained with Dr. Schubiner and Dr. Mark Lumley creators of EAET.
Somatic Experiencing
While Somatic Experiencing is a trauma therapy, it is largely based on the nervous system. A history of trauma or just a lot of life stress can throw a person’s system into a flight of fight state. Subsequently leaving the person in a survival state. Somatic Experiencing helps to bring in more body awareness which then allows a person to support themselves out of dysregulation and into a regulated healing body state. Overall, we provide our clients with somatic tools that they can use outside of session, supporting them in their healing journey.
Coherence Therapy
While Coherence Therapy is not a Mind-Body per se, it does dig deep into the subconscious mind, exploring what might be pushing the buttons of the mind-body symptoms. Coherence Therapy was created with Memory Reconsolidation in mind. It should be noted that memory reconsolidation is the updating of mental models, schemas, beliefs, that might be keeping someone stuck and sick or in pain.
EMDR
Many people with chronic pain or other symptoms have trauma histories. Importantly, these memories can affect how we feel today. EMDR is an evidenced based trauma therapy. If you are someone with memories of trauma, EMDR could help. In the Ventura Therapy office we use light bars and other bilateral stimulation equipment to process memories. Also, EMDR is easily done online in the comfort of your home. We share specific EMDR software at the beginning of the therapy session.
Brain Retraining Programs
Additionally, we are knowledge about many self-help brain retraining programs and can assist you with these. Examples are: Dynamic Neural Retraining System: DNRS, Gupta Program Brain Retraining, Primal Trust, and ANS Rewire.
Common Chronic Pain Issues
Chronic Back Pain
Research shows that most people have mild to moderate back or neck MRI abnormalities like bulging disks, some spinal stenoisis, or other issues. Many of these people DO NOT have pain even with the abnormalities. Subsequently, if you do not have any major back abnormalities but are experiencing chronic back pain and discomfort, you most likely do have Mind-Body Syndrome.
Pelvic Pain
Pelvic Pain can be extremely distressing for both men and women who experience this. Luckily, many people do heal with treatment. Some of these diagnoses include- vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, vaginismus, and more.
Sometimes pelvic pain can start from an injury to the area or an infection such as yeast. The infection clears up but the chronic pelvic pain lingers. Many times, there is no clear reason why pelvic pain starts. Overall, with Mind-Body therapy, pelvic pain can be a thing of the past.
We Get It
Mind-body syndromes can cause anxiety, depression, loneliness, and fear; fear that you may be stuck with these syndromes forever. Of note, these symptoms are very real and not just in your head, like doctors might have told you. Many people with these syndromes do recover. Symptoms do not need to be a life sentence. Overall, Pain Reprocessing Therapy, somatic therapy, and other mind-body techniques and therapies can help you recover.
This important work is not just about healing symptoms, it’s about healing your life.
FAQ
How long will I need therapy?
Some clients feel better within a few sessions. And some clients need more time to process traumatic life events and maladaptive patterns. Some people take the tools given to them and only need every other week therapy. Basically, each client is different. The aim is to feel better and not continue therapy indefinitely.
Can’t I just read a book on mind-body syndrome recovery?
Possibly! However, my experience with Mind Body Syndromes goes back over ten years and I offer you tons of knowledge, information, and tools. Therapy will give you new life perspectives and new views on your symptoms.
In fact, right in the first session I will provide you tools to start rewiring your brain. It’s not necessary to spend weeks reading different literature although it can support your healing.
I am nervous to start this therapy. Will it really help?
We are here to guide and support you on this journey Yes, talking about tough stuff isn’t easy and might bring up some hard memories. It’s worth noting, processing trauma and expressing hard emotions can be important to your recovery. We go at your pace, so therapy is comfortable and safe. Above all, chronic pain and other Mind-Body Syndromes can get better.
Are mind-body syndromes (chronic pain and chronic illness) from trauma?
Research suggests that childhood trauma (cptsd), chronic stress, and nervous system sensitivity can increase the risk of developing chronic pain and chronic illness in adulthood. Additionally, some people are born with more sensitive nervous systems, making them more vulnerable to the effects of stress and adversity.
That said, not everyone with a mind-body syndrome has a trauma history. Chronic pain and illness are complex and often develop from a combination of biological, psychological, and life stress factors.
Mind-Body Syndromes and Modern Medicine
These disorders are brain/ nervous system based. Maybe one day for a pill will come, or a simple surgery procedure will fix all of these terrible problems. Sadly, the medical community is not there. However, there are pills/medications and surgeries that can help somewhat. But, these do not come with guarantees and can create powerful side effects. Undoubtably, the mind-body work, works.
We do our best to stay abreast of new treatments and studies being done in the medical community. Also, we always recommend having a good doctor/specialist while utilizing the mind-body therapy techniques.
Reach Out
Chronic Pain Therapy Ventura/ Mind-Body Therapy Ventura- California
To sum up, if you are still questioning if this specialized chronic pain therapy/ mind-body therapy is right for you, we offer a complementary 20 minute phone call. We see clients for in person therapy in Ventura and online all over California. The office is located close to Ojai, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks. Additionally, many of our clients come from Los Angeles County.
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Get In Touch
Call
805.669.8176
Location
5550 Telegraph Rd. Ventura, California, 93003
Located near Ojai, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks.
Also seeing clients for online therapy all over.
