Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain

S5 E12 | What Does God Look Like?: Religious Trauma and Chronic Pain

This is a long one. And a deep one. (And a good one). Most recoverers don’t say much about this, but most people acknowledge a spiritual shift as they heal from chronic pain. Today, we’re addressing that head-on. We’re making space for you to explore your sense of spirituality, of religion, and even of God. In this Episode: 🔹 I’m not telling you what to believe. I don’t know what you “should” believe about God. Having certain religious beliefs is NOT part of chronic pain recovery. 🔹 And, existential inquiry and existential curiosity are part of the human experience. We don’t want you to repress that. 🔹 Religious trauma cuts people off from thinking spiritually and thinking expansively. 🔹 So, we’re making space – today – for you to explore your own sense of spirituality. 🔹 We discuss the definition of religious trauma. 🔹 We explore the common impacts of religious trauma. 🔹 We get into some fun childhood stories from my Catholic school days. 🔹 We consider an example of what God looks like in literature, recounting the climactic scene in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. 🔹 And, of course, you get to reflect on you. What does spirituality mean to you? This isn’t your typical discussion about chronic pain healing. This isn’t “10 Tools to Regulate Your Nervous System.” This is deeper. If you’re looking for a door into something meaningful, this is it. – Find Sean: Sean’s Website: mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/] Click Here to Ask Sean a Question [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/podcast-question] Sean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every Week [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/join] Sean’s Instagram: @mindbodymedicineforchronicpain [https://www.instagram.com/mindbodymedicineforchronicpain/] – Learn About Therapy with Sean: Therapy for Chronic Pain and Symptoms [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/therapy-for-chronic-pain-and-symptoms] – Other Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode: S2 E7 | Chronic Pain and Spirituality with Christina Wei [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/podcast/trailer-mindbody-medicine-for-chronic-pain-4frx8-4c8cy-yc9bk-lhyet-s3g4m-rlhff-fht4y-9zf5m-k69yf-aezr2-z7yf8-y3bl3-spck2-r9b5b-frex2-3x74x-yzyyg-rlwsr-fnc28-cxgae] Ishmael by Daniel Quinn [https://bookshop.org/p/books/ishmael-a-novel-daniel-quinn/47f6877122bac57f?ean=9780553375404&next=t] S3 E12 | Holiday Childhood Nostalgia …Meets Trauma [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/podcast/d5n6ymf7ka9ef2s-cxd7a-mbkad-4fl6m-ydehb-st9mb-9fsd3-eghfx-zpm3n-bxkf2-axtx9-z2f25-pntg7-5ydhk-ktxds-572l6] – …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.

S5 E11 | How To Trust Yourself, with Anna Holtzman, LMHC

Anna Holtzman is a true mentor of mine. She’s a therapist and coach. Anna’s helped many, many clients out of chronic pain and symptoms…and she began noticing that the same patterns underlying chronic pain also keep many people from expressing themselves fully and pursuing the lives they really want. Now, Anna works with clients to help them with visibility: expressing themselves, putting themselves “out there,” and moving into bold self-actualization. In this Episode: 🔹 The connection between chronic pain, staying small, fear of visibility, and healing through trusting yourself. 🔹 Why understanding the nervous system is vitally helpful in moving through the fear of expressing yourself authentically. 🔹 What it feels like, on a nervous system level, to receive negative feedback. 🔹 The conflict between a deep desire to share your voice and the equally intense fear of blow-back and rejection. 🔹 How a therapist’s own emotional work helps them help their clients. 🔹 3 Tools to work with the fear of visibility: 1) Graded Exposure, 2) Co-regulation, and 3) Dialoguing with Fear. 🔹 We go deep into Dialoguing with Fear, and I know that’ll be helpful for you. 🔹 Here are the questions Anna uses to dialogue with fear: 🔹 1. Dear fear, what are you feeling? 🔹 2. What would you like me to know? 🔹 3. What are you trying to protect me from? Join us for a fun, enriching, enlightening conversation. Anna’s great. – Find Anna: Free Self-Trust Workshop: The Melt-Through Method: www.annaholtzmantherapy.com/melt-through-method-workshop [https://www.annaholtzmantherapy.com/melt-through-method-workshop] Free Let-Yourself-Be-Seen Workshop: www.annaholtzman.com/beseen [https://www.annaholtzman.com/beseen] Seen & Safe Visibility Coaching: www.annaholtzman.com/seenandsafe [https://www.annaholtzman.com/seenandsafe] Anna’s Instagram: @anna_holtzman [https://www.instagram.com/anna_holtzman/] Anna’s Podcast: How to Trust Yourself [https://pod.link/1679033028] Recommended Episode: We Need Your Art with Amie McNee [https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/how-to-trust-yourself/episodes/Ep-64-We-Need-Your-Art-Overcoming-Creative-Fear--Choosing-Yourself-with-Amie-McNee-e3137mb] Email: anna@annaholtzman.com [anna@annaholtzman.com] – Find Sean: Sean’s Website: mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/] Click Here to Ask Sean a Question [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/podcast-question] Sean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every Week [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/join] Sean’s Instagram: @mindbodymedicineforchronicpain [https://www.instagram.com/mindbodymedicineforchronicpain/] – Learn About Therapy with Sean: Therapy for Chronic Pain and Symptoms [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/therapy-for-chronic-pain-and-symptoms] – …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.

S5 E10 | Ketamine and Chronic Pain Treatment

Today, we’re talking about something a little different: ketamine. Is ketamine the cure for chronic pain? No. But, can ketamine be a tool to help deepen the psychological and emotional work that heals chronic pain? Yes, I think so. Let’s discuss. In this Episode: 🔹 It’s 2026, everyone’s talking about ketamine, so we’re gonna talk about it too. 🔹 We cover the basic facts about ketamine, including ketamine’s ability to create a window of heightened neuroplasticity in the brain. 🔹 We explore the history of psychedelic use in healing. 🔹 I discuss my personal experience with ketamine. 🔹 We investigate the connection between ketamine treatment and healing chronic pain. This is a fun one – with a lot of good information. Whether you’d ever consider ketamine or not, you’ll learn something here. Join us. – NOTE: THIS PODCAST IS INTENDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION AND EDUCATION ONLY. THIS PODCAST DOES NOT RECOMMEND KETAMINE FOR ANY SPECIFIC PATIENT, DIAGNOSIS, OR CONDITION. THE USE OF ANY PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION MUST BE DONE UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION. – Find Sean: Sean’s Website: mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/] Sean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every Week [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/join] Click Here to Ask a Question on the Podcast [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/podcast-question] Sean’s Instagram: @mindbodymedicineforchronicpain [https://www.instagram.com/mindbodymedicineforchronicpain/] – Ketamine Connections Podcast with Anna Krishtal: Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ketamine-connections/id1761921460] | Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0hmz28ReQnEjszOcAQUj87] Sean Hershey on the Ketamine Connections Podcast: Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-97-l-can-chronic-pain-be-emotional/id1761921460?i=1000771972034] | Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/2jDAHW2EBHO6cd735ILXMq] – Other Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Anna Krishtal’s Website: www.yourketaminecoach.com [http://www.yourketaminecoach.com] Allison Janney on Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCWB7_TsMNQ] Cochrane Library | Ketamine and other NMDA receptor antagonists for chronic pain: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD015373.pub2/full [https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD015373.pub2/full] – Dr. Howard Schubiner’s Book: Unlearn Your Pain: The Science of Recovering from Chronic Pain, Fatigue, Anxiety, and Depression [https://www.amazon.com/Unlearn-Your-Pain-Recovering-Depression/dp/0593994361] – …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.

Bonus | You Deserve Empathy

When your friends and family don’t understand, when your doctors can’t find anything wrong, when you find mindbody modalities and they take a long time to work...you deserve empathy. In this Episode: 🔹 You deserve empathy before you understand mindbody healing. 🔹 You deserve empathy AFTER you understand mindbody healing. 🔹 You deserve empathy, from others and from yourself, all the way through. Join us for a dose of empathy today. And save this episode for the future. You can come back to it anytime you need it. – Find Sean: Sean’s Website: mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/] Sean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every Week [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/join] Click Here to Ask a Question on the Podcast [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/podcast-question] Sean’s Instagram: @mindbodymedicineforchronicpain [https://www.instagram.com/mindbodymedicineforchronicpain/] – …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.

S5 E9 | How To Stay Grounded While Processing Trauma, with Justine Stull, OTR/L

Does thinking about your trauma make you feel horrible? Maybe you’re already feeling dysregulated? Justine Stull is an occupational therapist, a mindbody coach, a long-time mindbody symptom sufferer, and has a beautifully inspiring recovery story. On the podcast today, she discusses her personal journey with healing trauma to heal physical pain and symptoms. She offers wonderful advice – for you – about staying grounded while processing trauma. In this Episode: 🔹 Growth is uncomfortable, but you can stay out of absolute overwhelm and shut-down. 🔹 Not all anger is equal. Anger towards a random stranger is typically easier to feel than anger towards someone with whom you had an abusive dynamic. 🔹 Start with the easier stuff. You’ll be ready for the harder traumas when you’re ready. You’ll build your tolerance. 🔹 If you become completely dysregulated in your emotions, or if your symptoms flare, you didn’t hurt yourself. It’s okay. 🔹 The exact details of the trauma story are less important than learning to feel the depth of the emotions related. 🔹 You can write/tell/journal just enough of the story to get the emotions activated. Then you can feel, express, and learn to feel okay with the emotions. 🔹 Meet yourself with curiosity and compassion. They are the polar opposites of fear and shame. Curiosity and compassion are the healing forces. 🔹 The purpose of journaling for chronic pain is NOT to fix anything. The purpose is to feel what you need to feel. 🔹 And, at the end of the episode, learn what to do if you feel very overwhelmed after a journaling session. This is a deeply helpful conversation. Join us. – Find Justine: Justine's Website - newsletter, blog, & coaching: www.JustineMindBodyOT.com [http://www.justinemindbodyot.com/] Instagram: @justinemindbodyot [http://www.instagram.com/justinemindbodyot] Justine’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/justinemindbodyot [http://www.facebook.com/justinemindbodyot] JUSTINE’S FACEBOOK GROUP: Living the Work: www.facebook.com/groups/livingthework [http://www.facebook.com/groups/livingthework] – Find Sean: Sean’s Website: mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/] Sean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every Week [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/join] Click Here to Ask a Question on the Podcast [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/podcast-question] Sean’s Instagram: @mindbodymedicineforchronicpain [https://www.instagram.com/mindbodymedicineforchronicpain/] – Other Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode: How to Journalspeak, with Nicole Sachs [https://www.yourbreakawake.com/journalspeak] Mind Your Body by Nicole Sachs [https://www.yourbreakawake.com/book] The Way Out by Alan Gordon [https://painpsychologycenter.com/the-book] Insight Timer [https://insighttimer.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.