Pain Reprocessing Therapy Podcast

What happens when the infection clears but the symptoms don't? In this episode, host Daniel Lyman shares recordings from eight real therapy sessions with a client named Eric, who had been living with chronic fatigue for years after a bout of mono. You'll hear Eric describe the weight of his exhaustion, the fear and confusion that surrounded it, and the beliefs that kept him stuck. And you'll hear what actually changed, not through a single breakthrough moment, but through a series of small shifts that gradually taught his nervous system it was safe. By the end of the episode, Eric is cycling, hiking, concentrating better at work, and beginning to trust his body again.

You've done the work. You've read the books, tried the tools, and still feel stuck. In the Season 2 premiere of the PRT Podcast, new host Daniel Lyman, LCSW, joins clinician Gabrielle Jacobs for When the Work Isn't Working: 5 Reasons You May Still Be Stuck — exploring five of the most common and most overlooked reasons people stall in chronic pain recovery. From waiting to feel safe before acting, to living with intensity, to identity fusion with a diagnosis, this conversation is honest, practical, and genuinely useful for patients and practitioners alike. Getting stuck doesn't mean you're doing it wrong. It means there is another layer to look at.

Therapist John Gasienica talks with physician Dr. Becca Kennedy and patient “Sarah” about shifting from rumination to safety, processing medical trauma, and using simple emotional and somatic tools to calm the nervous system and reduce pelvic pain. A practical look at feeling safer right now—even when your brain wants certainty.

In this episode of the PRT Podcast, therapist and host John Gasienica sits down with Vanessa Blackstone, Executive Director of the Pain Psychology Center and co-author of The Pain Reprocessing Therapy Workbook, for a candid, compassionate conversation about one of the biggest roadblocks to healing: perfectionism. They explore the real-life journey of Jaycie, a nurse and mom grappling with chronic pain, burnout, and the relentless pressure to keep it all together. Through Jaycie’s story, we learn how urgency, self-criticism, and emotional suppression fuel nervous system dysregulation—and how accessing self-compassion (the real kind, not the bubble bath kind) can begin to reverse it. Vanessa and John break down the science of freeze responses, why joy and creativity are essential for recovery, and how to start speaking to yourself the way you would speak to someone you love. Vulnerable, funny, and refreshingly honest, this episode is a must-listen for anyone stuck in cycles of pain and pressure.

In this transformative follow-up to Episode 4, psychotherapist John Gasienica guides patient David through a real-time therapy session—joined by mind-body medicine pioneer Dr. Howard Schubiner. Building on David’s recent neuroplastic pain diagnosis, this episode explores the emotional patterns and subconscious fear responses that keep chronic symptoms alive. As David confronts past trauma, guilt, and anxiety, you’ll hear powerful shifts unfold live—both physically and emotionally. Dr. Schubiner offers insight throughout, breaking down why these techniques work and how healing happens when the brain feels safe. Whether you're a practitioner or someone living with pain, this episode offers profound hope and practical tools for lasting change.

Rumination—those endless loops of worry, symptom monitoring, and "what if" thinking—can make chronic pain worse by keeping the nervous system stuck in a state of high alert. In this episode, therapist John Gasienica works with Leslie, a new mom struggling with chronic pelvic pain and obsessive thoughts about her symptoms. John, alongside expert therapist Callie Klebanoff, breaks down the Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) blueprint for disrupting rumination and retraining the brain to feel safe. They discuss: - Why rumination is one of the biggest roadblocks to pain recovery. - How overthinking reinforces pain pathways in the brain. - Practical strategies for shifting from fear-based thinking to self-compassion. - A real-time session where Leslie learns to calm her nervous system and reduce pain. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your thoughts about pain, this episode will give you the tools to break free from the cycle and start healing.

In this episode of The Pain Reprocessing Therapy Podcast, John Gasienica and Daniella Deutsch discuss the transformative power of Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) in overcoming chronic pain. They share the inspiring journey of Anna, a patient who learns to harness the appropriate motivation and energy to successfully use PRT techniques like somatic tracking and emotional awareness. Anna’s story illustrates how retraining the brain’s perception of pain can lead to lasting recovery. Whether you’re a patient seeking relief from pain or a practitioner looking for effective tools, this episode offers key insights into the healing process through PRT.