In this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we are joined by Dena De Piazza, the Program Director and owner of Pain Coach Academy. Dena shares her deeply personal journey into the world of pain coaching, which began over two decades ago when her husband, a police officer, was injured in the line of duty and medically retired in their early 20s. Navigating the limitations of traditional medical care for his chronic pain, they embarked on a long, self-directed path to discover a more holistic, person-centered approach to managing his condition. This lived experience became the foundation for her passion and expertise, ultimately leading her to co-found an academy dedicated to training coaches in this vital and often overlooked field.

Dena delves into the core mission of Pain Coach Academy, which offers a nationally accredited, 17-week health and wellness coaching program designed to train and certify individuals to support others living with chronic pain. She explains their relational, non-directive coaching philosophy rooted in motivational interviewing and positive psychology, which empowers clients to discover their own motivations and sustainable lifestyle changes. As the program director, Dena outlines her goals to increase awareness of pain coaching as a powerful modality, expand their cohort offerings, and refine their marketing and operational systems to scale their impact and help more people "escape the grip of chronic pain."