Back in Control with David Hanscom, MD

In this episode, Dr. David Hanscom continues his discussion with Jamie Shafir – LCSW, health coach and adolescent specialist at the Mind Body Therapy Center. She discusses the significance of early intervention and psychoeducation in addressing chronic pain in youth. She explains the different components of her approach including: pain reprocessing therapy, emotional awareness and expression therapy, and intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy. She emphasizes the importance of establishing safety and rapport with patients, and also discusses the nuances of treating adolescents and children, highlighting the need for tailored approaches that account for the unique brain development and cognitive abilities of young individuals. She talks about the challenges of working with families and stresses the importance of establishing strong clinical boundaries to create a safe environment for young clients.

Jamie Shafir is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, health coach, and adolescent specialist at the Mind Body Therapy Center. She is trained in and practices Pain Reprocessing Therapy, Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy, as well as Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy. Jamie pulls from her breadth of training and clinical experience to tailor and provide her youngest clients developmentally appropriate services through a chronic pain informed lens. For more information, email her at: [email protected].

In this episode, Dr. David Hanscom talks with Jamie Shafir – LCSW, health coach and adolescent specialist at the Mind Body Therapy Center. She shares how her sister’s early experience with chronic pain got her interested in non-pharmacological interventions for anxiety and for pain. She transitioned from her fundraising and grant writing work with adolescent youth groups to private practice with the help of Dr. Daniel Lyman. She talks about the unique challenges of working with children and adolescents, particularly in the context of chronic pain. She emphasizes the need for a tailored and informed approach when working with young clients and the importance of managing the expectations of parents.

Jamie Shafir is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, health coach, and adolescent specialist at the Mind Body Therapy Center. She is trained in and practices Pain Reprocessing Therapy, Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy, as well as Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy. Jamie pulls from her breadth of training and clinical experience to tailor and provide her youngest clients developmentally appropriate services through a chronic pain informed lens. For more information, email her at: [email protected].  

In this episode, Dr. David Hanscom continues his discussion with Stephanie Carter Kelley – an orthopedic physical therapist. She explains her approach to treating patients with chronic pain and emphasizes the need for a more holistic and empathetic approach to addressing chronic pain. She talks about the benefits of a multi-dimensional approach to treatment incorporating yoga, breathing techniques, mediation, and training patients to understand the triggers associated with their pain, in addition to physical therapy. She discusses her “PEACE” approach to chronic pain: Practice, Education, Aligning with your values, Creating new habits and Empowerment. She stresses the importance of taking the time to build a therapeutic relationship with her patients.

After 30 years of practicing orthopedic physical therapy combined with 20 years of teaching in physical therapy, publishing research, and leading quality improvement efforts, Dr. Stephanie left the security of the academic medical institution to start an integrative practice blending yoga with physical therapy.  She sees clients one-on-one, teaches group classes, and provides online programs using yoga as the primary intervention for healing chronic musculoskeletal pain. As a person who has also suffered with her own chronic pain, she now considers herself a teacher, guide and coach on a mission to empower other mature women with chronic low back pain to not be held back and to consistently and confidently engage in an active lifestyle. For more information, visit https://www.stephaniecarterkelley.com/Pain, Chronic Pain, Healing,

In this episode, Dr. David Hanscom talks with Stephanie Carter Kelley – an orthopedic physical therapist. She shares her personal experience of turning to yoga for relief after experiencing physical discomfort following her first pregnancy. She describes how she found hope and persistence in yoga, and how it eventually led her to integrate yoga into her life. She discusses the multifaceted benefits of yoga, including its ability to calm the nervous system, which she finds particularly interesting given her background as a physical therapist. She also explores the idea of separating one's identity from stress physiology as a crucial step in the healing process, emphasizing the importance of feeling safe.

After 30 years of practicing orthopedic physical therapy combined with 20 years of teaching in physical therapy, publishing research, and leading quality improvement efforts, Dr. Stephanie left the security of the academic medical institution to start an integrative practice blending yoga with physical therapy.  She sees clients one-on-one, teaches group classes, and provides online programs using yoga as the primary intervention for healing chronic musculoskeletal pain. As a person who has also suffered with her own chronic pain, she now considers herself a teacher, guide and coach on a mission to empower other mature women with chronic low back pain to not be held back and to consistently and confidently engage in an active lifestyle. For more information, visit https://www.stephaniecarterkelley.com/

In this episode, Dr. David Hanscom continues his discussion with Agnes Szymczak – an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Pain Reprocessing Therapy Coach, and Restorative Breathing Coach. She explores the crucial steps in the healing journey, emphasizing the need to disassociate pain from the body and nurture joy. She also explains the integrative approach to pain management, emphasizing the role of diet, breath work, and pain reprocessing therapy in reducing inflammation and calming the body. She underscores the interconnected nature of these interventions and the need for a holistic approach to address chronic pain effectively. She also talks about the different aspects of pain reprocessing therapy, highlighting its significance in pain management.

As an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Pain Reprocessing Therapy Coach, and Buteyko Restorative Breathing Coach, Agnes helps busy moms with scoliosis and arthritis break free from debilitating pain, fatigue and anxiety and reclaim their lives so that they can keep up with their kids, travel and have energy to do what they love.  Her own healthy journey includes healing from years of chronic and debilitating back pain, fatigue and anxiety. Agnes found a fascination with Neuroscience had developed a deep understanding of the physiological ramifications that stress can have on the mind, body and spirit. She supports others in regaining agency over their health and understanding their unique needs so that they may lead their version of a healthy life. Her mission is to help you restore your health by healing your mind, body and spirit and to start living and stop surviving. For more information, visit https://www.thesimplebeautifulwellness.com/Pain, Chronic Pain, Healing,

In this episode, Dr. David Hanscom talks with Agnes Szymczak – an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, She recounts her scoliosis surgery at sixteen and her struggle with chronic lower back pain that started in her early thirties, causing severe limitations and debilitating pain. She tried various treatments without success. After her third child, her pain became intense and disabling. She found that applying the principles in Back in Control, mental rehearsals of what she wanted to do, and adopting a mindset of gratitude and acceptance, led to significant pain relief and improved mobility. She experienced a transformation from debilitating pain to her current state of wellness.

As an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Pain Reprocessing Therapy Coach, and Buteyko Restorative Breathing Coach, Agnes helps busy moms with scoliosis and arthritis break free from debilitating pain, fatigue and anxiety and reclaim their lives so that they can keep up with their kids, travel and have energy to do what they love.  Her own healthy journey includes healing from years of chronic and debilitating back pain, fatigue and anxiety. Agnes found a fascination with Neuroscience had developed a deep understanding of the physiological ramifications that stress can have on the mind, body and spirit. She supports others in regaining agency over their health and understanding their unique needs so that they may lead their version of a healthy life. Her mission is to help you restore your health by healing your mind, body and spirit and to start living and stop surviving. For more information, visit https://www.thesimplebeautifulwellness.com/

In this episode, Dr. David Hanscom continues his discussion with Matt Bonin – consultant, speaker and author of Light from Darkness. He discusses how getting a new perspective on his trauma was part of his healing. In his therapy, he went from seeing his story as shameful and belittling to it being empowering and a source of pride. He began to heal when he came to believe that he could heal. He learned to acknowledge his suffering, and understand that darkness and light are part of the same experience. His new insights allowed him to tackle what he used to think of as impossible.

Matthieu Bonin alleviates suffering and radiates joy. In July 2022, he stage-swam 154km around the world’s largest freshwater island, Manitoulin, to raise money and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis research.  He strives to bring light to dark places which he does by speaking, writing, consulting and adventuring.  You can learn more about Matthieu’s wellness journey in his upcoming book: Light From Darkness. More information about Matt can also be found at: https://bvmsports.com/2022/05/30/swimming-through-deep-waters-saved-this-sudbury-native-from-a-dark-place/

In this episode, Dr. David Hanscom talks with Matt Bonin – consultant, speaker and author of Light from Darkness. He relates the story of his struggle with severe depressive episodes accompanied by a number of physical symptoms. At age 29, he developed functional neurological disorder – and experienced periodic semi-catatonic states where he could not move. His healing started after he found an empathic doctor and began therapy. He discovered that the mind / body dichotomy of modern medicine was false and that by taking small steps, he could play a role in his healing This awareness helped him move from despair to hope and his mantra became “I want to want to heal.”

Matthieu Bonin alleviates suffering and radiates joy. In July 2022, he stage-swam 154km around the world’s largest freshwater island, Manitoulin, to raise money and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis research.  He strives to bring light to dark places which he does by speaking, writing, consulting and adventuring.  You can learn more about Matthieu’s wellness journey in his upcoming book: Light From Darkness. More information about Matt can also be found at: https://bvmsports.com/2022/05/30/swimming-through-deep-waters-saved-this-sudbury-native-from-a-dark-place/

In this episode, Dr. David Hanscom continues his discussion with Lee Canter – founder of Canter & Co. and author of My Migraine Breakthrough. He discusses the skills he learned in his work with Dr. David Schechter to break out of the pain and fear cycle. These included: realizing he could control his healing; learning to think about his symptoms in the context of his life; and using tools like meditation and expressive writing. He describes the psychophysiological approach used by Dr. Schechter. In the process, he discovered that he had more to offer the world, that he didn’t have to be a “special” person and that his new life is wrapped up in giving back and doing what brings him joy.

Lee’s commitment to helping other sufferers of chronic pain disorders is a direct outgrowth of his experience with chronic migraine symptoms. After over seven years of being almost bedridden, seeing numerous medical professionals and getting no help from traditional biomedical treatments, he was finally cured of his symptoms using a psychophysiologic treatment approach. Critical to his recovery was the support he received from current board member Dr. David Schechter, and former board member Derek Sapico, LMFT.

Lee began his professional career as a clinical social worker. He then became a highly successful entrepreneur. His first company, Canter and Associates Inc. was a nationally recognized educational training company. Over the life of the company, over one million educators and parents purchased its books and videos or participated in its training programs. The company was sold to Sylvan/Laureate Inc. His passion is to use his professional expertise and his personal experience to help spread the word on the use of a psychophysiologic treatment approach to other chronic pain sufferers, especially those with migraine symptoms.

In this episode, Dr. David Hanscom talks with Lee Canter – founder of Canter & Co. and author of My Migraine Breakthrough. He shares his personal battle with severe migraines which he first experienced when he was 13. When he retired after running two successful businesses, he felt useless and without purpose.  His became almost bedridden for 7 years by the symptoms of severe migraine. After taking a survey on the Curable app, he realized his migraines were a mind / body issue. He started working with Dr. David Schechter and discovered he could take control of his own healing.

Lee’s commitment to helping other sufferers of chronic pain disorders is a direct outgrowth of his experience with chronic migraine symptoms. After over seven years of being almost bedridden, seeing numerous medical professionals and getting no help from traditional biomedical treatments, he was finally cured of his symptoms using a psychophysiologic treatment approach. Critical to his recovery was the support he received from current board member Dr. David Schechter, and former board member Derek Sapico, LMFT.

Lee began his professional career as a clinical social worker. He then became a highly successful entrepreneur. His first company, Canter and Associates Inc. was a nationally recognized educational training company. Over the life of the company, over one million educators and parents purchased its books and videos or participated in its training programs. The company was sold to Sylvan/Laureate Inc. His passion is to use his professional expertise and his personal experience to help spread the word on the use of a psychophysiologic treatment approach to other chronic pain sufferers, especially those with migraine symptoms.