Did you know that you can train your brain waves? Did you know that different types of brain waves are useful for different types of focus activities and learning. Since the research behind chronic pain explains it as a type of learning done by the brain, we can use a brain wave entrainment practice to teach the brain a new way of experiencing attention and focus. 

The work of neuroscientist Dr. Les Fehmi and his wife, therapist Susan Shor Fehmi, explores practices to help us reach a state of synchronous alpha brain waves and how it helps us manage stress and dissolve pain. I share with you an Open Focus practice and some information from their books and research. 

I've ramped up my practice of Open Focus and it's been helping me relax my mind and body and feel more grounded, centered and emotionally even keeled. I believe open focus training is an essential and simple practice to add to our mindbody tool kit to help us rewire our brains out of pain.

Here's some of the resources I used for this podcast and further reading about Open Focus.

The Main website for all things Open Focus
https://openfocus.com/

Article by The Fehmi's for Thrive
https://medium.com/thrive-global/dissolving-stress-open-focus-training-e0434e3fb238
 

A review of Open Focus from a meditation teacher
https://www.wildmind.org/blogs/book-reviews/the-open-focus-brain-by-dr-les-fehmi-jim-robbins

Open Focus in Science Direct
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0193953X1300004X?via%3Dihub

Mastering Our Brain's Electrical System
https://www.academia.edu/6496037/Mastering_Our_Brains_Electrical_Rhythm


Attention to Attention: An Introduction to Attention Styles, Open Focus and Object-Less Imagery
https://www.consciousness-quotient.com/attention-to-attention-an-introduction-to-attention-styles-open-focus-and-object-less-imagery/

Book a free half hour curiosity call with me - https://calendly.com/paincoachdeb

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pain.coach.deb/

Website - https://www.thecuriositycure.com

My hypnosis teacher Melissa Tiers and I geek out about the brain and how hypnosis and coaching through metaphor can have profound benefits for the body.

Melissa Tiers is the founder of The Center For Integrative Hypnosis, and co-founder of the Ethical Coaching Collective.  

She is also a multi-award-winning author, coach, hypnosis trainer, and a three-time recipient of the International Medical and Dental Association's prestigious Pen and Quill Award for her books.

Starting in March she has an integrative hypnosis training for anyone who's curious about adding this modality to their work.
https://www.melissatiers.com/hypnosis-training

Instagram  
https://www.instagram.com/melissatiers/

Book a free half hour curiosity call with me - https://calendly.com/paincoachdeb

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Website - https://www.thecuriositycure.com

https://changingminds.org/techniques/conditioning/cue.htm

https://med.stanford.edu/sbfnl/services/bm/lm/bml-fear.html

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/contextual-fear-conditioning

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/fear-conditioning

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1074742710000845

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178116308770

Book a free half hour curiosity call with me - https://calendly.com/paincoachdeb

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pain.coach.deb/

Website - https://www.thecuriositycure.com

You can find out more about Maureen Wiley (educator, YouTuber, book lover, and cat person) here - 

Website - https://www.narrative-drive.com/

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@narrativedrive

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/narrativedrive/

Book a free half hour curiosity call with me - https://calendly.com/paincoachdeb

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pain.coach.deb/

Website - https://www.thecuriositycure.com

If this episode has been helpful for you, please let me know on my instagram post dedicated to this episode. 
(If it's not posted immediately when this drops, please be patient, I'm probably sleeping)
 

Book a free half hour curiosity call with me - https://calendly.com/paincoachdeb

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pain.coach.deb/

Website - https://www.thecuriositycure.com

Episode 19 of my podcast - Hard Times Happen 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/move-with-deb-episode-19-hard-times-happen/id1595415545?i=1000546605315

Study on Painkillers and Emotional Pain
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/feb/18/painkiller-emotional-pain-acetaminophen-paracetamol

Application of a Clinical Approach to Diagnosing Primary Pain: Prevalence and Correlates of Primary Back and Neck Pain in a Community Physiatry Clinic
https://www.jpain.org/article/S1526-5900(23)00544-8/fulltext

LA Times Article - Opinion: That pain in your back? It’s really a pain in your brain.
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2024-01-29/chronic-pain-health-wellness-mind-body

Book a free half hour curiosity call with me - https://calendly.com/paincoachdeb

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pain.coach.deb/

Website - https://www.thecuriositycure.com

Here's the links for all the groups I shared in the podcast. 
 

Power Plus Wellness - https://www.powerpluswellness.com/

Body Liberation Hiking Club NYC - https://www.instagram.com/bodyliberationhikingnyc/

Curves With Moves - https://www.instagram.com/curveswithmoves/

Baila With Kayla - https://www.instagram.com/bailawithkyla/

My YouTube has videos of my sharing these pattern interrupts for you to practice along with. 

https://youtu.be/9yYgamdUblY?si=hubV8JS7v_lqDEpC

Book a free half hour curiosity call with me - https://calendly.com/paincoachdeb

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Website - https://www.thecuriositycure.com

Articles I'm referencing in this podcast. Dive in or not into the research :) 

How to Be Less Self Punishing
https://psychcentral.com/health/how-to-stop-punishing-yourself

The  Scientific Benefits of Self-Compassion
https://ccare.stanford.edu/uncategorized/the-scientific-benefits-of-self-compassion-infographic/

About 70 minutes in there's a simple explanation of neuroplasticity
https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/a-science-supported-journaling-protocol-to-improve-mental-physical-health

Self Compassion Research 
https://self-compassion.org/the-research/

Book a free half hour curiosity call with me - https://calendly.com/paincoachdeb

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pain.coach.deb/

Website - https://www.thecuriositycure.com

Enjoy a delightful chatty conversation between myself and Joan and I think maybe you will find her saying things that you've said to yourself or thought that my problems aren't big enough to work through or bring to coaching. What's the point if we're not working on giant things. But as Joan says, coaching is about having someone to help you read the label when you're inside the jar.

She speaks about her original skeptism of coaching, the same kind that I had. How we  came to the practice of self coaching through Kara Lowentheil's podcast Unf*ck Your Brain and her coaching community The Clutch (now The Feminist Self-Help Society). 

Find out about Kara's work here - 

Website  
https://schoolofnewfeministthought.com/

Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unf-ck-your-brain/id1229434818

I forgot to mention on the podcast that I'm certified as a Feminist Coach in Kara's advanced coaching certification which helps bring the lens of socialization insdie the coaching container. We understand our thoughts are not just ours, born entirely of our own making. No we've learned them from a patriarchal society that has deeply sexist embedded ideas of who women are.

Which is why the coaching we did on Joan's hair wasn't just about hair, it was about agency, ageism, and saying f.u. to the Patriarchy's opinions about what's right for women to choose around their hair and what they buy and their appearance in general. 

If you are craving a coaching container that's not just about SMART goals and getting stuff done but how we can pair action and deprogramming unhelpful subconscious beliefs, let's chat!

I've got spaces available for individual clients working one on one. I'm looking forward to connecing with you! 

 

Book a free half hour curiosity call with me - https://calendly.com/paincoachdeb

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pain.coach.deb/

Website - https://www.thecuriositycure.com

2024 can be the year you put yourself in the driver's seat of your mindbody experience. Having an experienced and trained guide is so helpful. I have been trained by both Dr. Schubiner and Alan Gordon's Pain Psychology Center, a Master Certified Life Coach and Integrative Hypnotist. 

I'm also nice. 

And fun. 

And on your side! 

I've got spaces available for new individual clients working one on one. I'm looking forward to connecing with you! 

Book a free half hour curiosity call with me - https://calendly.com/paincoachdeb

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/curiositycure.coach/

Website - https://www.thecuriositycure.coach/

Book a free half hour curiosity call with me - https://calendly.com/paincoachdeb

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pain.coach.deb/

Website - https://www.thecuriositycure.com