1x1 SESSIONS

HOW TO INQUIRE ABOUT NEUROPLASTICITY COACHING FOR CHRONIC SYMPTOMS

Step 1. Rule out structural causes of your condition with a qualified mind-body informed doctor or by learning how to assess your own symptoms.

Many people who have mind-body disorders believe they have structural-damage disorders because of incorrect information they’ve received from doctors, so if you’re unsure, I can help as you navigate that process. You can also access a relatively comprehensive list of mind-body disorders here. I wrote a guide to assessing your own symptoms which you can find here.

Additionally, a medical expert I can recommend is Rebecca Kennedy, MD, advisor at Mind-Body Insight, who runs Resilience Healthcare in Portland, Oregon, and sees people remotely throughout the globe. Dr. Kennedy is especially helpful for complex cases.

Step 2. Reach out to me for coaching. You can send an email to start the conversation or book a free consultation.

ABOUT MY APPROACH

My way into this work is that I overcame chronic arm pain through reading Dr. John Sarno’s book The Mindbody Prescription in 2004. As you’re considering your options for recovery, here are some reasons why I might be the right fit.

FOCAL POINTS IN WORKING WITH CLIENTS

open-minded I like working with people who are skeptical of this mind-body approach and have significant doubts that this work can help them. This diagnosis and treatment paradigm is counterintuitive, so skepticism is warmly encouraged. Clients do not have to “buy-in” to the diagnosis, but rather can ease their way in, try some of the practices, and see if they offer relief and/or clarity about the diagnosis.

precise assessment I walk people through the criteria for assessing symptoms for mind-body causes or structural causes. (Sometimes consulting a physician is required.) This process is an essential life skill, and sets clients up to save money on unnecessary medical tests and treatments, and have more trust that their bodies are resilient.

emotion-focused We all have emotional blind spots and rely on others to help us see them. As a patient I’ve undergone several years of ISTDP therapy (a.k.a. experiential, emotion-focused therapy), so I value emotional processing as part of recovery.

rooted in mindfulness I believe meditation can serve as a full path to unlearning mind-body syndromes. I’ve written about my perspective on the spiritual approach to mind-body healing here.

customized My style of coaching is personalized for each client depending on their interests, goals, and needs. I keep an open mind as the dialogue flows and try to ensure the client's perspective and background are accounted for in how we work together. Several people who have gotten stuck going through a one-size-fits-all model have broken through obstacles and experienced relief while working with me.

WHAT ABOUT SPECIFIC MIND-BODY SYMPTOMS?

As you will likely discover if you embark on this work, the location of the mind-body symptom does matter, but is not as important as we may think at first. For example, it’s not necessary for someone suffering with fibromyalgia to see a coach who specializes in fibromyalgia. Most mind-body conditions (like fibromyalgia) share basic characteristics and resolve in a similar fashion: by shifting beliefs about the body being irreparably damaged, retraining the brain, reducing fear, allowing buried emotions to surface, and addressing patterns of people-pleasing and perfectionism.

APPROACHES THAT KENT HAS TRAINED IN

Pain/Neural Reprocessing Therapy (6-week course)
Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (8-week course)
Mentoring in ISTDP (ongoing weekly meetings in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy)
Nonviolent Communication (8-week training)
Mindfulness (6 months of cumulative silent retreat practice over 11 years)