From Pain Management to Recovery:
Practical neuroplasticity and the emerging mind-body revolution
in chronic pain treatment
- Learn to apply Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) in the context of your clinical practice
- Learn the basics of Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET)
- Gain a practical introduction to working with emotional processes as they apply to chronic pain treatment
- Learn to differentiate between organic/structural and neural-circuit/non structural sources of chronic pain, and treat using evidence-based methods.
- Earn 16 CE credits (depending on your profession)*^
- Choose to learn in either our Live or On Demand training formats (live trainings happen twice a year)
- Become a Certified Freedom From Chronic Pain Clinical Neuroplasticity Practitioner, after completing this training and completing 1 year of our Professional Development Program through our Clinical Neuroplasticity Practitioner Certification
- Join our passionate and supportive practitioner community in bringing this exciting evidence-based innovation to the patients/clients who need it
- Be added to our our forthcoming practitioner directory and be found by clients all over the world seeking treatment (eligibility conditions apply)
Read the syllabus
Led By Dr Howard Schubiner & Hal Greenham
Professor Howard Schubiner MD (USA)
Hal Greenham BSc (Psych)
Somatic Psychotherapist (Australia)
Live Training 2024
The next live training is in October
October – November 2024, we invite you to join our eighth online live training in evidence-based mind-body therapy for chronic pain. Inspired by the remarkable clinical achievements of Dr John Sarno MD, and further evolved into a potent neuroplasticity and psychotherapy treatment approach, this biopsychosocial innovation in treatment has helped thousands to become pain-free or substantially recovered from diverse chronic pain conditions.
A number of recent studies (references below) have demonstrated the efficacy of this work. It is a mind-body treatment that includes elements of Dr. Sarno’s approach, pain neuroscience education, Pain Reprocessing Therapy, Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy and parts work. Data gained thus far has shown a superior effect size to existing gold standard psychological treatments and in clinical practice, this approach is frequently able to resolve not just manage pain presentations.
- 9-week course – Course opens for study only Monday September 30th
- Live sessions begins Monday Oct 7th 7.30 pm (USA ET Time) / Monday Oct 7th 4.30 pm (USA PT Time)/ Tuesday Oct 8th 10.30am (Sydney AUS time) / Tuesday Oct 8th 12.30pm (NZ AUS time) and run at same time for 8 weeks
- Time changes for Australia/NZ for live classes weeks 5 – 8
- 3 hours of weekly content* (except for week 1 being a study week)
- 2 hours live
- 1 hour pre-recorded
- *Optional additional material each week
- 12-month access to course materials and 12-week access to the practitioner forum from the date of enrollment
- Option to join our practitioner directory after completion (conditions apply)
- Further support is provided through our Professional Development Program and Practitioner Forum (**fees apply and conditions apply)
- Total 16 hours CE credits (See below for details)*^
If you are unable to make this live training and would like to be kept informed for the next live training, please sign up to our waiting list below. View our refund policy below.
On Demand Training
Recordings only / On Demand program:
- 8 x 3 hrs of essential recorded materials per week
- Plus approx 1hr optional materials per week.
- Self-paced study with 12-month access to course materials and 12-week access to the practitioner forum from the date of enrollment
- Option to join our practitioner directory after completion (conditions apply)
- Further support is provided through our Professional Development stream and practitioner only forum (**fees apply and conditions apply)
- Total 16 hours CE credits (See below for details)*^
Please note: the on demand program is all the same content as the live training. There are just no live calls. The benefit is that you can do the training at your own pace, in your own time (12 months access).
Read our refund policy below.
Previous participants have said:
“A science-based approach to chronic pain and many syndromes, very practical, great teachers, a forum, tons of scientific information, many useful tools to apply in your practice.”
– Dr. Martina Melzer, Bavaria, Germany
“This course was full of detail and educational material that focuses on a different approach to treating those with chronic pain. It integrates mind and body medicine and has the ability to change the lives of those living with chronic pain. It gives hope to those that are suffering and is an amazing tool in the kit for the practitioner. It is expertly presented and taught by practitioners who are caring and passionate about educating and teaching others to continue this work. I cannot recommend this course highly enough.”
– Dr Murray Grave, VIC, Australia
“The practitioner training course provides a comprehensive level of training to assist in identifying patients with mind body illness and coaching them through a program to assist them in recovering from many difficult to treat chronic illnesses. The course is groundbreaking and practitioners will be part of a group that is literally pioneering effective therapies for chronic pain and related illnesses. I thoroughly enjoyed this course. Dr Schubiner and Hal Greenham presented an amazing course with dedication and humour.”
– Dr Liz Birkby, NSW, Australia
“Invaluable and wish more practitioners did this course to help refer and treat others.”
– Brian Sparks, MD – Oregon, USA
“This was a wonderul training that really helped advance my skills in working with clients experiencing mind-body symptoms. After taking this training I feel better equipped to both diagnose and treat chronic mind-body systems and now have various interventions (IFS, EAET, PRT) for joining with others along their healing journey and offering expert guidance and clarity.”
– Elena Crisp, Psychotherapist/Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker – USA, MA
This course was very valuable to me and will be very valuable to my Spine Squad. Can you even imagine that recovery is possible? Nothing has really helped chronic pain sufferers until now. This concept is so simple but not easy. Some will say “It’s too easy, it can’t work, nothing has worked so far.” But some lucky patients will find this information and grab on with both hands and will join the 1000’s of success stories and I am here to cheer them on. If only one chronic pain sufferer got relief, this class has succeeded.
Thank you, Howard and Hal, for all you do to prove the worth of the Mind/Body link.
– Christie Stuart, RN – USA Idaho
“Freedom From Chronic Pain has boosted my confidence as a therapist for treating not only chronic pain but other disorders such as anxiety and depression. Each module was engaging and informative. The course gives participants a chance to practice and make learning concrete. The reason I chose this course was because it offered both PRT and therapies to assist with processing emotions.”
– Monique Montiel, AMFT – California, USA
“I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge about neural circuit pain in this course. The exercises that are explained and demonstrated during the course are excellent. The passion that Dr. Schubiner and Hal Greenham have for this work is very evident throughout the entire course. This information is so greatly needed in our world and I commend them for taking the leap into this and further offerings to help spread the word about MBS. I can’t thank them enough.”
– Lynn, RN, BS, MA (retired) – Rhode Island, United States
“This practitioner level training with Dr. Schubiner and Hal Greenham truly solidified my understanding of mind-body disorders, and equipped me with a deeper ability to serve those in need. Instead of just more information, we actually practiced the material with our peers and received support to very specific questions. This was an intensive professional development experience that will truly translate into better outcomes.”
– Michael Hodge, Coach – Texas, USA
“Having been a PRT practitioner for almost 2 years, this course gave me more tools to go deeper with the science as well and emotional work with the patients. Howard’s delivery of all of the information is gentle and loving and helps set the scene for working with all patients so they feel safe and can move forward in their journey.”
– Laurie Friedman, Coach – Maryland, USA
“Even though I recovered from chronic pain using this method, learning to approach it from the practitioner side, and learning how to deliver all the therapies and help clients apply the tools, is an extremely valuable and necessary process for me to become a great pain recovery coach. The materials I received are also amazing and so important, and i can continue to read and refer back to them as needed. I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have learned from Dr. Schubiner and Dr. Greenham, the best in the field!”
– Toni Dieber, Coach- New York, USA
“This has been such an amazing course, thank you so much for bringing the information in an accessible way. I was able to do this course at my own pace (very slowly!) but as a result, feel like I have taken on so much, and it has inspired me to continue in this field and support more chronic pain clients.”
– Jenny Owen, Coach- Marlborough, New Zealand
The above video was shot before our transition to the online format.
About your hosts:
Professor Howard Schubiner MD, FACP
Dr. Howard Schubiner:
Dr. Howard Schubiner is the Co-founder, Clinical Director, and Medical Advisor of Freedom From Chronic Pain.
He is board-certified in pediatrics, adolescent medicine, and internal medicine in the USA. He was a Professor at Wayne State University for 18 years and now works at Cormendi Health. He is currently a Clinical Professor in the department of Internal Medicine at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.
He is a fellow in the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Society for Adolescent Medicine. He has authored over 100 publications in scientific journals and books. He has given over 500 lectures to scientific audiences regionally, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Schubiner has consulted for the American Medical Association, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the National Institute on Mental Health.
Dr. Schubiner is a leader in the field of mind-body medicine and has published ground-breaking research showing that novel mind-body therapies are effective for chronic painful conditions, such as fibromyalgia, whiplash, back and neck pain, myofascial pain, TMJ syndrome, tension and migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bladder syndrome, insomnia, anxiety, and other related conditions. He was included on several lists of the Best Doctors in America. Dr. Schubiner lives in the Detroit area with his wife of 40 years and has 2 adult children.
Dr Schubiner, Talks at Google: ‘The Reign of Pain Lies Mainly in the Brain’
Hal Greenham
BSc (Psych), BA, Somatic Psychotherapist
Hal Greenham:
Hal Greenham is the co-founder and Clinical Director of Freedom From Chronic Pain. After recovering from chronic pain with a mindbody intervention he retrained, studying psychology and a number of schools of psychotherapy and now specialises in helping other people to do the same. He has 15 years clinical experience in the treatment of chronic pain and fatigue syndromes and employs a combination of neuroplasticity and psychotherapy techniques in his work to help people achieve optimal results.
Hal Greenham has also been an invited speaker to the AIMA Conference and the Metagenics International Congress on Natural Medicine. With Prof Schubiner he has delivered a live series of webinars for the Shift Network (USA) on the Freedom From Chronic Pain program as well as seven previous live online trainings for Freedom From Chronic Pain.
This approach is beneficial for a wide range of diagnoses and symptoms including:
- Back pain, including most disc bulges and degenerative changes (see exclusions)
- Neck pain, including most disc bulges and degenerative changes (see exclusions)
- Other musculoskeletal pain (see exclusions)
- Chronic headaches (see exclusions)
- Migraine (see exclusions)
- IBS – Irritable Bowel Syndrome (see exclusions)
- Irritable Bladder Syndrome (see exclusions)
- RSI
- Tennis elbow
- CRPS (see exclusions)
- Fibromyalgia
- Many eczema / skin conditions
- Some arthritic conditions
- Some endometriosis presentations
- RSD
- Some interstitial cystitis presentations
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Other medically unexplained chronic pain
- Other medically unexplained chronic fatigue
Live VS On Demand
Should I choose the Live or Recorded version?
We always suggest the Live training is the optimal learning experience as it keeps you accountable and connects you with course buddy’s in and out of class (breakout rooms in class). A live atmosphere is often more exciting and suitable for some people’s learning.
You get to do the exercises straight away with a course buddy in a private breakout room and get your questions or challenges addressed straight away when returning to the main room. You also have the opportunity to interact live and direct with Howard Schubiner and his unstoppable repertoire of jokes, gags, and poor attempts to do an Australian accent!
Can’t attend our Live Training?
Our “recorded, on-demand” program is the perfect fit. While the fee is discounted for the on demand training, the high quality of training remains. Although you miss the live session interactions and breakout rooms, you will still have access to the online forum attended by Howard and Hal, the course buddy program, and the opportunity to network through the forum and our shared contact list (optional).
Both programs entitle you to 12 months of access to all course materials and 12 weeks of access to the clinical support forum.
**Please note that training participants of either the “live” or “recordings” version of the training will have the opportunity to join our practitioner directory (conditions apply), continuing Professional Development Program and our certifications.
Credits
Certificate of attendance and continuing education / professional development credits
- Certificate of attendance provided*^
- US APA 16 CE Credits available for US psychologists*^
- 16 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits available to physicians*^
- 16 CE’s available for US Social Workers as an ASWB ACE program*^
- Australian psychologists can claim CPD points under the APS self-assessment of CPD scheme
- Australian social workers can claim CPD points under the new AASW self-assessment of CPD scheme.
CEUs are available for both the live and on-demand, recorded versions of the training. (*^multiple choice exam grade of 80%+ required)
Those in the USA who intend on claiming CEUs must complete the live training within 12 weeks of the training opening date and those in the on-demand, recorded version have 12 months to complete their training program.
Please email us if you would like to know more.
Training Program Syllabus:
- From pain management to recovery: the neuroscience of the mindbody revolution in chronic pain treatment
- Fundamentals of diagnosis and patient education
- Pain reprocessing therapy 1 – Graded exposure and desensitization
- Pain reprocessing therapy 2 – Mindfulness and somatic tracking
- Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET)
- Going deeper – understanding and working with somatic symptoms of psychological origin
- Practical tools to resolve inner conflict – Critical parents and inner children
- Meeting and defusing protectors / defenses – an introduction to Internal Family Systems (IFS) insights into treating chronic pain
What is different about our training compared to other PRT (Pain-Reprocessing Therapy) training?
Our training, led by Dr. Howard Schubiner, a foremost expert in neural circuit pain, goes beyond PRT. We integrate various approaches, including somatic work, EAET, and parts work, recognizing that PRT alone may not work for everyone. With insights and teachings from Hal Greenham, our co-founder and Somatic Psychotherapist, our training also addresses cases where deeper emotional processes are central to the persistence of pain.
Our comprehensive program offers 27 hours of required content (not including optional additional content to further your professional development) , exceeding other PRT trainings. You also enjoy a 12-week exclusive access to our practitioner forum, attended by Howard, Hal, and a supportive community of professionals.
Earn 16 CEU points, surpassing the standard 12 offered by other PRT trainings.
Our training also serves as the foundation for becoming a Certified Freedom From Chronic Pain Clinical Neuroplasticity Practitioner, with levels 1 and 2 and a Professional Development Stream program. Learn more about our Practitioner Pathways.
Who is this training program for?
This course is designed for medical and health professionals (doctors, psychotherapists, psychologists, counselors, social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, naturopaths, occupational therapists, certified coaches and expressive arts therapists) working with chronic pain and related syndromes. Participants will learn the fundamental mind-body concepts and techniques in order to apply them to their professional and personal lives. The format of the training involves didactic learning as well as a wide range of experiential processes designed to help participants deepen their understanding of mind-body treatment. This training will have a practical skill acquisition focus, and we’ll also have time for Qs and As.
Please note the course will cover medical and psychotherapeutic content but is not sufficient nor intended as a replacement qualification for the practice of medicine or psychotherapy. That said, the intention of the training is to develop a deeper capacity within one’s existing profession to recognise and intervene effectively in mindbody presentations of pain and fatigue.
Course Fees
Live Course:
- $1097 USD ($1197 USD with CEUs)
- OR 3 X Monthly Payments of $380 USD (or $415 USD with CEUs)
*For those in Europe: the VAT will automatically be added to the program fee towards the end of checkout.
Recorded / On Demand Version Course:
- $897 USD or $997 USD with CEUs
- $315 USD/month (3-MONTH PAYMENT PLAN) or $345 USD with CEUs
*For those in Europe: the VAT will automatically be added to the program fee towards the end of checkout.
Please get in touch if you have any queries about your course booking.
View our Refund and Cancellation policy here.
And if you’d like to be kept informed of future live trainings,
please sign up to our waiting list below.
Refund Policy
This Refund, Cancellation, Terms and Conditions policy pertains to the Freedom From Chronic Pain “From Pain Management to Recovery” practitioner training program.
This policy is for both the “live” version and “recordings” version of the program.
Your enrolment in this program means you understand and agree to live Zoom training sessions you attend being recorded for later viewing by participants.
You also agree to participate in the live Zoom sessions with your camera on so you can be seen and that you will have your name on your screen.
Privacy and Confidentiality: To cultivate a safe place for sharing and growth, it is to be agreed that: all participants within this course will not share the details of people’s personal experiences or details that are shared within the group, to anyone outside the group, without that person’s express consent. You agree to complete the privacy agreement in the file of the learning platform.
Cancellations and refunds: Cancellations and refunds will be granted according to the following conditions:
RECORDINGS/ON-DEMAND TRAINING PROGRAM REFUNDS:
- A refund is not available for the recorded, on-demand training program.
- In exceptional circumstances, we might be able to extend the end date of your course, offering you a deferment.
- Deferment requests can be emailed to admin@ffcp.nasmak.org but the onus is on the student to ensure and confirm that the email was received. Freedom From Chronic Pain will not be responsible for messages going astray.
- Deferment requests will be granted on an individual basis and are not guaranteed.
- In the event a participant is removed from the practitioner training for inappropriate or illegal conduct, the participant forfeits any deferment entitlement.
LIVE TRAINING PROGRAM REFUNDS:
- Full refunds will be granted to all cancellations up to twenty-one (21) days prior to the start date of the LIVE program, less USD$70 administrative processing fee.
- Cancellations within twenty-one (21) days prior to the starting day of the program will receive a 50% refund, less USD$70 administrative processing fee.
- No refunds will be made for participants who fail to attend a live class for any reason.
- You are not eligible for any refund if you requested a program cancellation less than 5 working days before the program starting date.
- Refund requests can be emailed to admin@ffcp.nasmak.org but the onus is on the student to ensure and confirm that the refund application was received. Freedom From Chronic Pain will not be responsible for messages going astray.
- Refunds can take up to 14 business days to process and a further 10 days to appear in your account.
- In the event a participant is removed from the practitioner training for inappropriate or illegal conduct, the participant forfeits any refund entitlement.
CHANGING BETWEEN LIVE AND RECORDING PROGRAMS:
- You may transfer from the live program to the recordings program up to 5 days before the live class start date and receive a refund for the difference in cost less USD$70 administrative processing fee. (Subject to availability)
- You may transfer from the live program to the recordings program after 5 days before the live class start date and receive a refund for the difference in cost less USD$250 administrative processing fee. (Subject to availability)
- You may transfer from the recording program to the live program by invitation only as we have a long waitlist. Please email us at admin@ffcp.nasmak.org with your transfer request.
Copyright: The “From Pain Management to Recovery” practitioner training program. Copyrighted by Freedom From Chronic Pain, Australia.
- The course, course videos, and course materials are not to be sold, loaned, copied, or shared with other practitioners by the person who is enrolled in the course, unless permission is sought and granted in writing by the course author.
- Client forms and course materials may be used by the person who is enrolled in the course with their clients and in their practice.
Please direct all inquiries to admin@ffcp.nasmak.org
References:
- Lumley, M.A. & Schubiner, H. (2019). Psychological Therapy for Centralized Pain: An Integrative Assessment and Treatment Model. Psychosomatic Medicine, V 81, 114-124.
- Lumley, M.A. & Schubiner, H. (2019). Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy for Chronic Pain: Rationale, Principles and Techniques, Evidence, and Critical Review. Current Rheumatology Reports (2019) 21:30
- Hsu MC et al. (2010)Sustained pain reduction through affective self-awareness in fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of general internal medicine. Oct;25(10):1064-70.
- Lumley, M.A. & Schubiner, H., et al (2017). Emotional awareness and expression therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and education for fibromyalgia: a cluster randomized controlled trial. Pain. Dec 2017, 158(12):2354-2363.
- Burger AJ, Lumley MA, Carty JN, et al. The Effects of a Novel Psychological Attribution and Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Preliminary, Uncontrolled Trial. Journal of psychosomatic research. 2016;81:1-8.
- Michael C. Hsu, Howard Schubiner, Mark A. Lumley, John S. Stracks, Daniel J. Clauw and David A. Williams. 2010. “Sustained Pain Reduction Through Affective Self-awareness in Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial”. Journal of General Internal Medicine; Oct 2010, Vol. 25 Issue 10, p1064-1070.
- Hsu, Michael C., Schubiner, Howard. 2010. “Recovery from Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain with Psychodynamic Consultation and Brief Intervention: A Report of Three Illustrative Cases”. Pain Medicine; Jun 2010, Vol. 11 Issue 6, p977-980.
- Annotated Bibliography for Psychophysiologic Disorders and Chronic Pain.
Credit Designation Statement
Joint Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and Freedom From Chronic Pain. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physician Continuing Medical Education
The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 16 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Continuing Psychologist Education
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
Credit Designation. This program offers 16 continuing education credits for psychologists.
Continuing Social Work Education
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 16 clinical continuing education credits.
Disclosure
Consistent with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, speakers for the conference are expected to disclose to you at the beginning of their presentation(s) whether they have any economic or other personal interests that create, or maybe perceived as creating, a conflict related to the material discussed. This Policy is intended to make you aware of speakers’ interests, so you may form your own judgments about such material.