This is a directory of clinical resources, including providers, organizations and associations, as well as conferences and events that you can use to enhance your medical care. These resources share the common element that they are grounded in the principles of dynamic healing.
This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and consists of people I have talked to and worked with. Please note that their inclusion on this page does not constitute a recommendation for medical care. Please consult your primary care physician when considering adding others to your care team.
Clinical Specialists
Click the tab for the type of clinical specialist you wish to consult.
Allan Abbass, M.D.
Dr. Allan Abbass is a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and founding Director of the Centre for Emotions and Health at Dalhousie University in Canada. He is a leading teacher and researcher in the area of Short-term Dynamic Psychotherapy, having provided over 300 invited presentations and 250 publications. Since 2000 he has been consulted widely by governments, universities, and health agencies on the cost-effectiveness and applicability of short-term psychotherapy. His most recent book is Hidden from View: Clinicians' Guide to Psychophysiologic Disorders.
https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/department-sites/psychiatry/our-people/faculty/allan-abbass.html
Jeffrey Lazarus, M.D.
Jeffrey Lazarus, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatrician. He practiced general pediatrics for 27 years and has sub-specialized for the past 20 years in the use of medical hypnosis for children, adolescents, and adults, with various common health conditions. He is an expert in the practical use of medical hypnosis for the treatment of headaches, nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting), gastrointestinal conditions, and tics (with and without Tourette syndrome), performance anxiety, and chronic pain.
Mark Moisi, M.D.
Dr. Marc Moisi utilizes the most up-to-date, evidence-based surgical and minimally invasive surgical techniques to implement a comprehensive, individualized treatment plan so his patients can return to the activities they love. Dr. Moisi is a fellowship-trained Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine Neurosurgeon and is dual trained in this specialty for both Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Surgery. Dr. Moisi has a keen interest in spinal tumors, trauma, and deformity. He treats all etiologies of the spine and is capable of addressing the conditions with many different techniques and methods.
Howard Schubiner, M.D.
Dr. Howard Schubiner is an internist and the director of the Mind Body Medicine Center at Ascension Providence Hospital in Southfield, Michigan and a Clinical Professor at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. He provides personalized primary care for conditions that affect adults as they age. Dr. Schubiner listens to understand you and your health concerns. He takes the time to get to know you and your family's health history. Then, he works with you to create a personalized care plan that helps promote your long-term health and well-being.
https://unlearnyourpain.com/
David Schechter, M.D.
Dr. David Schechter is a physician in Culver City, California. He received his medical degree from the NYU School of Medicine and has been practicing as a Family and Sports Medicine Physician for over 25 years. Dr. Schechter’s unique non-surgical approach to Sports Medicine has helped everyone from competitive athletes to soccer moms. He is a provider for many types of health insurance and is on the medical staff of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center as a Family and Sports Medicine doctor.
John Stracks, M.D.
Dr. John Stracks is a leading voice for holistic medical care in Chicago. His practice specializes in integrative medicine, primary care, thyroid disease management, and mind-body approaches to successfully manage and overcome chronic pain and illness. His pioneering approach and his dedication to treating the whole person provide an alternative perspective on medical care as well as hope and improved healing to patients who have exhausted other options.
James Taylor, M.D.
Dr. James Taylor is a board certified anesthesiologist with a focus on pain management. He runs 7 clinics that see over 4,000 patients per month. Over the last several years, Dr. Taylor and his team have been collecting information on patients that has led to many interesting discoveries, particularly involving CBD and the pain management patient. Dr. Taylor's journey pursuing an understanding of Cannabinoid Medicine has led him to develop laboratory services for hemp farmers as well as testing on hemp related products.
Stephanie Carter Kelley, PhD, PT
Stephanie Carter Kelley, PT has 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. Her goal is 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.
Jeff Frankart, PT
Jeff Frankart is the founder of The Fix PT, a physical therapy clinic he operates with his wife, Carla. His focus is helping clients reduce chronic pain and narcotic use, and improve their mental outlook. He has personally treated more than 50,000 patients in his 25-year career. For more information, visit:
Charlie Merrill, PT
Charlie Merrill is a physiotherapist synthesizing mind/body strategies to treat acute and chronic symptoms. He supports clients across the life span, including elite athletes, in un-learning symptoms by addressing their fear about the pain itself as well as fear about the emotions related to life stress and change.
Sharna Prasad, PT
Sharna Prasad is passionate about treating persistent pain with a combination of movement, mindfulness and education. She is a certified Therapeutic Pain Specialist, and she also specializes in pelvic floor therapy for incontinence and pelvic pain in men, women and children over eight years of age.
https://www.samhealth.org/patient-visitors/find-a-doctor/p/prasad-sharna-1356550180
Joe Tatta, PT, DPT, CNS
Dr. Joe Tatta is a global leader in integrative pain care and an advocate for the safe and effective treatment of chronic pain. He is the Founder of the Integrative Pain Science Institute, a cutting-edge health company reinventing pain care through evidence-based treatment, research, and professional development.
Dean Volk, PT, MPT
Dean Volk has been transforming his patients’ lives since 1992. He currently owns 3 physical therapy practices. Most recently, he started an online business, Sciatica Relief Now, LLS, which focuses on those suffering with Sciatica for 6+ months.
Les Aria, PhD
Dr. Les Aria is a pain psychologist of 20 years. He is the co-founder and the Chief Science Officer of Menda Health, a digital therapeutic platform for pain recovery. He specializes in treating psychophysiological disorders/chronic pain and medically unexplained conditions. His passion for MindBody interventions promotes a unique style to help patients relate differently to their suffering, and thereby shifting them into pain recovery, wellness and well-being. His current passion is assessing the combined clinical applications of The Safe & Sound Protocol(SSP) and Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) to promote pain recovery.
For consults, please email:[email protected] or visit www.menda.health
Daniel Atkins, PsyD
Daniel Atkins is an intuitive psychologist who was trained as a clinical psychologist. He has an integrative practice that incorporates the mind-body connection, the ancestral lineages of trauma, his own style of energy-based medicine, and channeled intuitive wisdom to meet the holistic needs of sufferers in mind, body, and spirit.
https://www.drdanielatkins.com/
Geralyn Datz, PhD, MP
Dr Geralyn Datz is a licensed clinical health psychologist who specializes in pain psychology and educating others about health psychology. She is President and Clinical Director of Southern Behavioral Medicine Associates PLLC, a group mental health specialty practice. Southern Behavioral Medicine provides assessment and treatment of individuals with psychological disorders as well as medical issues, such as chronic pain.
Jake Eagle
Jake Eagle, after 25 years in private practice as a psychotherapist, now refers to himself as a meta-therapist—working with people who wonder what comes after therapy. He and his wife founded the Live Conscious community. They teach online classes and retreats. And Jake is a co-investigator of Mindfulness Studies with NorthBay Healthcare and UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center.
Dan Ratner, PhD
Dr. Dan Ratner is a nationally known pain psychologist, who uses a mind body approach to treating chronic pain. He specializes in the alleviation of physical symptoms deriving from, or exacerbated by, psychological causes. Building a strong, genuine connection with clients – based on trust, empathy, and warmth – he works collaboratively with them to achieve greater insight, self-awareness and healing. He is the host of the popular podcast, Crushing Doubt.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/daniel-ratner-new-york-ny/59383
Frances Sommer Anderson, PhD, SEP
Frances Sommer Anderson, PhD, SEP, licensed psychologist and psychoanalyst, has treated mind-body pain disorders for forty years, studying closely with the late John E. Sarno, MD, Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at Rusk Institute—NYU Langone Medical School. Her treatment of adults who are in pain integrates psychoanalytic theory of attachment with the neuroscience of pain and trauma and includes techniques learned in advanced training in treating trauma.
Serena Sterling, PsyD
Dr. Serena Sterling holds a master’s in International Journalism, a doctorate in clinical psychology, and is a certified Life Coach. Due to her own experience of overcoming chronic fatigue syndrome and finding ways to alleviate chronic pain from years of living with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Dr. Sterling pursued a degree in clinical psychology and learned advanced stress-reduction techniques to assist others in overcoming their health challenges.
Kendra Bloom, LMHC
Kendra Bloom is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, PACT-Trained Couples Therapist, Somatic Psychotherapist and Certified Intuitive Energy Healer. Kendra combines modern neuroscience with the holistic healing arts, positive psychology and body-based practices to create a dynamic and experiential method of transformation on all levels.
Mags Clark-Smith MA, PGCE, BCPT, BMC
Mags draws on her extensive knowledge of the body through dance, psychology and non-verbal communication to empower people to move with confidence and resolve chronic pain. Mags offers one-to-one Resolving Chronic Pain consultations and Body Control Pilates classes, as well as taking part in chronic pain research and giving guest talks and lectures on chronic pain. Mags lectures on University Edinburgh Dance Science Masters course.
Michael Hodge
Through a combination of movement, nutrition, and deep mindset shifts, Michael overcame 5 years of severe CPPS. He also worked through relationship-aggravating ED and premature ejaculation (stemming from both physical and psychological sources) to now having the best sex of his life. After partnering with Dr. Brianne Grogan (a well-known pelvic health expert), Michael has helped thousands of men to return their pelvic floors to balance and strength, through fully guided at-home programs and in-person retreats. As a martial arts instructor for 15 years, a certified yoga instructor, meditation guide, and pioneer of mind-body-energy practices based in science, Michael helps men to discover the root cause of their pelvic floor issues and return to a life of vibrancy and joy!
Zeeba Khan
Zeeba is an internationally renowned Holistic Health Coach, Ayurvedic clinician, meditation teacher, and energy healer who employs diet, herbs, yoga therapy, meditation, and four-body Ayurvedic treatment to restore her patients’ mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health and to prevent disease and disorders. In particular, she focuses on healing trauma, which often leads to anxiety, depression, feelings of loss, and low self-esteem. She is a leading practitioner with Mindvalley’s Soulvana app and in 2020, she was honored by an invitation to be part of a live interactive session hosted by His Holiness The Dalai Lama on the topic of integrated healthcare and compassion.
Joe Klemczewski, PhD
Joe Klemczewski, PhD, The Diet Doc founder, created Flexible Dieting and macronutrient tracking as an answer to failed, rigid dieting. The ability to eat the foods you want, in the amounts you need, to accomplish your health and body composition goals, is the answer for sustained change. But it’s a process. You first need the science-based, customized support to create a plan that works uniquely for your body. Learning how to add necessary meal planning into layers of flexibility for real life is best accomplished with guidance. We earn trust through connection and results. We know what success can mean for your life. We want you here.
Bonnie Lester, MA
Bonnie Lester, certified in Advanced Pain Rehabilitation, overcame Complex Regional Pain Syndrome after 30 years. Trained in public health, clinical social work, and interfaith spirituality, she now coaches others using neuroplasticity techniques and lifestyle strategies. Her AIM program helps people shed their "pain patient" identity to encourage them to lead a life with purpose and joy. Locally, her "Walk with the Chaplain" initiative promotes physical activity to stimulate the “happy chemicals.” Lester inspires distant domestic and international clients with her vitality and multidisciplinary expertise. She is the author of Unwinding Pain: Affordable and Accessible Ways to Feel Better Now. (View the book trailer here: https://youtu.be/-nbZ7ex3Xv4?si=8t0Txs1EnZIb-7G5)
Robert Paris, B.Comm., M.B.A., CSP
Robert Paris applies fundamental principles of neuroscience to management and leadership in a wide variety of fields including sports and business. He has developed ground-breaking programs in leadership, coaching, team-building and innovation that incorporate emerging knowledge of the brain to to enable people to expand perspectives, talk more authentically and create rare moments of insight.
Laura Peters, MA
Laura Peters, MA is a Qualified Instructor of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction who blends mindfulness with insights from nature and neuroscience. Since 2000, she has taught mindfulness in fitness, health care, business and non-profit settings, and has given inspiring presentations in settings ranging from farms to regional and national conferences.
Marla Plotnick, MSW, PPCC
Marla Plotnick works with individuals who want to get unstuck and develop a growth mindset for navigating life challenges. When our coping skills get overwhelmed by life’s circumstances we can develop chronic pain, illness, and mental health issues. She uses an evidence based mind/body approach to help clients develop their own toolboxes to process emotions, change thought patterns, tune into body signals, and practice self-care.
https://www.montrealtherapy.com/team_members/marla-plotnick/
Gillian Riley
After teaching a program on quitting smoking for 12 years, Gillian Riley ran her first course on “How to take Control of Overeating” in 1997. She holds weekend workshops in London and has delivered the course through webinars since 2017. Her work has as its focus the extraordinary and often ignored role of the mind in behavior change such as stopping smoking and eating less.
Jamie Shafir, LCSW
Jamie Shafir draws from her training in Pain Reprocessing Therapy, Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy, as well as Attachment-Based Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy to work with teens experiencing chronic illness. Jamie also offers an online youth workshop series for ten to twelve year olds, which focuses on developmentally appropriate, research-informed psychoeducation and exposure work.
Agnes Szymczak
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. 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.
Pamela Wirth
Pamela is a certified health coach using Hello Health’s 4 Steps to Transformation Methodology toward integrative and functional wellness. With an emphasis to helping busy moms with themselves, partners, children and aging family members have convenient access to community, tools, lab tests, nutrition, supplements and coaching to reclaim their lives so that they can support living a healthier daily routine. Pamela is also a published author, “Saving My Son”, and podcast host, Hello Health, encouraging others to regain agency over their health and understanding their family’s unique needs so that they may live their best health and wellness journey.
Matthew Zoltan
Matthew’s approach is for anyone who is ready to heal but tired of what therapists, religion, junk philosophies and sciences, or spiritual gurus have to offer. If you are eager to develop a deeper understanding of yourself and bring that change into action, Matthew can help you with this. He carefully curates retreat participants to ensure that you’ll only be surrounded by people who are serious about healing and deeply invested in self-development. Quiet Retreats are aimed at people who genuinely want to get to the bottom of what’s holding them back.
Tovah Goldfine
Dr. Tovah Goldfine is a Doctor of Chiropractic, Rehabilitation and Pain Solutions. She has assisted her patients with acute pain, chronic pain, autoimmune disease as well as tools and insights to take responsibility for their ultimate health and emotional well-being. She is a specialist in gentle Chiropractic treatment where she uses various techniques on the body assisting the alignment and muscular system to remove pressure from the nerves, ligaments, muscles, and other soft tissue structures.
Lois Prinz, CHt, CI, NLP, CNPM
Lois Prinz, Certified Hypnotherapist and Hypnotism trainer, is dedicated to working with clients experiencing chronic pain. She has created a 15 hour digital training entitled, ThinkPainAway.net. Lois has produced 25 Hypnosis CDs and co-authored The Heart of Hypnosis and Deep Healing Workbook with Dr. Emmett Miller, MD., and is the only Hypnotist holding certification in Nutritional Pain Management.
Organizations & Associations
American Chronic Pain Association
The mission of the American Chronic Pain Association is to facilitate peer support, education, and hope for individuals living with pain conditions. The association strives to raise awareness among the health care community, policymakers, and the public at large about issues of living with physical and emotional pain. Today several hundred ACPA support groups meet across the US and in Canada, Great Britain, and many other countries. The ACPA’s unique materials are a primary resource for individuals seeking to improve the quality of their lives and for the professionals who help them.
Hoffman Institute
The Hoffman Institute Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to transformative adult education, spiritual growth, and the personal dimensions of leadership. We serve a diverse population from all walks of life – business professionals, stay-at-home parents, therapists, students, tradespeople – who are seeking clarity in all aspects of their lives. Through its proprietary methodology, participants learn how to transform counterproductive beliefs, perceptions, and emotional patterns that are limiting their lives.
SIRPA
Chronic pain is now the leading cause of disability, affecting 20 – 30% of the global population and SIRPA’s vision is to help bring an end to chronic pain worldwide. By cultivating a community of ambassadors for this emerging approach to chronic pain, SIRPA’s mission is to help people in pain understand how the body and mind work, and to provide them with the tools to live a full, active and healthy life.
The Process is a nine-week program of directed psychotherapy, conducted by licensed therapists, that delves deeply into childhood experiences to bring greater aliveness and freedom to clients’ lives today. It involves every aspect of our human being-ness – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual – to help people effectively heal past wounds and reach transformative new self-insights. The structured yet highly individualized intensive Process format has been time-tested over more than five decades. Its uniquely powerful blend of therapeutic experiences, in weekly small group and private sessions, allows each participant to separate from old patterns and outdated beliefs, to become the person they truly are and were meant to be.
Events & Conferences