Frequently Asked Questions
THE SCIENCE
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Is the mindbody approach trying to say that I'm making up my pain? That it's all in my head?
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Why do I have this pain but other people don't?
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Does mindbody medicine align with modern pain science?
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MEDICAL COMMUNITY
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Why haven't my doctors told me about mindbody medicine?
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Is mindbody medicine accepted in the mainstream?
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RESOURCES
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Where else can I go to learn more about mindbody medicine?
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Can I visit a practitioner who specializes in mindbody medicine?
THE SCIENCE
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IS THE MINDBODY APPROACH TRYING TO SAY THAT I'M MAKING UP MY PAIN? THAT IT'S ALL IN MY HEAD?
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No. The pain of a migraine is excruciating, and it results from real physical changes that are taking place in the body. Migraines are never your fault.
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However, the physical changes that take place in your body during a migraine are reversible. The mindbody approach to migraines focuses on teaching you how to reverse these painful changes quickly, and prevent them from recurring.
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WHY DO I HAVE THIS PAIN BUT OTHER PEOPLE DON'T?
Everyone’s experience of pain is unique. Most people experience physical reactions to strong emotions and stress levels at some point - whether it’s through migraines, back pain, or beyond.
Your pain may be more constant, persistent, or inconvenient than most people’s - but that does not mean that you are broken or damaged. The part of your brain that controls the experience of pain may be more sensitive than most, and there is nothing wrong with that. The mindbody approach helps you to calm that part of the brain faster, turning the volume down on your pain.
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DOES MINDBODY MEDICINE ALIGN WITH MODERN PAIN SCIENCE?
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Yes. Our understanding of how the body processes pain has evolved over the centuries. Here is a (very brief) overview:
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Prior to 1664: Pain in your body was assumed to be of mystical or religious origin, for example a punishment from god.
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1664: The French philosopher and scientist Rene Descartes provides the first scientific explanation of pain. He theorizes that pain signals are initiated at a site in the body (like your hand, stomach, or head) then sent to the brain. The brain just sits around waiting for these signals and doesn’t really have any control over the situation.
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1811: The “Specificity Theory” offers that the brain distinguishes pain from other perceptions (such as pleasure, itching, heat, and cold) either because pain travels on different nerves or because pain travels via different energy along the same nerves.
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1874: The “Intensive Theory” argues against the Specificity Theory by claiming that all sensory perceptions travel along the same nerves with the same energy, but that the sensation of pain was a result of the intensity of the stimulus. And that this intensity could be influenced by psychological factors. For the first time, the brain is not seen as a passive bystander.
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1960’s: Ronald Melzack and Patrick Wall introduce the “Gate Control Theory” to reconcile all previous theories on pain. Gate Control Theory says that - as pain signals travel from the body to the brain - they encounter “gates” along the way. Open gates equate to more pain, closed gates equate to less pain. Psychological factors in the brain affect the opening and closing of the gates, which in turn influences how pain is felt.
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Current: In 1996, Melzack proposes the “Neuromatrix Theory” of pain. This states for the first time that pain is actively produced by the brain, rather than damaged tissue in the body. When creating pain, the brain pulls information from many places - including areas that govern emotions and past experiences.
After centuries of increasing awareness about what causes pain, we now know that emotions and past experiences play an enormous role. This is especially true for chronic pain.
Mindbody medicine provides a way to address these emotional factors that the brain uses to create pain. In this way, chronic pain can be reduced or outright eliminated.
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MEDICAL COMMUNITY
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WHY HAVEN'T MY DOCTORS TOLD ME ABOUT MINDBODY MEDICINE?
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For centuries, the practice of health care has followed in the tradition of “dualism.” That is, the mind and the body are seen as separate and distinct entities. And the treatment of mind and body are separated into the fields of psychiatry and medicine, respectively.
Health care providers in the field of medicine are trained to treat the body. They search for a cure by looking in the physical area where the symptoms are located. If the head hurts, then something must be physically wrong with the head. If the back hurts, then something must be wrong with the back. So we take scans, undergo operations, and consume medicine that try to alter the physical area where pain is located.
Over the years, this approach of isolating the physical body as something separate from the whole person has led to extraordinary medical breakthroughs in the areas of cancer, infectious disease, heart disease and more. People are living longer fuller lives as a result.
But some conditions do not fit neatly into “body only” or “mind only.” Ongoing pain is one of these conditions.
It therefore comes as no surprise that - in a survey spanning 12 academic centers - only 34% of primary care physicians reported feeling comfortable treating people with chronic pain. They are simply not trained to treat conditions that bridge across both mind and body.
So, if your doctor hasn’t told you about this type of treatment, then it’s not their fault. It is a product of how our health care professionals are trained. Fortunately, a growing number of doctors and medical institutions are adopting mindbody principles, and we believe that this trend will continue.
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IS MINDBODY MEDICINE ACCEPTED IN THE MAINSTREAM?
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The seminal report on chronic pain, “Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care, Education, and Research,” states the following:
"The mindbody perspective is now generally accepted and has been found useful by clinicians in various disciplines.”
Across America we are seeing a growth in the number of integrative medicine clinics - especially at the country’s top medical institutions. In addition, there are many well-known physicians who believe in treating both the mind and the physical body of patients with certain conditions.
All of us - medical providers and laypeople alike - are continuing to gain a better understanding of the interplay between the mind and the body.
We at Curable are confident that the trend of treating the mind and the body together for certain conditions will only grow in its reach and acceptance.
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RESOURCES
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WHERE ELSE CAN I GO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MINDBODY MEDICINE?
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There are so many great resources on mindbody medicine, many of which are the products of physicians. We hope that you read, watch, and educate yourself using these resources.
After you've done so, and when you are ready to eliminate physical pain from your life, please come back to Curable any time and allow us to help you along your journey.
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VIDEOS
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Trailer for “All the Rage” - a documentary about Dr. John Sarno and his approach
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20/20 Segment on Dr. John Sarno and his cure for chronic pain
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Dr. Sarno testifying before a U.S. Senate committee chaired by Sen. Tom Harkin, himself cured of chronic pain via mindbody medicine
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“Back in Control” book trailer
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Dr. David Hanscom on Fox News Health
ARTICLES
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Doctors reach surprising conclusion in treating kids' migraines
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“Thank You Dr. Sarno” - A collection of stories from recovered chronic pain patients
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America's Best Doctor and His Miracle Cures: Dr. John E. Sarno
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How America's Best Pain Doctor - John Sarno - Took On The Medical Establishment and Won
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BOOKS
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The Mindbody Prescription by Dr. John Sarno
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Healing Back Pain by Dr. John Sarno
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The Divided Mind by Dr. John Sarno
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Mind Over Back Pain by Dr. John Sarno
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Unlearn Your Pain by Dr. Howard Schubiner
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They Can't Find Anything Wrong by Dr. Dave Clarke
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Back In Control by Dr. David Hanscom
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The Meaning of Truth by Nicole Sachs, LCSW
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Think Away Your Pain by Dr. David Schecter
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Molecules of Emotion: The Science Behind Mind-Body Medicine by Dr. Candace Pert
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CAN I VISIT A PRACTITIONER WHO SPECIALIZES IN MINDBODY MEDICINE?
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Our #1 goal at Curable is to ensure that - of the 30+ million Americans suffering from migraines - as many of them as possible get exposure to the mindbody approach. Whether people commit to getting better is their decision. But we can at least try our best to let people know that this cure is out there.
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Curable has strong connections to many practitioners of Mindbody therapy. In fact, our founders and family members were guided through Mindbody therapy programs by some of the best out there.
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If you are interested in an introduction to any of the following practitioners, please let us know! Or feel free to reach out to them directly.
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CALIFORNIA
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Los Angeles
David Schechter, MD
8500 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 705
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(310) 657-1022
and 10811 Washington Blvd., Suite 250
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 836- 2225
http://www.mindbodymedicine.com
Clive M Segil, MD
2080 Century Park East, Suite 500
Los Angeles, CA 90067
(310) 203-5490
Susan Basset, MSW, LCSW
18319 Linnet
Tarzana, CA 91356
(818) 345-0260
Will Baum, LCSW
437 S. Robertson Blvd., Suite B
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(323) 610-0112
Alan Gordon, LCSW
1247 7th St., Suite 300
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 945-6811
Michelle Gottlieb, Psy.D., MFT
305 N. Harbor Blvd., Suite 202
Fullerton, CA 92831
714-879-5868 x5
Helene Green, LCSW
18319 Linnet
Tarzana, CA 91356
(818) 996-5296
Phil Green, PhD
18319 Linnet
Tarzana, CA 91356
(818) 996-0777
Susan Mendenhall, PsyD
10436 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 3050
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 558-8091
Nancy Sokolow, LCSW
530 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 310
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 393-2020
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San Francisco Bay Area
Parvez Fatteh, MD
24301 Southland Dr, #411
Hayward, CA 94545
(510) 265-5795
Parvez Fatteh, MD
115 Ryan Industrial Ct. #208
San Ramon, CA 94583
(925) 552-6363
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Santa Cruz
Bruce Eisendorf, MD
2025 Soquel Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 458-5524
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COLORADO
Evana Henri, PhD
Clinical/Health Psychologist
2101 Ken Pratt Blvd. Suite 200
Longmont, CO 80501
720-771-9248
evanahenri@accessyoureverest.com
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CONNECTICUT
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Leslie Reis, LCSW
75 Kings Highway Cutoff
Fairfield, CT 06824
(203) 333-1133
Dario M Zagar, MD
Associated Neurologists of Southern Connecticut
75 Kings Highway Cutoff
Fairfield, CT 06824
(203) 333-1133
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DELAWARE
Nicole Sachs, LCSW
Lewes, Delaware 19958
http://www.thecureforchronicpain.com/
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Andrea Leonard-Segal, MD
George Washington University Center for Integrative Medicine
Suite 200
908 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037
(202) 833-5055
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FLORIDA
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Scott Brady, MD
The Brady Institute for Health
P.O. Box 2982
Windermere, FL 34786
(407) 876-1888
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ILLINOIS
John Stracks, MD
Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group
Center for Integrative Medicine and Wellness
1100 E. Huron Street
Suite 1100
Chicago, IL 60611
312-926-DOCS (3627)
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IOWA
Meg Eginton, MFA, RSME-T
Eginton Alignment Somatic Movement Therapy and Education
Virtue Medicine Studio and Clinics
221 East College Street, Suite 212, Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: 319-338-5190
Fax: 319-354-3718
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MARYLAND
Barbara A. Kline, LCSW-C
Prospect Cottage
113 S. Prospect St.
Hagerstown, MD 21740
prospectcottagetherapies.com
301-745-1900
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MASSACHUSETTS
Boston area
Eugenio Martinez, MD
The Spine Center- New England Baptist Hospital Bone and Joint Institute
125 Parker Hill Avenue
Boston, MA 02120
emartine@caregroup.harvard.edu
(617) 754-5246
Ronald D. Siegel, Psy.D.
20 Long Meadow Road
Lincoln, MA 01773
(781) 259-3434
East Sandwich
Jay E. Rosenfeld, MD
311 Service Road
East Sandwich, MA 02537
(508) 833-4000
Fall River
Douglas R. Johnson, MD
363 Highland Ave.
Fall River, MA 02720
(508) 679-7156
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Swampscott
Alexander Angelov, MD
(781) 598-4321
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MICHIGAN
Howard Schubiner, MD
Providence Hospital
Department of Internal Medicine
16001 W. Nine Mile Rd.
Southfield, MI 48075
(248) 849-4728
http://www.unlearnyourpain.com
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MINNESOTA
Doug Hoffman, MD
SMDC Sports Medicine and Orthopedics
400 E. Third St.
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 786-3520
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NEW HAMPSHIRE
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Marc Sopher, MD
27 Hampton Road
Exeter, NH 03833
http://www.themindbodysyndrome.com
(603) 772-5684
(603) 772-5256 fax
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NEW JERSEY
Moorestown
David H. Kim, MD
704 East Main St
Suite A
Moorestown, NJ 08057
http://www.PainManagementSolutionsInc.com
(856) 608-1130
Somerset
Paul Gwozdz, MD
Board Certified in Family Practice
710 Easton Avenue, Suite 1A
Somerset, NJ 08873
(732) 545-4100
Englewood
Robert Paul Evans, Ph.D.
163 Engle Street
Englewood, New Jersey, 07631
201-569-3328
Scotch Plains
Stanley Malkin, PhD
1814 E.Second St.
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
908-663-2099
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NEW YORK
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New York City
Ira Rashbaum, MD
Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine
400 East 34th Street
New York, NY 10016
(212) 263-6328
Roy Stern, MD
Dermatologist
800A Fifth Avenue
Suite 403
New York, NY 10021
(212) 421-SKIN (7546)
Frances Sommer Anderson, Ph.D.
140 East 40th Street #12A
New York, NY 10016
212-661-7588
Eric Sherman, Ph.D.
19 West 34th Street, Suite PH-13
New York, NY 10001
212-947-7111 x227
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Melanie Nevis
Personal Coaching
New York and Boston areas
917-204-5762
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Albany
Dr. Patricia Coughlin
48 Columbia Street #2
Albany, NY 12207
518-859-3960 www.patriciacoughlin.com
Roslyn
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Frank J. Padrone, PhD, ABPP
Psychology
1025 Northern Blvd.
Roslyn, NY 11576
516-627-0942
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OREGON
Mary Wells, LCSW
541. 213. 9833
Wellnesspaincare.com
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PENNSYLVANIA
Randy A. Cohen, D.O.
Pain Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialists
160 North Pointe Blvd
Suite 115
Lancaster, PA 17601
(717) 560-4480
(717) 560-4485 Fax
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SOUTH CAROLINA
Jim Moran, LISW-CP
Keystone Counseling and Consulting
156 Milestone Way, Suite B
Greenville, SC 29615
(864) 297-5377
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TENNESSEE
Alicia B. Batson, MD
Center for the Treatment of Psychophysiologic Disorders
2021 Richard Jones Road, 340B
Nashville, TN 37215
(615) 788-3557
Matthew McClanahan, DO
Center for Integrative Medicine
320 E. Main Street, Suite 200
Chattanooga, TN 37408
(423) 643-2246
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TEXAS
Dallas-Fort Worth
Jonna Lee Barta, PhD
101 W !McDermott
Suite 109
Allen, TX 75013
(972) 727-7378
John Sklar, MD
Board Certified in Physical Medicine/Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine
2500 West Freeway
Suite 400
Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 870-1868
Killeen
MaryAnn Schaffer, PhD
One Killeen Center
Executive Suite 108-7
Killeen, TX 76541
(254) 718-2952
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WASHINGTON
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Mark G Strom, MD
Integrative Health
Medical Acupuncture
1370 Stewart St, Suite 202
Seattle, WA 98109
(425) 922-7576
http://www.integrativehealthmd.com
David Hanscom, MD
Spine Specialists at Swedish Hospital Neuroscience Institute
550 17th Ave. James Tower, 5th Floor
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 320-2800
Joel Konikow, MD
Swedish Pain Services - First Hill
600 Broadway Suite 530
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 386-2013
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