Wednesday, January 10, 2018

How an Online Group Can Help You

I’ve lived with chronic pain myself for 28 years, and for the last 5 years, since I’ve been practicing the neuroplastic method, it’s gotten better and better – and I’m able to be active from morning until night!

You may have looked at my website, thought about your symptoms, and wished that you lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, where my Medical Counseling practice is located. Or perhaps you live with chronic pain and read Norman Doidge’s book, The Brain’s Way of Healing, and wanted to learn the neuroplastic method developed by Drs. Moskowitz and Golden — but you live in the Midwest, or the East Coast, or the South, or Canada. Maybe you have a friend who was in one of my groups, “A Change of Mind: Neuroplastic Tools for Healing,” and who already has less anxiety, more energy, or less pain, but it’s simply too far for you to drive to Berkeley.

If so, you are the person who inspired me to take my group to the Internet. My first online session of “A Change of Mind: Neuroplastic Tools for Healing” was held in autumn 2017, with participants from many different places. Using Zoom videoconferencing technology, and with the help of “Steve the Tech Guy,” every participant was able to connect with me and with each other, support and be supported, and learn about the brain, neuroplasticity, the neuroplastic method I adapted from Drs. Moskowitz and Golden, as well as many techniques, all of which help us (yes, me too!) change brain pathways associated with symptoms of chronic pain, anxiety, depression, negative/unhelpful thought patterns, and symptoms of chronic illness. By doing so, over time, we begin to rewire our own brains so our symptoms can gradually be reduced, and some can even be eliminated.
The new online session of “A Change of Mind: Neuroplastic Tools for Healing” will begin February 7, 2018 — Wednesdays 3:30 to 5:30 PM PST
There will be eight meetings of two hours each. It’s easy to use the technology, and the Tech Guy will be there each time to help anyone as needed. You can be in your own home, in any position that’s comfortable, and you have a choice each time of being seen by video or simply heard by audio (you can participate even if it’s a “bad hair day!”).

The cost is $500, and if you are experiencing financial limitations, there is a sliding scale available. I want you to feel better!

A few representative comments from both online and in-person group participants:

  • This group was a great way to connect with others facing health challenges and to learn to use tools to improve symptoms. Overall, a high-quality group!
  • Being in a group of people who understand pain is a huge thing.
  • This group was very helpful to me as I struggled with illness.
  • Being part of an online community for 8 weeks, especially the check-in at the beginning, helped with motivation.
  • I use many of the tools to help me deal with symptoms and anxiety.
  • I am more cheerful and happier.
  • Wonderful. Inspiring and encouraging. Way more positivity with purposeful upbeat thoughts. Mood better. More hope.
  • Using these principles (MIRROR) to apply to other important life issues beside pain is also very life-changing; it opens to moving in another direction.
  • I have less pain already – a real breakthrough after 30 years of chronic back pain. It’s uneven, but to move and not have pain is amazing!
  • The facilitator is excellent – I don’t know where else I would get this process from someone who could present it so well for non-medical people.

In addition to the online group, I have two in-person groups starting in early February. More information and sign-up form are on my website’s Change of Mind Groups page.

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