Clinicians often feel pressure to have the perfect answer immediately. But patients don’t expect perfection, they expect honesty. In this clip, Faith Stokes shares why saying “I don’t know. Let me look into that.” can actually build trust and relieve pressure for both clinician and patient. #short
Many clinicians experience frustration, judgment, or self-criticism during difficult cases. But what if those reactions are pointing to something deeper? In this clip, Faith Stokes shares a powerful reflection: look for the feeling under the feeling—often it’s simply that you care and want to help. #short
Clinicians rarely get trained in sales, but the core skill is understanding the problem you’re trying to solve. In this clip, Mark shares why suspending our preconceived treatment packages can lead to more individualized care. Listen first, validate the problem, then build the solution together. #short
Many clinicians feel pressure to show up as the “expert.” But what if that actually pushes patients away? In this clip, Faith Stokes explains why letting patients be the expert in their own experience can build trust and help them feel like they’re in the right place. #short
What if the best thing you could bring to a complex pain case… is curiosity instead of certainty? In this episode, Mark Kargela sits down with physical therapist and pelvic health specialist Faith Stokes to explore what trauma-informed, psychologically informed care actually looks like in practice. When patients present with…
Many clinicians are trained to search for biomechanical “faults” to fix. But research often shows a weaker connection between biomechanics and pain than we expect. This shift in perspective can change how we approach complex pain care #short
You can have every assessment tool and research paper memorized, but without strong communication, progress can stall. Therapeutic alliance and contextual factors often shape outcomes more than we expect. Follow for more insights to help you build better clinician–patient relationships. #short
Many clinicians start their careers believing they need to fix every patient themselves. But great pain care isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about being a guide, staying curious, and learning alongside others. Follow for more insights to help you grow as a clinician. #short
What if biomechanics isn’t the reason your patients improve? And what if your best “tool” isn’t a tool at all? In this episode, I sit down with exercise physiologist Samuel Bulten to unpack the identity shift many clinicians face when persistent pain doesn’t respond to traditional care. We discuss: •…
When patients cannot distinguish physical sensation from emotional state, the somatic spiral begins. Mindfulness improves interoceptive accuracy, helping patients better interpret body signals and regulate emotion. The result is fewer spirals and more clarity. #short
Guidelines inform your care—but they don’t replace your reasoning. Population data will never perfectly fit the person in front of you. The real skill? Knowing when to follow, when to adapt, and being able to explain why. #short
How much of your patient’s pain is happening before they even move? Anticipatory threat processing can amplify the pain experience. Mindfulness may help dial that down before graded exposure begins. Use it as a pre-exposure tool to improve tolerance and learning.
What happens when a chronic pain patient doesn’t match the “expected” pattern? In reality, variability is the rule—not the exception—and clinical reasoning begins where patterns fall apart. If this resonates, join our Mindfulness Webinar this Saturday to explore how flexible, ACT-informed thinking changes practice. #short
How often do we tell patients to “just relax” when they’re in pain? If relaxation becomes a strategy to control or eliminate pain, it can actually amplify resistance. Learn the neurologic distinction through an ACT-informed lens—and join our Mindfulness Webinar this Saturday to go deeper.
What if the guideline isn’t wrong—but incomplete? And what if your patient isn’t “non-compliant”—just complex? In this episode, I’m joined by Joost Van Wijchen to explore the tension between clinical guidelines and the messy reality of practice. We unpack the concept of mindlines—the experience-shaped frameworks that actually guide what we…
Mindfulness for pain isn’t candles and breathing apps. It’s measurable, mechanism-based analgesia. In this episode, we break down what the neuroscience actually shows about mindfulness and pain modulation—and why it works through pathways completely independent of opioids. You’ll learn: • How mindfulness decouples sensation from suffering (insula vs. prefrontal activity)…
Most patients are never shown how to live well with pain—they’re only taught to chase a fix. This clip reframes our role as clinicians: expanding options, not dictating outcomes. #short
When patients compare themselves only to pre-injury or pre-pain life, progress feels impossible. This clip shows how redefining the starting point can restore motivation and meaning. Follow Modern Pain Care for practical tools that keep patients engaged. #short
When patients insist on pain reduction, they’re often expressing fear, distress, or a need to be taken seriously. This clip explores how safety, empathy, and trust can change the pain conversation itself. #short
What do you do when a patient says, “I don’t care about goals—I just want less pain”? This moment shows up every day in pain care—and how you respond can either reinforce stuckness or help someone get their life back. In this episode, Mark Kargela breaks down why pain reduction…
New grads feel it—the pressure to have the answer. But sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is, “This sucks, and I’m here with you.” This clip explores how clinicians can honor both professional responsibility and real human connection. #short
When someone’s living with chronic pain or a progressive condition, there may be no fix. But that doesn’t mean we have nothing to offer. Your honesty, presence, and willingness to stay in it with them can shift everything. #short
One nurse held her hand and let her cry. Another debated boy bands during a wash-up. These moments of human connection shaped her recovery far more than any procedure. The contrast with a detached specialist? Striking. Follow for more insights that help clinicians bring both skill and soul to care.…
🎙️ What happens when a clinician becomes the patient—and almost doesn’t survive? 💥 HLH. ICU. Life support. Then… powerlifting again. In this powerful episode, strength coach and physio Jared Maynard shares his shocking journey through a life-threatening diagnosis of HLH, his fight to stay alive, and what he learned about…