Most chronic pain care ignores one of the most powerful drivers of symptoms: our emotions.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Mark Lumley, a leading researcher in Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET), to explore how unprocessed emotions, trauma, and life stressors can directly influence pain — and what to do about it.

We break down:
-The differences and overlaps between EAET and Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)
-How to help patients shift from body-focused to brain-focused views of pain
-Cultural and healthcare system barriers to addressing emotions in pain care
-Practical, evidence-based strategies for clinicians and patients
-Where the research is heading — and what it means for the future of pain treatment

Resources Mentioned:
• Dr. Mark Lumley’s University Page: https://clasprofiles.wayne.edu/profile/aa5664
• Howard Schubiner’s Unlearn Your Pain: https://unlearnyourpain.com/unlearn-your-pain-book/
• Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms (ATNS): https://symptomatic.me

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00:00 Introduction to Pain Reprocessing Therapy
01:58 Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy Unpacked
04:51 The Divergence of PRT and EAET
07:17 Cultural and Systemic Barriers to Emotional Expression
09:54 Techniques for Shifting Perspectives on Pain
12:12 The Role of Emotional Awareness in Pain Management
16:37 Expressing Emotions: Techniques and Challenges
23:04 The Healing Transition: Integrating Emotions in Pain Management
23:16 Neuroimaging Insights: Understanding Brain Changes During Therapy
25:43 Critiques of Neurocentric Approaches in Pain Therapy
27:01 The Complexity of Pain: Balancing Brain and Body Perspectives
30:34 Training Practitioners: Who Should Deliver Pain Interventions?
33:28 Bridging the Mind-Body Divide in Pain Management
35:39 Future Directions: Expanding Emotional Awareness in Pain Therapy
42:22 Resources for Practitioners: Training and Support in EAET

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Modern Pain Care is a company dedicated to spreading evidence-based and person-centered information about pain, prevention, and overall fitness and wellness