Unstoppable Body and Mind

In this Episode I have the pleasure of interviewing Charlie Merrill,a well-known physical therapist specializing in the mind-body approach, to discuss the importance of emotional and physical healing in patient care. Learn more about how pain and many bodily symptoms are frequently generated by the brain as a protective state rather than only by tissue damage, and the importance of distinguishing...

You may have heard of the Love Language concept- that there are 5 main "Love Languages" which represent the ways we receive love best.  Most of the time this concept is used in relationships, but what if we turned them inward?  Self love is the biggest tool to recovery, so in this episode we explore the ways you could apply the five love languages to YOURSELF! Self-love isn’t indulgent — it’s regu...

Here's a quick recap of my 2025, where I took a step back from coaching, focused on Grief Recovery, and explored other things that brought me joy. The biggest change was my name- going from "Betsy" to "Elle" for my 50th Birthday.   *Correction- at about 6:40 I meant to say "placebo", instead of "nocebo."  Hope that makes more sense. Listen for more, and click subscribe because this year I'll be re...

In this episode, we welcome Jake Trembath, a dance teacher from Utah, who shares his journey from discovering dance as a social outlet to using it as a tool for psychological healing and brain rewiring. Jake explains how dance can help process emotions, improve self-love, and create a flow state that is beneficial for personal growth. He discusses the impact of dance on mental and physical health,...

Wow, I had an MRI done on my back and I talk about my surprising results in this episode.  I’ve had some previous back issues- a snowboarding injury and a mid back problem with my rib that developed during pregnancy.   A couple times in the last few years that my back “went out” for a few days (last time was over a year ago.)     I do not have chronic back pain, and I do not have to restrict my ac...

Today I have a special guest, a leader in the field of Mindbody medicine and President of the ATNS (Association for Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms, formerly PPDA), Dr David Clarke. Dr Clarke practiced Gastroenterology in Portland from 1984 to 2009, treating over 7000 patients whose symptoms were not explained by diagnostic testing.    In this episode, Dr Clarke summarizes Pain relief Psycholog...

Fellow Physical Therapist, Jim Prussack, joins me today for an interesting interview about his experience moving from PT to pain reprocessing Coach. We discuss the principles of PRT (pain reprocessing therapy), and how we treat differently using a mind vs body based approach. Check out Jim at https://www.thepainpt.com/ >>> If you have not yet given my podcast a rating or review, PLEASE do...

This Meditation will help you find and process your emotions.   Many of us have learned to subconsciously repress our emotions, to talk ourselves out of them or judge ourselves for having them.   But we also know that what you resist persists.   So sometimes the best way to “get rid of the emotion” is actually to lean into and embrace it.   Emotions are just sensations, and can not hurt you as lon...

Join me today to hear Hypnotist, Melissa Tiers, as we discuss integrative hypnosis and how it helps with chronic pain. Melissa has been training clinicians in the use of hypnosis for pain relief for over 25 years and her own chronic pain history was pivotal in the creation of her pain protocols.   Melissa struggled with years of migraines and is now migraine-free through this approach (as long as...

Today I interviewed Renee Kammer, who has an amazing healing story.  From 30 years of chronic pain and 5 years being bed bound, to now hiking, biking, and gardening. Renee had several diagnoses, including: Stiff person’s syndrome, Ulcerative colitis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, Migraines, Back pain, Hip pain, Anxiety, Depression, Pelvic pain/ IC, Chronic...

This episode includes a 6 minute technique you can do to deactivate your triggers. My coach who studies hypnotherapy taught me this somatic hack to decrease the intense feelings of a trigger. It is not to ignore the trigger or brush it under a rug, but to make it more emotionally manageable so it can be processed and let go. Think of something that triggers you, and try the process along with me i...

This episode is a clip from an Alignment Academy group coaching call.   Listen in to see how I apply somatic tools in a real life situation to help Carrie feel calmer and even excited about a situation that caused anxiety. If you are interested in a supportive coaching community to help accelerate your progress, check out Alignment Academy here: https://www.bodyandmindlifecoach.com/somatic-coachin...

In this episode, I interview Tai Kuncio.  She is a fellow moderator in the "Tell Me About Your Pain" Facebook Group. ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/695823314550483 )   Tai had various pains starting in childhood, which they attributed to being athletic.  But she struggled the most with chronic knee pain. At one point after knee surgery, she was doing physical therapy 4 to 5 hours per day and st...

This week I share an interview with my client, Lucas.   He struggled with several years of anxiety that was getting worse and more debilitating with time.   At times it was even difficult for him to go to the store or to lunch with a friend without worrying, "what if I get an anxiety attack?"   After 3 months of somatic coaching with me, Lucas felt like he had found the missing piece.  He had alre...

In this episode, I interview 3 women with amazing healing stories.  We all met as Moderators for the "Tell Me About Your Pain" Facebook group created by Alan Gordon.   Kristina has a list of symptoms that were healed with the mind-body approach.  Including anxiety, eating disorders, depression, hypothyoroidism, adrenal fatigue, POTS, leaky gut, histamine intolerance, insomnia, adrenal insufficienc...

This Episode is what Dr Schubiner calls "The Six F's" in his book "Unlearn Your Pain"   These are natural reactions to pain, but they also cause the brain to amplify the pain or symptoms.   Here are the 6 F's, listen for more info:   "Fear of the pain or other symptom: We fear the sensation of it as it can be so severe and unpleasant; we worry about whether it will go away and when or when it will...

In this episode I put together the 10 biggest myths I've seen around pain (especially chronic pain).   Lots of new pain research is coming out, so if you think you know about pain (like I did as a Physical Therapist), there may be some new findings that surprise you.   Here are the 10 biggest myths about pain, and be sure to listen for more explanation on each of them:   1-pain equals tissue damag...

Anxiety is a symptom that goes hand in hand with chronic pain and disease. In this episode I talk about what anxiety is, how it affects the body, why it's so common, and how to unlearn it! I give an example from my own life, and some techniques you can use to teach your brain to produce anxiety less and less. If you are looking to support your growth in a loving, fun and nurturing community, check...

Pain when things are good is a phenomenon I see when people are unlearning pain and learning to regulate their nervous systems.   When you're used to being in high alert, then letting your guard down and feeling safe can actually seem dangerous.   We can expand our ability to stay in the "rest and repair state" longer, but some people have learned resting is "lazy" or having fun is "selfish".   Wa...

Anxiety may be a familiar state for you - whether you have chronic pain or not.   Anxiety is the nervous system state of "Flight".  We are often not running from a tiger, but we are running to do more, scan for danger, and fix problems.   Anxiety is uncomfortable in the body, and prompts action- doing or thinking constantly to feel better.   The solution to unlearning anxiety and teaching the brai...

Did you know play and fun may be the missing piece to your healing?   Our society tells us we must work hard to get what we want, and we may discredit things that seem too easy.   But there are many scientific benefits of play.   We can learn faster (It takes only 10-40 repetitions in play, vs 400 repetitions).   Play, happiness or joy release endorphins (pain relieving qualities).   Play improves...

One habit that leads to the perpetuation of chronic pain is being in high alert.   Do you often go to the worst case scenario?  Do you habitually worry?  When you don't have pain are you thinking about when the pain may return? These are signs you are living in high alert, and making your pain worse.   When the brain is in a high alert, fear based state, then it can percieve normal signals in the...

New pain science teaches something different than what I learned in Physical Therapy school  20 years ago.   Pain is not directly related to the amount of injury present in the body.   Pain does not indicate tissue damage, but rather pain is a danger signal.   Research into chronic pain shows the brain actually processes it differently once it’s lasted past 3-6 months.   There are 44 areas of the...

This episode was part of a video I created to "Meet the Moderator" in the Tell Me About Your Pain Facebook Group.   They had me answer some questions about myself and my healing journey, and I wanted to share that with you here.   If you are want to spend some time learning with me, while you get to know yourself and how to rewire your symptoms, be sure and join my Virtual Retreat September 2 and...

I'm excited to share this episode with a special guest- Life Coach and Host of "The Masterful Coach Podcast", Molly Claire   When she agreed to be on my podcast, I had no idea how much our work has in common.      Molly helps women in coaching, motherhood and family life become more self connected and empowered.     Like this work, she helps her clients reach a state of greater well being.   I did...