Ever notice how your chronic pain worsens during stress but mysteriously disappears when you're deeply engaged in something meaningful? That's exactly what chronic pain recovery coach Gemma McFall discovered during her decade-long battle with debilitating back pain.

From meticulous symptom tracking (she literally mapped six specific pain points daily) to endless medical treatments across continents, Gemma's healing journey dramatically shifted when she discovered the mind-body approach through Dr. John Sarno's work. Within three months, she experienced her first pain-free day – not by fighting harder against her pain, but by understanding its true origins.

What makes Gemma's approach uniquely powerful is her focus on personality strengths. Rather than viewing traits like perfectionism and high achievement as problems to overcome, she helps clients recognize these as fundamental aspects of themselves that simply need balancing. Using the Gallup Strengths Finder assessment, she guides people to leverage their natural strengths while avoiding the burnout that contributes to physical symptoms.

"I realized there was a direct correlation – on days when I couldn't express my 'Achiever' strength, I'd get pain. And on days when I used it too much, I'd also get pain," Gemma explains. This insight led to her development of the "4P" coaching framework: Pain understanding, Personality insights, Past experiences, and Practical tools – a comprehensive approach that meets each client exactly where they are.

Whether you're mapping your own pain patterns obsessively or feeling lost in an endless cycle of treatments, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on recovery.

Connect with Gemma here:

Website - https://gemmamcfall.com/

Free Self Assessment - https://gemmamcfall.com/free/

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/gemmamcfall

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gemmamcfall/

Tanner Murtagh and Anne Hampson are therapists who treat neuroplastic pain and mind-body symptoms. They are also married! In his 20s, Tanner overcame chronic pain and a fibromyalgia diagnosis by learning his symptoms were occurring due to learned brain pathways and nervous system dysregulation. Post-healing, Tanner and Anne have dedicated their lives to developing effective treatment and education for neuroplastic pain and symptoms. Listen and learn how to assess your own chronic pain and symptoms, gain tools to retrain the brain and nervous system, and make gradual changes in your life and health!

The Mind-Body Couple podcast is owned by Pain Psychotherapy Canada Inc. This podcast is produced by Alex Klassen, who is one of the wonderful therapists at our agency in Calgary, Alberta. https://www.painpsychotherapy.ca/

Tanner, Anne, and Alex also run the MBody Community, which is an in-depth online course that provides step-by-step guidance for assessing, treating, and resolving mind-body pain and symptoms. https://www.mbodycommunity.com

Also check out Tanner's YouTube channel for more free education and practices: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Fl6WaFHnh4ponuexaMbFQ

And follow us for daily education posts on Instagram: @painpsychotherapy

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