Heal Your Chronic Pelvic Pain

Even though no one can do the healing work for you, that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. For most of my own healing journey, I struggled to ask for help. Shame kept me from talking about what I was experiencing. Financial fears made support feel inaccessible. And because I knew no one else could heal me, I convinced myself there was no point in letting anyone support me. Looking back, I wish I had understood just how much easier it can be to navigate something hard, heavy, and uncertain when you have someone there who can guide and support you along the way. In this episode, I’m sharing why support has become one of the most valuable parts of my life, what it means to be supported without expecting someone else to fix you, and what individualized support can make possible along the chronic pelvic pain healing journey. I talk about: The shame, financial fears, and hyper-independence that kept me from asking for help Why understanding the mind-body approach intellectually isn’t always enough to help you implement it How co-regulation can support your nervous system when symptoms are loud or fear takes over What I help my 1:1 clients do when they feel scared, stuck, frustrated, or uncertain How individualized coaching helps us explore your specific symptoms, nervous system patterns, and life patterns How I help clients stay in the process without turning healing into another thing to fix Why many of my clients continue this work even after their chronic symptoms have resolved My 1:1 coaching practice will have a very limited number of openings soon. If you feel like individualized support may be the right next step for you, you can learn more about 1:1 coaching and join the waitlist below. Join the 1:1 coaching waitlist Joining the waitlist isn’t a commitment to coaching. It simply means you’ll be the first to know when consultation calls become available. Resources: Learn more about 1:1 coaching Join the 1:1 coaching waitlist Get Your Free Pain Flare Plan Follow me on Instagram: @thepelvicpaincoach

In this episode, I’m joined by Jessie Hoffer, an associate clinical social worker at the Pain Psychology Center. In this episode, Jessie shares her own experience with pelvic pain and pain during intimacy as well as her experience working with her clients. We explore how the cycle of fear, bracing, and pain can become a learned pattern and how healing involves supporting both the physical components and the fear response within the nervous system. We also talk about creating safety during intimacy, learning to advocate for your needs, and recognizing when relational or emotional factors may be contributing to a very real sense of unsafety. Jessie offers a compassionate look at how past experiences can shape our expectations in the present, even when our current circumstances are different. Together, we discuss: How anticipating pain can create a cycle of fear, bracing, and increased symptoms The role of safety in pain reprocessing and pelvic pain recovery Creating safety with your body, with a partner, and within yourself Learning to pause, recognize what’s happening, and choose a different response Why outcome independence is an ongoing practice Shifting from fixing and fighting your pain toward curiosity and compassion The stories pelvic pain can create about your future How to make space for grief while also offering your brain new possibilities Integrating pelvic floor physical therapy and other physical treatments with mind-body work Most importantly, this conversation is a reminder that even if you’ve been living with pain for months or years, your relationship with your body, your symptoms, and your future doesn’t have to keep looking the way it does today. Change is always possible. You can connect with Jessie through the Pain Psychology Center, on Instagram at @jesstalkaboutit , or by emailing jhoffer.therapy@gmail.com Connect with Rachel: Get Your Free Pain Flare Plan Join BCPP Instagram: thepelvicpaincoach Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

In this short episode, I’m sharing a phrase that helped me through some of the hardest moments in my own healing journey. We’ll talk about what happens when we stop using all of our energy to fight against the reality of where we are and instead ask: What do I need to support myself in moving through this? If you understand the mind-body approach in theory but need support applying it to your own symptoms, nervous system, and life, you can learn more about my program, Beyond Chronic Pelvic Pain here . Connect with Rachel: Get Your Free Pain Flare Plan Instagram: thepelvicpaincoach Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Have you ever felt like you’re just one podcast episode, one success story, one book, or one explanation away from finally healing your chronic pelvic pain? Maybe you keep searching for someone whose symptoms sound exactly like yours. Someone with the same diagnosis, the same symptoms, the same timeline, who fully recovered. Because if you can just find that person, maybe you’ll finally have the proof you need that healing is possible for you too. And not only that, the EXACT steps for you to take to get there. Oh, just me? In this episode, I’m talking about what I call the “missing piece fallacy”: the belief that if you’re still having symptoms, there must be something you haven’t learned yet. That there’s some magic missing piece of information that will be the key to healing. And while learning absolutely has a place in healing, there can come a point where constantly acquiring more information actually becomes a protective strategy from your nervous system. It feels productive. It feels like you’re taking action. But it can actually keep you spinning in inaction. At some point, your nervous system doesn’t need another explanation. It needs new lived experiences. In this episode, we talk about: Why constantly searching for more information can keep you stuck How learning can become a protective stalling strategy Why believing you’re “missing something” can become a danger signal in itself The difference between intellectually understanding safety and actually experiencing safety Why healing requires moving toward the things you’ve been avoiding because of symptoms What a corrective experience actually looks like (hint: it doesn’t necessarily mean doing something without symptoms) How to start taking small, tolerable steps toward the life you want to be living Why you are the safety you’ve been looking for You don’t have to wait until you’re pain-free to start living your life again. In fact, expanding your life while you heal can be a huge part of how you heal. If you’ve learned the pain science, listened to the podcasts, read the books, and you’re thinking, “Okay, I understand this... so why am I still stuck?” this episode is for you. Want support implementing this work? That’s exactly what I help you do inside Beyond Chronic Pelvic Pain . Inside the program, I help you move beyond simply understanding neuroplastic pain and start applying this work to your actual symptoms, nervous system, and life. Through the self-paced curriculum, weekly live group coaching, and private Q&A podcast, you’ll learn how to build safety with your body, with yourself, and within your life while you start moving back toward the things pain has taken from you, while rewiring your nervous system out of chronic pelvic pain. Learn more about Beyond Chronic Pelvic Pain here Connect with Rachel : Get Your Free Pain Flare Plan Instagram: thepelvicpaincoach Disclaimer : This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Have you ever found yourself wondering if you should postpone a vacation, skip an event, put off dating, or wait to make a big life decision until your symptoms are better? When you're living with chronic pelvic pain, it can feel like your symptoms are the thing keeping you from doing what you want. But often, there’s something else happening too: you’re waiting for a guarantee that you’ll feel good enough to enjoy the experience. And when you can’t get that guarantee, it can feel safer to wait. But in the waiting… we can miss out on our lives. In this episode, we’re talking about what it means to allow for imperfect experiences while healing. I share why it’s so important to reconnect with what you actually WANT, how to shift from “what if?” to “even if,” and how learning to support yourself through uncertainty can help you expand your life without waiting for your symptoms to disappear first. Because healing doesn’t have to mean putting your life on hold until you can guarantee you’ll feel good. Sometimes, the work is learning that an experience can be hard, imperfect, AND still incredibly worth having. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the desire for certainty can keep you from doing the things you really want to do How to reconnect with and amplify your desire instead of only listening to all the reasons your brain gives you not to do something Why allowing an experience to be imperfect is different from pushing through or forcing yourself to tolerate discomfort How all-or-nothing expectations can make an experience feel like it “wasn't worth it” unless you felt good the entire time How to shift from “What if…” to “Even if… Five questions to help you move toward experiences you want while making room for uncertainty How expanding your capacity for imperfect experiences can help you expand your life while healing Why this work can still feel really hard even when you know exactly “how” to do it, and why that doesn't mean you're doing it wrong Connect with Rachel: Get Your Free Pain Flare Plan Join BCPP Book A Pelvic Pain Strategy Session Instagram: thepelvicpaincoach Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

In this week's episode, I'm joined by registered dietitian, Callie Krajcir, to explore why the conversation around interstitial cystitis (IC) needs to change. We discuss the limitations (and potential harm) of the traditional IC diet, why food restriction can reinforce fear rather than facilitate healing, and how the nervous system often plays a much bigger role in chronic bladder symptoms than most healthcare providers realize. Callie shares her own journey from living with lifelong bladder pain, overactive bladder, pelvic floor dysfunction, and vulvodynia to finding relief through a mind-body approach. Together, we explore how fear around food can become part of the chronic symptom cycle, why the nervous system should be addressed with interstitial cystitis, and what a more flexible, hopeful approach to healing can look like. Whether you've been diagnosed with interstitial cystitis, struggle with chronic bladder symptoms, or have found yourself trapped in cycles of food restriction and symptom fear, this conversation will give you a broader framework for understanding what's happening and where healing is possible. In this episode, we discuss: Callie's personal journey recovering from interstitial cystitis, overactive bladder, pelvic floor dysfunction, and vulvodynia Why she no longer recommends the traditional IC diet for most people What the research actually says about food and interstitial cystitis The difference between true food sensitivities and nervous system-driven symptom responses How food fear can unintentionally reinforce chronic symptoms Why restrictive diets can keep the nervous system in a state of threat How pelvic floor dysfunction and nervous system dysregulation often overlap The connection between chronic symptoms, uncertainty, OCD tendencies, and reassurance-seeking About Callie Krajcir: Callie Krajcir, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian specializing in interstitial cystitis (IC), overactive bladder, and bladder health. After living with IC and pelvic floor dysfunction for nearly two decades, she found lasting relief through a nervous system-informed approach and now helps others do the same. She's the founder of Road to Remission, host of the IC You Podcast, and serves as Vice Chair of the Interstitial Cystitis Association. Connect with Callie: Website: https://www.callieknutrition.com/ Instagram: @callieknutrition TikTok: @callieknutrition Podcast: IC You Road To Remission Program: https://www.callieknutrition.com/road-to-remission Connect with Rachel: Get Your Free Pain Flare Plan Join BCPP Book A Pelvic Pain Strategy Session Instagram: thepelvicpaincoach If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love it if you subscribed to the podcast, left a review, or shared this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Healing is possible. I'm rooting for you, always. 💜

In this week's episode, I'm joined by physician and researcher Dr. Jen Romanello to explore why the words healthcare providers use matter, how seemingly well-intentioned interactions can contribute to medical trauma, and why understanding neuroplastic pain isn't dismissive of your symptoms, but one of the most hopeful frameworks for recovery. Dr. Romanello shares her own recovery from neuroplastic pelvic pain while in medical school, the research she conducted on patients' experiences seeking care for pelvic pain, and how she's working to help change the conversation inside the western medical system itself. This is an honest, nuanced conversation about validation, science, hope, and the future of pelvic pain care. In this episode, we discuss: Dr. Jen Romanello's personal journey through neuroplastic pain and symptoms Why so many people with pelvic pain feel dismissed by healthcare providers The difference between medical gaslighting and a science-based neuroplastic pain explanation Findings from Dr. Romanello's Words Matter research study on patients' experiences seeking pelvic pain care Why language can either build trust or contribute to medical trauma How physicians are (and aren't) currently educated about pelvic pain and sexual medicine Why education and accurate diagnosis can be life-changing for both patients and clinicians How the medical community is beginning to embrace neuroplastic pain science About Dr. Jen Romanello Dr. Jen Romanello is an internal medicine physician, researcher, and advocate for improving education around chronic pain and sexual medicine. She co-leads the Early Career Special Interest Group through the Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms (ATNS) and has conducted published research exploring patients' experiences seeking care for pelvic pain. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between traditional medicine and modern pain neuroscience while improving how clinicians communicate with patients living with persistent pain. Resources Mentioned The Way Out by Alan Gordon Dr. John Sarno's The Mindbody Prescription Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms (ATNS) Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) Tight Lipped International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH) Connect with Dr. Jen Romanello Instagram: @jenromanello Learn more about the ATNS Early Career Special Interest Group: earlycareer@symptomatic.me Connect with Rachel: Get Your Free Pain Flare Plan Join BCPP Book A Pelvic Pain Strategy Session IG: thepelvicpaincoach If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love it if you subscribed to the podcast, left a review, or shared this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Healing is possible. I'm rooting for you, always. 💜

What happens when the patterns that were formed to keep you safe, start keeping you stuck? In this episode, I’m joined by therapist, researcher, educator, and writer Dr. Trisha Wolfe for a conversation about identifying and working with the protective patterns we develop throughout our lives. We talk about how patterns like people-pleasing, perfectionism, intellectualization, hypervigilance, and chronic bracing don’t come out of nowhere. They’re often incredibly adaptive strategies our brains learned because, at some point, we needed them to keep us safe. The challenge is that the patterns that once protected us can eventually become the patterns that keep us stuck. And simply understanding why you have these patterns isn’t usually enough to change them. In this episode, we talk about: What implicit learnings are and how they shape the way we move through the world Why you don’t have to identify as having experienced “trauma” to have protective patterns from earlier experiences How people-pleasing, perfectionism, and intellectualization can develop as ways of creating safety How these patterns can show up in the body through chronic bracing, tension, and physical symptoms Why trying to observe yourself with curiosity can sometimes bring up judgment and shame The difference between understanding your patterns intellectually and actually creating change Why changing old protective patterns can feel uncomfortable, even when the change is good for us How our identity can become wrapped up in the strategies we developed to keep ourselves safe Why healing isn’t about getting rid of your protective parts What a disconfirming experience actually is, and why it doesn’t require your pain to immediately go away or someone else to respond the way you hoped they would How showing up for yourself differently can begin to teach your nervous system something new One of the most important pieces of this conversation is that the goal isn’t to convince your protective parts to disappear. It’s to give your nervous system new experiences that show it: I can feel discomfort and still be okay. I can set a boundary and have my own back no matter how someone responds. I can stop bracing for every possible outcome and trust myself to respond to what actually happens. Over time, these new experiences can begin to update what your nervous system believes it needs to protect you from, so the patterns that once kept you safe no longer have to run the show. Mentioned in this episode: Connect with Trisha Instagram Substack Connect with Rachel: Get Your Free Pain Flare Plan Join BCPP Book A Pelvic Pain Strategy Session IG: thepelvicpaincoach Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

She saw the most eminent experts in the field of chronic pelvic pain in Western Medicine. And nothing worked. This week, my client Jessica shared her story. After years of chronic pelvic pain, countless medical appointments, pelvic floor physical therapy, and being told to stop exercising, Jessica felt like she'd reached the end of the road. She'd exhausted every option she knew, yet her symptoms remained unchanged and her life shrank smaller and smaller. Then she discovered a mind-body approach to healing. In this deeply honest conversation, Jessica shares what it was like to move from skepticism to hope, how she rebuilt trust in her body, and the lessons she wishes she'd known years earlier. We talk about why pain isn't always a sign of damage (even if you get pain with specific movement), how fear of pain can keep the nervous system stuck in protection, and what actually helped her return to the movement, travel, and life she thought she'd lost forever. If you've been wondering whether healing is still possible for you, or you've caught yourself thinking, "Maybe this is just my forever," my hope is this episode will change that. In this episode, we discuss: Jessica's journey through years of chronic pelvic pain and the medical system Why she was initially skeptical of a mind-body approach How understanding the nervous system changed everything The fear of returning to exercise and rebuilding trust in movement The role of catastrophizing in keeping pain cycles alive Why continuing to live your life is part of the healing process Learning to trust yourself as part of the healing process. Why occasional symptoms no longer scare her Why you probably haven't tried everything yet How her healing journey led her to the work she now does Mentioned in this episode: Connect with Jessica (The Pelvic Pain Mentor): Website: https://www.thepelvicpainmentor.com/ Instagram: @thepelvicpainmentor Ready for more support? The doors to Beyond Chronic Pelvic Pain reopen soon. But you must be on the waitlist to get early access in mid-July. Inside my signature group coaching program, I'll walk you through the same evidence-based mind-body framework I use with my private clients to heal their chronic pelvic pain while returning to living full and empowered lives in the process. 👉 Join the waitlist here ! If this episode gave you hope, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a review, share it with someone who needs to hear it, or send it to a friend who's been struggling with chronic pelvic pain. Healing is possible for you. And I'm rooting for you, always. 💜

If you've ever been told your symptoms are "all in your head," this episode is for you. Today I'm joined by health psychologist, cognitive behavioral therapist, EMDR therapist, and author Dr. Sula Windgassen to discuss her incredible new book, It's All in Your Body. Sula has become one of my favorite educators in the mind-body space because of her unique ability to explain the science behind chronic symptoms in a way that is both accessible and deeply validating. Together, we explore why symptoms that often feel random, confusing, or "unknowable" are actually incredibly understandable when you begin to view the body as one integrated system. Whether you're living with chronic pelvic pain, bladder symptoms, recurrent infections, or another chronic condition, this conversation will help you better understand what's happening in your body and why healing is possible. In this episode, we discuss: Why "It's All in Your Body" is a complete reframe from "It's all in your head" The science behind the mind-body connection Why your symptoms make sense, even when medical testing is normal How the brain, nervous system, immune system, and body constantly communicate Why mindfulness and nervous system regulation feel so difficult when you're highly symptomatic The difference between acceptance and resignation Why suppressing emotions and thoughts often backfires Why trying to "think positively" isn't the goal The biology behind bladder urgency, pelvic pain, and pelvic floor tension How chronic stress can influence the immune system and recurrent infections Why the length of time you've had symptoms does not determine how long healing will take How small, consistent shifts can create meaningful change over time Resources Mentioned It's All in Your Body by Dr. Sula Windgassen Follow Dr. Sula Windgassen: Website: https://healthpsychologist.co.uk Instagram: @the_health_psychologist_ Podcast: How We Really Feel Ready for the next step? The doors to Beyond Chronic Pelvic Pain reopen in July. Inside BCPP, I'll teach you exactly how to apply these mind-body principles to your own healing through structured lessons, live coaching, and practical tools that help you change your relationship with symptoms, create safety within your nervous system, and get back to living your life. 👉 Join the waitlist here !

One of the most common pieces of advice in the mind-body healing world is: "Just allow the sensation." But what if allowing feels impossible? What if a large part of you is screaming that this isn't okay, that you want the symptoms to stop, and that you wish things were different? In this episode, I'm sharing why allowing symptoms often feels so difficult and the missing piece I see over and over again with my clients. The answer isn't forcing acceptance. The answer isn't convincing yourself you're okay. The answer isn't suppressing the part of you that hates what's happening. It's facilitating grief. In this episode, I discuss: Why "just allow" can feel impossible The hidden grief that often exists beneath chronic symptoms Why suppressing your frustration, sadness, and anger creates more internal struggle How grief helps us stop fighting reality The relationship between grief, agency, and nervous system safety Why allowing the grieving part of you often makes allowing sensations possible How grief can become a powerful facilitator of healing If you've been trying to force yourself into acceptance and it isn't working, this episode is for you. Remember, healing is possible for you. You've got this. Rooting for you, Always 💜 Connect with Rachel: Get on the waitlist for Beyond Chronic Pelvic Pai n (doors opening again this summer) Get Your Free Pain Flare Plan Book A Pelvic Pain Strategy Session IG: thepelvicpaincoach Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

What do you do when healing is taking longer than you want? When you're doing the work, showing up consistently, making progress... and you're still not where you want to be yet? In today's episode, I'm joined by my client Sarah, who shares her experience healing her chronic pelvic pain through a mind-body approach. Sarah lived with pelvic pain for over 20 years. Along the way, she received multiple diagnoses, tried countless treatments, was prescribed medications, and was even told she should consider a hysterectomy. When she found this work, she wasn't looking for just another treatment. She was looking for a different way to move forward not only in her healing, but in her life. In this conversation, Sarah shares what has helped her stay in the process, continue expanding her life, and keep moving forward even when healing hasn't happened on the timeline she would have preferred. We discuss: Sarah's 20-year journey with chronic pelvic pain Why she decided not to move forward with a recommended hysterectomy What initially resonated with a mind-body approach The challenge of letting go of timelines, control, and perfectionism Why tracking small wins became such an important part of her recovery How she gradually returned to biking, swimming, exercise, and other activities she had stopped doing because of symptoms Building genuine self-compassion and learning to support herself through fear What she's still working through today The mindset shifts that helped her stay committed to the process One of my favorite parts of this conversation is that Sarah isn't sharing from the finish line. She's sharing from the middle. She's still healing. She's still learning. She's still working through challenges. And she's also living a bigger, fuller life than she was when she started. If healing is taking longer than you want, I hope Sarah's story reminds you that progress is still progress. Sometimes the most important work isn't learning how to heal faster. It's learning how to keep going. Connect with Rachel: Get on the waitlist for Beyond Chronic Pelvic Pai n (doors opening again this summer) Get Your Free Pain Flare Plan Book A Pelvic Pain Strategy Session IG: thepelvicpaincoach Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Let's talk about the part of chronic pelvic pain that doesn't get discussed nearly enough. Sex. Intimacy. Navigating Relationships. The fear that your partner might leave. The pressure to push through discomfort. In this episode, I'm joined by my friend and colleague Vanessa Blackstone, Executive Director of the Pain Psychology Center, for an honest and nuanced conversation about sex, intimacy, chronic pelvic pain, and healing. Together, we explore the ways shame, cultural conditioning, people-pleasing, and nervous system patterns can shape our relationship with sex and our bodies. We also explore: • Why conversations about sex are often missing from the chronic pain and mind-body healing space • The cultural messages many women receive about sex, pleasure, and their bodies • How people-pleasing and perfectionism can impact intimacy • Why creating safety with yourself matters before creating safety with a partner • Dating and navigating intimacy while living with chronic pelvic pain • Rebuilding trust with your body after years of symptoms This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt disconnected from their body, afraid of intimacy, or unsure how to move forward when pain has impacted their relationship with sex. You are not broken. You are not alone. And there is another way forward. Connect with Vanessa: Instagram: @that.therapist PRT Workbook Vanessa’s Substack: https://substack.com/@vanessablackstone Connect with Rachel: IG: thepelvicpaincoach Get Your Free Pain Flare Plan Book A Pelvic Pain Strategy Session Get on the waitlist for Beyond Chronic Pelvic Pai n (doors opening again this summer) Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

In this episode, I’m joined by my friend and colleague, Anna Holtzman, for a conversation about self-trust, visibility, nervous system healing, and what happens after symptoms stop being the center of your life. We talk about the often-overlooked phase of healing where life starts opening back up again… and how terrifying that can feel when your nervous system has learned to associate visibility, expansion, creativity, and authenticity with danger. Together, we explore: Why healing often involves shrinking your world before expanding it again The fear of nervous system “repercussions” when you start taking up more space How perfectionism, people pleasing, and over-self-reliance disconnect us from ourselves The difference between regret and grief Why self-trust doesn’t mean certainty The role of co-regulation and safe relationships in healing The transition from borrowing belief to learning to self-source safety and trust Why “getting the right tool” can eventually become another protective strategy How to begin repairing your relationship with yourself This episode is for anyone who feels stuck between wanting more for their life and feeling terrified to fully step into it. About Anna: Anna Holtzman is a licensed therapist and coach who helps high-achieving women move through the fear of visibility and emerge into a truer expression of their work and identity. After 15 years in TV and publishing, Anna experienced firsthand how burnout, chronic pain, and repeated self-silencing can arise when success is driven by pressure rather than self-trust. Her own healing led her to nervous-system-informed tools that helped her reconnect with her voice and show up more honestly in her work. Now she supports other women in doing the same, melting through imposter syndrome, bringing their most authentic visions to life, and allowing themselves to be seen without performing. She lives in Queens with her husband, stepdaughter, and three orange cats, and hosts the podcast How to Trust Yourself. Connect with Anna: Website: AnnaHoltzman.com Free workshop: Let Yourself Be Seen Instagram: @anna_holtzman Podcast: How to Trust Yourself Anna’s Email: Anna@annaholtzman.com Connect with Rachel: IG: thepelvicpaincoach Get Your Free Pain Flare Plan Get on the waitlist for a Pelvic Pain Strategy Session Get on the waitlist for Beyond Chronic Pelvic Pai n (doors opening early summer) Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Shawna spent nearly three years doing everything right. She saw the specialists. She did the rounds of antibiotics (eight of them). She cut out every food on the IC list and tracked her symptoms by the hour. She had a compassionate pelvic PT in her corner. She had done everything she was supposed to do. But she was still having debilitating symptoms. And she was still terrified. Her healthcare providers were doing their absolute best, but they were running out of new ways to help her. So her pelvic PT referred her to me. Now, Shawna is training for her next ballroom competition in August. She took three international trips in three months. She is setting boundaries, speaking up for herself, and she often forgets she ever had symptoms at all. In this episode, Shawna shares her full story. The diagnosis that changed how she thought about her body. The way dance, her biggest passion, became her biggest trigger. The loneliness of living with symptoms that the people in your life can never understand. And how she got to where she is now, living her life beyond chronic pelvic pain. I am so grateful to Shawna for being willing to share her story so openly and honestly. It takes courage, and I know it's going to mean so much to the people listening. We talk about: Her diagnosis of interstitial cystitis Why dance became a trigger, and what was actually happening in her nervous system The hypervigilance spiral: tracking, dietary restriction, and what all of it was really doing to her system What made her open to mind-body work when so many people resist it The specific tools that helped most, including EFT tapping, visualization, and parts work What it feels like to say "I like who I am" and actually mean it Where her symptoms are now, and how she thinks about flare-ups differently If you've been told your pain is something you just have to live with, this episode is for you. Resources & Links: Follow me on Instagram: @thepelvicpaincoach Get Your Free Pain Flare Plan (download): https://thepelvicpaincoach.myflodesk.com/painflareplan Get on the waitlist for a Pelvic Pain Strategy Session: https://thepelvicpaincoach.com/strategy-session Get on the waitlist for Beyond Chronic Pelvic Pain (doors opening early summer): https://thepelvicpaincoach.com/healing-program Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Last week I talked about the concept. This week, I'm giving you the practice. The Future Self Visualization is a guided imagery practice that up until now has only lived inside my program, Beyond Chronic Pelvic Pain. It was a big part of my own healing. I listened to some version of this almost every single day for years. Until I healed. Until I became my future self. In this episode: Why your brain might resist this (and what to do with that resistance) The full guided Future Self Visualization How to take that energy into your actual day The one question to ask yourself when you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or like it's not working Before you press play: find somewhere safe to sit or lie down where you won't be disturbed. You'll want to close your eyes for part of this. Ready to stop just visualizing your future self and start becoming her? That’s what I help you do inside Beyond Chronic Pelvic Pain. Doors Close TONIGHT 5/1 at midnight. When doors reopen at the end of June, the price goes up. [Learn More + Join BCPP] Resources & Links: Follow me on Instagram: ⁠ @thepelvicpaincoach⁠ Get Your Free Pain Flare Plan (download): ⁠https://thepelvicpaincoach/painflareplan⁠ Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

There's a version of you who has already healed. Who feels safe in her body. Whose life is no longer consumed by pain. Who is living the life you've been dreaming of. And, she's closer than you think. In this podcast episode, I discuss practice that changed everything for me in my own healing: connecting with your future self. Not as a theoretical concept. As a decision-making tool. Because when you're in pain, everything narrows down to: how do I feel better right now? And that urgency keeps you stuck in the same patterns that created the pain in the first place. What shifted things for me the most was learning to ask a different question: If I knew I was going to get there... what would I do right now? In this episode, I walk you through how to actually start thinking and making decisions from that place. And I share a deeply personal moment where this practice carried me through one of the hardest days of my healing journey. Want support applying this work? If you’re ready to stop doing this alone and actually start becoming her, I’d love to support you inside Beyond Chronic Pelvic Pain. This is your last opportunity to join at $847. Doors close May 1st. When we reopen, it will be $1200. 👉 Join the program Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

If you’ve been doing everything right… and you’re still in pain, this episode is for you. In this short episode, I’m directing you to a free masterclass I created: “Why You’re Still In Pain, And What To Do About It.” What you might be missing Most providers are only trained to treat pain from a structural perspective. So when nothing shows up on testing, or your symptoms continue after something has been treated, you’re often left without real answers. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t answers. Inside the masterclass, you’ll learn: Why pain can continue even when nothing is structurally wrong The different types of pain and what’s actually driving your symptoms What needs to shift to start moving forward Watch the Free Masterclass 👉 Click here to watch 🗓 Available until April 27th If you’re feeling stuck or unsure what to do next, this is your next step. Want support applying this work? At the end of the masterclass, I share how to go deeper inside Beyond Chronic Pelvic Pain. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

In this episode, I’m talking about something I see all the time with my clients, and something I personally experienced for a long time: The push-pull between validation and empowerment. And how the very thing that once helped you survive… might now be covertly blocking your ability to move forward. In this episode, we talk about: Why the need for validation makes so much sense (especially after medical gaslighting and invisible pain) How self-validation can turn into a loop that keeps you stuck The turning point: wanting to be well more than wanting validation The difference between self-pity and self-compassion (this one is big) What self-compassion actually looks like in real time The grief that comes with realizing no one can fully understand your experience Reflection questions to help you shift out of the validation loop and into healing A question to sit with: Are you validating yourself in a way that helps you feel supported and capable… Or in a way that keeps you stuck, cycling through how hard and unfair this is? If you’re ready for support… This is exactly the work we do inside Beyond Chronic Pelvic Pain . Inside the program, you’ll learn how to: Understand why your pain is happening Shift out of fear and symptom focus Respond to your body in a new way Stay in process, even when it feels hard Build real momentum in your healing You don’t have to figure this out alone. 👉 Learn more here: https://thepelvicpaincoach.com/healing-program Doors are currently open, but enrollment is closing at the end of April. When we reopen at the end of June, it will be at a new price. Healing is possible for you. Rooting for you, always 💜 Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

If you’ve been doing the work: ✅Regulating your nervous system, ✅Responding to symptoms with safety ✅Practicing self-compassion …but you’re still not feeling better yet, this episode is for you. Because one of the hardest parts of the healing journey isn’t learning what to do.It’s continuing to do it when it feels like nothing is changing. In this episode, we’re talking about lagging results — the experience of doing the work without yet seeing symptomatic change. And more importantly… how to stay in the process without spiraling, doubting yourself, or giving up. Inside this episode, we cover: What “lagging results” actually are (and why they’re normal) Why constantly checking your symptoms can keep you stuck How urgency and outcome-dependence signal danger to your nervous system The real mechanism behind neuroplastic healing (what’s happening beneath the surface) Why healing often feels like “nothing is working” right before things start to shift The difference between inputs vs outcomes (and where to focus your energy) How to stay in the work, even when your brain is telling you it’s not working The core message: You are not doing it wrong. The work is working. The results are just lagging. A reframe to take with you: Healing is not like flipping a switch. It’s more like planting a seed. For a while… nothing looks different. But underneath the surface, everything is changing. Reflection questions to support you: Where am I measuring success only by symptoms right now? What inputs am I consistently providing, even if I can’t feel the results yet? What would change if I trusted that my nervous system is rewiring beneath the surface? What would it look like to stay in process without needing proof right now? Want guidance and support? If this episode resonates and you want guidance and support learning how to consistently ground back into what’s actually in your control, so your energy is moving in the direction of healing, Rachel would love to support you inside her coaching program, Beyond Chronic Pelvic Pain . Inside the program, you’ll get a self-paced curriculum grounded in modern pain neuroscience and specifically tailored for healing chronic pelvic pain, along with weekly live group coaching calls where you can ask questions, get clarity, and receive support applying this work to your real symptoms and your real life. You don’t have to do this alone anymore.You deserve to live a life beyond chronic pelvic pain. 👉 Learn more about the program here Rooting for you, always 💜 Rachel Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.