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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Your body speaks in sensations, not words, and chronic pain or illness can be its desperate cry for safety. When your nervous system feels threatened—whether from past trauma, prolonged stress, or childhood adversity—it generates protective symptoms as alarm bells.

Most of us respond to these signals with frustration, anger, and self-blame, creating a vicious cycle that only heightens nervous system dysregulation and intensifies symptoms. Breaking this pattern requires a fundamental shift in how we communicate with the hurt parts of ourselves. This episode explores the cognitive dimension of that shift through self-kindness phrases—gentle wishes like "May I care for myself during this moment of suffering" or "May I accept myself just as I am"—that provide an alternative to the harsh self-talk perpetuating our pain.

These phrases differ crucially from positive affirmations because they acknowledge our struggles while opening possibilities for healing. When combined with deep breathing and regular practice, they begin rewiring our automatic responses to symptoms. Through Tanner's personal story of childhood bullying and subsequent perfectionism, we see how understanding the origins of our nervous system patterns allows us to provide precisely what our younger selves needed but didn't receive—acceptance, belonging, and unconditional worth.

Ready to transform your relationship with chronic pain and illness? Practice the guided self-compassion meditation in this episode, and join us next week as we explore the somatic dimension of creating safety through touch, movement, and breathwork. For additional support, check out our digital course with comprehensive resources on nervous system regulation and self-compassion: https://www.mbodycommunity.com/

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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The moment someone tells you "you're just too sensitive," a little piece of you might shrink inside. That dismissal of your experience happens far too often for the 15-20% of us who identify as highly sensitive people. But what if your sensitivity isn't a weakness to overcome but an important aspect of who you are—one that deserves understanding, especially when chronic pain enters the picture?

Sensitivity creates a unique relationship with pain. Your heightened awareness of both internal and external stimuli means your nervous system processes the world differently. Like a smoke alarm with the sensitivity dialed up, your brain might trigger pain signals more readily than others. This doesn't make your pain any less real; it simply means your path to healing might look different too.

Throughout this episode, we share personal stories about navigating life as sensitive people (our whole household qualifies—except perhaps our fearless cat, Hermione!). Tanner opens up about his experiences from childhood through adulthood, from feeling overwhelmed in locker room roughhousing to managing financial stress differently. These aren't stories of weakness but illustrations of how differently our nervous systems can be wired.

The good news? Understanding this connection unlocks powerful healing possibilities. Rather than fighting against your sensitivity, we explore how embracing it while developing regulation skills creates lasting relief. Through embodiment practices, safety signals (like breathwork and movement), and gradual exposure to overwhelming stimuli, you can teach your brain new patterns while honoring your sensitive nature.

Your sensitivity likely gives you gifts others don't share: deeper empathy, creativity, meaningful connections, and an appreciation for beauty's subtleties. As you listen to this episode, we hope you'll begin to see your sensitivity not as something to overcome, but as an essential part of you that—when properly understood—might be your greatest strength in overcoming chronic pain and creating the life you truly desire.

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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