From Pain to Peace: Mindfulness-Based Pain Management Course

Why Meditation Works for Pain Relief

Neuroscience now confirms that meditation reduces pain perception, re-trains the brain, and improves quality of life. By practicing meditation and mindfulness regularly, participants report:

• • Less physical pain and increased comfort
  • Greater mental clarity and emotional balance
  • Better sleep, energy, and immune function
  • Lower stress and anxiety levels
  • Improved relationships and self-care habits

  Whether you're looking to control pain through meditation, reduce medication, or improve your day-to-day life, this course offers a grounded, structured path forward.
  
  The benefits of a dedicated mindfulness practice will also support you more generally with your physical health (improving energy, sleep, immune system, chronic pain, habits of self-care, stress reactivity), mental health (reducing anxiety, depression and PTST symptoms and increasing emotional balance) as well as your relationships (increased empathy, self-awareness and communication skills).

What You'll Learn:

Through this unique blend of guided meditation, education and reflection, you will:

• Discover how meditation supports chronic pain relief by calming the nervous system and changing your brain’s response to pain signals
• Learn the science of chronic pain and how mindfulness can interrupt the pain-fear cycle
• Let go of limiting diagnoses and engage with a holistic mind-body approach to healing
• Practice desensitisation techniques by gently attending to pain with a sense of safety
• Cultivate emotional awareness and resilience through mindfulness meditation for healing
• Build a long-term toolkit of techniques to support your mental and physical wellbeing

This course was developed by Dr Adele Stewart and Timothea Goddard.

Course Format

• 8 x 2.5 hour sessions plus a half-day mindfulness retreat
• Led by experienced teachers trained in both MBSR and pain science
• 138-page coursebook with resources and guided meditations
• Access to the Openground meditation app for daily practice

• Supportive group environment with real conversations about things that matter

Choose What You Pay – Support Yourself & Others

Our pricing is designed to balance generosity and accessibility. Please choose the amount that best fits your situation, knowing that every contribution helps sustain our mission. If you have some financial security: that is a job, some assets (savings, shares, property) and/or superannuation income we ask you to pay your way (with a payment plan if needed).

💛 Pay It Forward – $795 
I'm in a position to give more and want to help others access this experience.

💙 Standard Rate – $695
Covers the true cost of the program—thank you for your support!

💚 Discounted Rate – $495
I need some support, but I’m happy to contribute what I can.

💜 Supported Rate – $295
I could use a little extra help right now—grateful for this opportunity.

No one is turned away for lack of funds. If you need further assistance, reach out to us!

Check out more testimonials from the From Pain to Peace courses here.

Dr Adele Stewart

Dr. Adele Stewart MBBS FRACGP has been a dedicated General Practitioner in the Illawarra region for over 30 years. She serves as the Chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ Pain Management Group and is recognised by the RACGP for her extended skills in psychological medicine, particularly as an Internal Family Systems therapist.

Dr. Adele's exploration of mindfulness began with her first 10-day silent meditation retreat in 1987, and for the past two decades, she has deepened her practice through yearly week-long silent retreats, yoga, qigong, and mindfulness meditation. Known for her down-to-earth, engaging, and compassionate approach, she is a certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher and a trained Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) teacher.

Recently, in collaboration with Openground director Tim Goddard, Dr. Adele co-developed the "Pain to Peace" course. Through both teaching and participating in mindfulness courses, she has found that these practices significantly enrich daily life, providing greater meaning and fostering a wonderful sense of connection.

Dr Mandy Mercuri

PhD, MTI Level 1, Pain Reprocessing Therapy Cert., Explain Pain Cert. (NOI group)
After corrective surgeries for severe scoliosis in her teens, Mandy has lived with chronic back pain for over 30 years. Attending a 3-week intensive pain management course in 2009 enabled her to change her relationship to pain. She is a qualified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction facilitator and has been practicing mindfulness for over 10 years as a critical part of managing her physical and emotional wellbeing. She has extensive experience teaching in higher education and community settings.