MBSR for Chronic Pain

From Pain to Peace

MBSR and Pain Science for the treatment of Chronic Pain

8 weeks

From Pain to Peace -

Evidence-based pain science and mindfulness meditation practice to transform your pain

REGISTER for the FREE Information Session on the science of chronic pain
With: Dr Mandy Mercuri | Via Zoom
MONDAY 7th October | 7 - 8pm AEDT

UPCOMING COURSES

Live-online | with Dr Mandy Mercuri | Fridays 10:00 am - 12:30 pm (AEDT) | Starts 18th October

Live-online | with Dr Adele Stewart | Tuesdays 4:30pm - 7:00 pm (AEDT) | Starts 4th February 2025

Persistent pain is real, personal and complex.

From Pain to Peace is an active treatment for chronic pain which integrates the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course, with the most up-to-date neuroscience about pain and how to transform it (from the Explain Pain program by David Butler and Lorimer Mosely). In-depth mindfulness and modern neuroscience explored together offers a transformational avenue for those of us living with pain. We now know the more we can explore and understand our pain, the less it hurts. It offers a new way of processing the experience of "pain" which is transformative.

You will:

Learn about the neuroscience behind chronic pain.
Let go of the “diagnosis” and engage with a mind-body explanation.
Break the pain-fear cycle.
Practice desensitisation techniques by paying attention to pain gradually through a lens of safety and increasingly notice positive experiences
Explore how your thoughts, emotions and behaviours can all contribute to an overall sense of danger.
Experience self care through the practice of mindfulness and compassion
Develop a toolkit for your long-term mental and physical health as well as relapse prevention.

The 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’s involved?

8 x 2.5 hour sessions plus a half-day retreat
Good conversations about things that matter
Strong support and up-to-date information from your teacher
100 page course book (including additional pain science
information and resources)
Access to the new Openground meditation audio app
A fresh exploration of your life through your commitment to daily home practice

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

Pricing and Scholarship places

Standard Rate $695
And we are delighted to offer discounted places for those who need financial support to come along.

If you have access to some financial security: that is, have a job, have some assets (savings, shares, property) and/or superannuation income we ask you to pay your way (with a payment plan if needed).

If you are in financial need: unemployed, on a disability pension, have an illness, or are a student (with no support from parents) please be in touch to get a scholarship place.

Apply for a Scholarship

Make a donation to support our life-enhancing programs.

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.

Mandy has completed her MBSR teacher training with the Mindfulness Training Institute, PRT certification training with Pain Reprocessing Therapy Center LLC and Explain Pain certification with the NOI Group.