What is Pain Reprocessing Therapy?

Pain Reprocessing Therapy is a cutting-edge, evidence-based treatment developed by psychotherapist Alan Gordon. It's built on a profound shift in how we understand chronic pain: for many people, pain is not a signal of ongoing damage — it's a learned response. The brain, wired for survival, can get stuck in a pattern of sending pain signals long after the original cause has healed.

PRT works by gently interrupting that pattern. Through a combination of education, guided awareness, and a technique called somatic tracking, you learn to relate to your body's signals with curiosity instead of fear. And as fear decreases, so does pain.

This isn't about pushing through. It's about helping your nervous system feel safe again.

The science behind it

PRT is backed by landmark research. A randomized controlled trial at the University of Colorado Boulder found that after just four weeks of Pain Reprocessing Therapy, the majority of people who had suffered chronic back pain for an average of 11 years became pain-free or nearly pain-free — and those results held up over time.

Brain imaging from the same study showed measurable changes in the way participants' brains processed pain. This isn't just symptom management. It's neurological change.

The research has been published in JAMA Psychiatry and covered by the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and the Today Show.

Conditions PRT can help with

PRT is particularly effective for what researchers call neuroplastic pain — chronic pain that is generated or amplified by the brain rather than by ongoing tissue damage. This includes a wide range of conditions:

Chronic back pain

Chronic neck pain

Fibromyalgia

Migraines & headaches

Irritable bowel syndrome

Pelvic pain

Chronic fatigue

Repetitive strain injuries

Tension headaches

Widespread body pain

Nerve pain (non-structural)

Orofacial pain

If you're unsure whether PRT is right for your situation, reaching out for a consultation is a great first step. Together, we can explore whether this approach is a good fit for you.

What to expect in sessions

PRT sessions are grounded, collaborative, and paced to meet you where you are. We begin by exploring your history — not just your pain, but your life, your patterns, and what may have contributed to your nervous system getting stuck.

From there, we work together using tools that include:

Pain education

Understanding how the brain generates pain is itself therapeutic. When you can see the mechanism clearly, the fear begins to lift.

Somatic tracking

A gentle mindfulness practice that helps you observe physical sensations with openness rather than alarm — one of the most powerful tools for breaking the cycle of fear and pain.

Emotional awareness

Unprocessed emotions and stress are often deeply intertwined with chronic pain. We explore these connections with care and at your pace.

Safety reappraisal

We build a growing body of evidence — from your own experience — that your body is safe, and that the sensations you feel, while real, are not dangerous.

You don't have to keep living with pain.

If you've been told there's nothing more that can be done — or if you've simply run out of answers — Pain Reprocessing Therapy may be the approach you haven't tried yet. I work with people who are ready to look at their pain differently, and I'd be honoured to be part of your path forward.

Book a free 30-minute consultation to get started.