Episode Description
FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS:
🏢 WE’RE HOSTING A CONFERENCE FOR THERAPISTS AND PHYSICAL THERAPISTS! WOOO! It’ll be an IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL event in Atlanta, GA, on MARCH 6&7, 2026! REGISTER HERE!
NON THERAPISTS: SIGN UP FOR DESTINY'S NEXT LIVE WORKSHOP
DOWNLOAD JASON'S "THE BEAR" WORKSHEET
JOIN DESTINY’S MEMBERSHIP - for folks with chronic pain & illness
→ Join Welcome To The Waiting Room (ongoing support for staying regulated while living with chronic illness - This does not replace therapy, but it’s a great addition to your regular therapy appointments)
Episode summary:
In this episode, physical therapist and health coach Jason Therrien shares his compassionate approach to helping people rebuild trust with their bodies after chronic pain has damaged that relationship.
In this conversation, we cover:
The "bear metaphor" for understanding pain flares and why you need to calm the bear before building strength
Why "grace leads to growth but shame leads to more of the same" when rebuilding trust with your body
The five foundations of body partnership: body awareness, intention, body knowledge, body responsiveness, and body relationship
How graded motor imagery can reduce the nervous system's threat response to movements
Why most people with chronic pain aren't afraid to move but are actually afraid of what might happen if they stop pushing through
Jason reminds us that most people with chronic pain aren't afraid to move; they've spent years pushing through pain and have incredibly high pain tolerances. The real fear is often about what might happen if they stop pushing, which keeps them trapped in cycles of boom and bust. His work focuses on helping people develop a more collaborative, compassionate relationship with their bodies that honors both rest and growth.
MEET DESTINY: Website / Instagram / BlueSky / YouTube / TikTok
MEET GUEST: Website / Instagram / YouTube / LinkedIn / TikTok
→ READ THE BLOG FOR THIS EPISODE
ASK DESTINY ANYTHING
→ Submit your questions here
FOR YOU, OUR PODCAST LISTENERS:
JOIN DESTINY’S MEMBERSHIP - for folks with chronic pain & illness
→ Join Welcome To The Waiting Room (ongoing support for staying regulated while living with chronic illness - This does not replace therapy, but it’s a great addition to your regular therapy appointments)
FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS:
🏢 WE’RE HOSTING A CONFERENCE! WOOO! It’ll be an IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL event in Atlanta, GA, on MARCH 6&7, 2026! REGISTER HERE!
🛋️ Join The Mastermind! (monthly business and clinical consultation calls for medical professionals specializing in working with patients with chronic illnesses)
🧭 Get Your Client Roadmap For Navigating Complex Trauma and Chronic Illness (specifically for mental health therapists) (COMING SOON- sign up for the waitlist)
WANT TO SAY THANKS? - Reviews tell the app, “hey, people like this! Show it in the algorithm to more people!” :)
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Disclaimer: Everything we talk about here is just meant to be general education and information. It's not intended as personal mental health or medical advice. If you have any questions related to your unique circumstances, please contact a licensed therapist or medical professional in your state of residence.