Plain and simple: Ellen’s program changed my life.

For as long as I can remember, I struggled with chronic physical pain, autoimmune flare-ups, severe anxiety and depression, obsessive thoughts, and body image issues. The mental health challenges and autoimmune symptoms were things I had resigned myself to, but when chronic wrist pain began to limit my daily life, I hit a breaking point. My left wrist hurt so badly I couldn’t hold my laptop, open a car door, or carry groceries without discomfort. As someone deeply passionate about exercise, being unable to bear weight on my hand felt unbearable. I knew I couldn’t live like this and I’m so glad I kept advocating for myself.

After spending thousands of dollars, receiving multiple injections and procedures, and countless rounds of physical and occupational therapy, I was exhausted and on the verge of giving up. Then a friend recommended a book about Pain Reprocessing Therapy. It sparked something in me: if stress could cause a headache or nerves could make my palms sweat, I can believe that other emotions may create real physical sensations too. The book’s insight led me to Ellen’s program.

I joined with a single goal: relieve my wrist pain. What I didn’t realize was that nearly every discomfort (physical or emotional) stemmed from the same root cause: a dysregulated nervous system. Ellen’s program helped me understand pain science, validated my frustrations with the healthcare system and my past traumas, and taught me how to process emotions in a healthy way. I learned that my body and brain weren’t broken, they were simply trying to protect me. All I had to do was listen.

At first I was hesitant due to the group nature of the program and being 100% virtual, but both of those components ended up being a blessing. I was able to listen to the program while I cooked and I gained valuable insight from hearing about others experiences. Most importantly, I NEVER felt alone. 

Within a month, I knew this was the best investment I’d ever made. By the end of the program, my wrist pain was completely gone. My food noise had nearly disappeared. Social rumination became manageable. And for the first time, my inner voice felt kind, safe, and supportive.

I spent so many years battling low self-worth, I never imagined I could see or speak to myself with the compassion I do now. I’ve found the light, and I’m finally learning how to live in its warmth, all thanks to Ellen’s group program. 

– Skylar Whitman, 29

Want to hear more of Skylar's story, including details about her experience in my program and how it got her relief from Rheumatoid Arthritis? Check out her interview on Sean Hershey's excellent podcast Mind-Body Medicine for Chronic Pain: 

https://youtu.be/SQjz5gUcD3k?si=p8b5282oBAlvcFA6 

As a retired psychotherapist, I saw many clients with chronic pain and other “mystery” conditions, and also struggled with my own decades-long issues with fatigue and other challenges. When Ellen, a friend and colleague, told me about her first rendition of this course a couple of years ago, I knew I had to take it to learn and understand more. 

It was my first introduction to a new paradigm in health and illness that finally included the understanding of that repressed emotions, beliefs, and thoughts affect and externalize in our physicality. I had always had a sense of this but Ellen provided the scientific context along with concrete tools to help translate the information from the intellectual realm to embodied practices. I still use many of these tools to this day. 

I definitely believe that mind-body medicine and the new understanding of neuroplastic symptoms is the next frontier of health and wellness. Thanks, Ellen, for introducing me! 

– Carol H. 

*This testimonial was written about Chronic To Cured's precursor program, my Minding-The-Body Healing Group, when the program was done live in just 8 weeks.    

Kendra's Story: A Very Unusual Testimonial

(taken from the 11/4/24 post on my CtoC Facebook page)

Hi, I’m Kendra, Ellen’s Marketing Coordinator, and I’m hijacking her page this week! For the record, she only learned the truth of what I’ve written here after I sent it to her and asked for her permission to post it on her page.

I met Ellen when I decided to start my own marketing business two years ago. During our interview, I learned she was doing something close to my heart: helping people with chronic pain and illness. I shared with her that I had been living with chronic pain since a car accident eight years earlier, and as someone with that lived experience, I knew I was the right person to help her reach the audience that needs her most: people like me!

When Ellen hired me (HOORAY!), neither of us realized at the time that my own healing journey was about to begin. I immediately dove into the literature and science of the mindbody model—studying what successful leaders in the field are saying and doing in order to help her craft the right marketing approach. 

I’ll be honest: at first, I thought this was all about coping with pain, rather than HEALING it. But as I worked alongside Ellen, I began to understand that it was quite the opposite, and chronic pain could actually be cured. 

However, I still believed my own condition was a BODY problem. I had the MRIs, EMGs, and X-rays to prove it, after all. I had sustained real injuries, used mobility aids—even a wheelchair at times—and I couldn’t even run simple errands without my husband’s help. I never left the house without cushions and medications for pain flares. Our life revolved entirely around managing my pain and planning for flares.

Did I mention I’m only in my 30’s? My life became so small at such a young age.

The wild part? I never talked to Ellen about my pain or limitations, and she never asked. We held strict boundaries, never crossing the line between a professional relationship and a therapeutic one. But, I always sensed she really wanted to help me. She sent videos that she uses with clients and program materials for me to “edit” (to get a chronic pain sufferer's perspective), though I suspected she also wanted me to read them for my own benefit. And in the process, I was becoming her first, albeit unintentional, Chronic to Cured “client.”

All of her writing for Facebook posts and program materials planted seeds in me. The more I read and heard stories of people like me HEALING with this model, the more I began to see that my problem WASN’T in my body—it was in my brain. It WAS neuroplasticity working against me. I began to truly believe I could be cured and transitioned from reading about her techniques to being guided by them and incorporating them into my daily practices.

And, like Tinkerbell, the more I believed, the more life sputtered back into me.

It wasn’t until now that Ellen discovered not only how bad things had been for me, but how far I’ve come. How did she find out? I left her in her greatest time of need. While she was "drinking from a fire hydrant," as she says, working to launch her Chronic to Cured program, I took off for two weeks.

To go to Ireland. 

Yes. See this picture (above)? That’s me and my husband—in Ireland. And if you look closely… NO CANE!

The girl who couldn’t even manage a grocery store trip without a pain flare had now spent 18 hours on planes, trains, and taxis… and then walked and walked all over Ireland for the next 12 days.

Despite the inconvenience, Ellen was absolutely THRILLED for me. I apologized to her AND blamed it on her at the same time – it was her own fault for introducing me to this new pain-free reality! If her techniques and guidance weren’t so effective, I’d still be homebound! 

Yes, I have to work at it every day. But… I’m living my life again. 

I’m so excited to be helping her launch her Chronic to Cured program, because I’m not just her Marketing Coordinator; I’m her proof that it works – and she wasn’t even trying to treat me!

*Post script written by Ellen: Kendra has since left me... to fulfill her long held dream of becoming a full time mom!