Neuroplastic Pain Practitioners & Experts: The Complete Guide

Published March 7, 2026 · 10 min read

By Tauri Urbanik, Pain Science Researcher

The people who built this field

Every medical revolution starts with a handful of people willing to be wrong publicly. The neuroplastic pain field is no different. It began with one physician at NYU who looked at the same MRIs everyone else was looking at and saw something different. And it grew through a network of clinicians, researchers, patients, and advocates who took that original insight and ran with it.

These are the neuroplastic pain practitioners who matter most. Some are clinicians with decades of research. Some are patients who recovered and dedicated their lives to helping others. Some are physicians who spent years performing surgeries before realizing the problem wasn't in the spine.

They don't all agree with each other. Their approaches vary. Some emphasize emotional processing. Others focus on fear reduction. Some lean into neuroscience. Others lean into lived experience. But they all share a central conviction: that much of chronic pain is generated by the brain, not by structural damage, and that this pain can be reversed.

Here's who they are, what they offer, and how to access their work.

The foundational figures

Dr. John Sarno (1923-2017)

Sarno was the pioneer. A professor of rehabilitation medicine at NYU's Rusk Institute for 47 years, he treated over 10,000 patients and published four books that have sold over a million copies. He coined the term Tension Myositis Syndrome and was the first physician to systematically argue that most chronic back pain is brain-generated rather than structural.

His clinic reported 76-88% recovery rates. Howard Stern credited Sarno publicly for curing his back pain, bringing the work to millions. Sarno passed away in 2017, but every practitioner in this guide built on his foundation. His books, especially Healing Back Pain and The Mindbody Prescription, remain essential reading.

Clinical researchers

Alan Gordon, LCSW

Gordon developed Pain Reprocessing Therapy and produced the most important clinical evidence in the field's history. The Boulder Back Pain Study, published in JAMA Psychiatry in 2022, showed that 66% of chronic back pain patients became pain-free or nearly pain-free after just four weeks of PRT (Ashar et al., JAMA Psychiatry, 2022↗).

Gordon himself recovered from 22 different symptoms. He founded the Pain Psychology Center in Los Angeles with approximately 40 therapists. He co-hosts the "Tell Me About Your Pain" podcast and wrote The Way Out. His contribution: taking Sarno's clinical observation and validating it through rigorous science.

Dr. Howard Schubiner

Schubiner brings the clinical research rigor. A clinical professor at Michigan State, he developed the F.I.T. diagnostic criteria (Functional, Inconsistent, Triggered), created Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET), and published multiple controlled trials. His trial showed 45.8% of patients achieving significant pain reduction versus 0% in controls. His EAET approach outperformed CBT for fibromyalgia by nearly 3 to 1 (Lumley et al., PAIN, 2017↗).

His book Unlearn Your Pain offers a structured 28-day workbook, and his free Coursera course "Reign of Pain" makes his approach accessible to everyone. He consults through Cormendi Health.

Lived-experience advocates

Dan Buglio

Buglio's defining quality is consistency. He has posted a daily video on his Pain Free You YouTube channel since March 2019. Over 2,000 videos. Over 50,000 subscribers. He recovered from 13 years of chronic back pain and sciatica and has coached over 2,000 individuals.

His approach uses what he calls Perceived Danger Pain (PDP). He emphasizes gaining knowledge, accepting the neuroplastic diagnosis, shifting from fear to safety, practicing indifference toward pain, and re-engaging with life. His coaching costs $100/month and includes 12 hours of live weekly Zoom sessions. His book Pain Free You was published in 2024. For anyone who can't afford coaching, his YouTube channel is one of the largest free resources in the field.

Nicole Sachs, LCSW

Sachs worked directly with Dr. Sarno at NYU Rusk and developed her own method called JournalSpeak. She overcame a chronic spinal condition at age 19 using Sarno's approach. Her podcast "The Cure for Chronic Pain" has over 624 episodes and 5.5 million downloads, making it the largest podcast in this space.

JournalSpeak is a structured emotional processing practice: 20 minutes of uncensored writing, 10 minutes of meditation, then destroy what you wrote. Her approach is distinctly focused on emotional excavation. She offers tiered pricing from $2.99/month (Support Circle) to $99/month (Heal with Nicole), plus courses ranging from $149 to $299. Her latest book, Mind Your Body, was published in 2025.

Steve Ozanich

Ozanich suffered for 30 years before recovering. His book The Great Pain Deception remains the most thorough patient-perspective exploration of TMS, diving deep into the TMS personality, the symptom imperative, and the psychology of chronic pain. Sarno wrote the foreword, praising Ozanich for humanizing his work.

Medical converts

Dr. David Hanscom

Hanscom performed complex spine surgery for 32 years at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle. His own experience with chronic pain and burnout led him to question the structural model. He developed the DOCC (Direct your Own Care) protocol and eventually stopped performing elective spine surgery entirely after concluding that most chronic back pain patients didn't need operations.

His book Back in Control (2012) carries unique authority: a spine surgeon saying that surgery is usually the wrong answer for chronic back pain. His documented finding that spinal fusion outcomes are often no better than placebo gives his perspective on failed back surgery exceptional credibility.

How to access their work

Finding the right fit

These practitioners all teach the same core truth: chronic pain can be brain-generated and reversible. But their approaches differ, and the right fit depends on your personality and needs.

If you need clinical evidence first: Start with Alan Gordon's work. The Boulder study gives you peer-reviewed proof. His podcast makes PRT accessible.

If you want structured daily exercises: Howard Schubiner's 28-day program in Unlearn Your Pain or his free Coursera course gives you something to do every day.

If you want free daily support: Dan Buglio's YouTube channel is unmatched for volume and consistency. A new video every day for six years straight.

If emotional processing resonates: Nicole Sachs' JournalSpeak method and podcast go deep into the emotional drivers of pain.

If you're a surgery veteran or considering surgery: David Hanscom's perspective as a spine surgeon who stopped operating carries unique credibility.

If you want an app-based starting point: For people who want structured daily practice built on the same science these practitioners developed, PainApp offers a free assessment, pain tracking, condition-specific audio courses, and an AI-powered Pain Coach. At $29.99/quarter, it's an accessible complement to any practitioner's approach.

The field keeps growing

What started with one physician's clinical observation at NYU has grown into a global movement. New practitioners are emerging. More research is being published. Techniques are being refined. The 2022 Boulder study was a watershed moment, but it's not the finish line. Clinical trials are underway for neuroplastic approaches to fibromyalgia, IBS, migraines, and pelvic pain conditions.

The practitioners listed here built this field. Their books, programs, podcasts, and research created the foundation that thousands of people have used to recover from chronic pain. Whether you access their work through free YouTube videos, podcast episodes, structured programs, or app-based tools, the science is the same. Your brain learned this pain pattern. And it can unlearn it.

Frequently asked questions

Who are the leading neuroplastic pain practitioners?

The field was founded by Dr. John Sarno at NYU. Today's leading practitioners include Alan Gordon (Pain Reprocessing Therapy), Dr. Howard Schubiner (EAET and F.I.T. criteria), Dan Buglio (daily YouTube coaching), Nicole Sachs (JournalSpeak), and Dr. David Hanscom (spine surgeon turned advocate).

How do I find a TMS doctor near me?

The Pain Psychology Center offers video sessions nationwide. Dr. Schubiner consults through Cormendi Health. The TMS Wiki maintains a practitioner directory. Many TMS practitioners now offer telehealth, so location is less of a barrier than it used to be.

Do I need a TMS practitioner or can I recover on my own?

Many people recover through books and self-guided programs. Others benefit from professional support, especially if they've been stuck or have complex trauma. Options range from free resources like Dan Buglio's YouTube channel to structured programs and one-on-one coaching.

How much do neuroplastic pain practitioners charge?

Costs vary widely. Dan Buglio's YouTube is free. Nicole Sachs offers tiers from $2.99 to $99 per month. Dr. Schubiner's programs range from $297 to $499. Alan Gordon's Pain Psychology Center charges standard therapy rates. Many practitioners offer books as an affordable starting point.

References

1. Ashar YK, et al. Effect of Pain Reprocessing Therapy vs Placebo and Usual Care for Patients With Chronic Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2022;79(1):13-23.DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.2669
2. Lumley MA, et al. Emotional awareness and expression therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and education for fibromyalgia: a cluster-randomized controlled trial. PAIN. 2017;158(12):2354-2363.DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000749
3. Brinjikji W, et al. Systematic Literature Review of Imaging Features of Spinal Degeneration in Asymptomatic Populations. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2015;36(4):811-816.DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A4173