Chronic Pain Coaching to Change the Pain Experience
I'm Cynthia Austin, and I'm committed to assisting you in finding the path out of your pain experience.
With nearly five decades of personal experience enduring—and ultimately changing—the pain experience, I bring a rare and deeply informed perspective.
Combined with over a decade of professional and volunteer work helping others do the same, I understand the emotional, physical, and psychological complexities that the pain experience creates and what it takes to shift those patterns from the inside out.
This unique perspective empowers me to provide personalized support and effective solutions to help you regain comfort and enhance your quality of life.
Find Your Personalized Plan to Change the Pain Experience
You might feel skeptical, and that’s okay. After all, you've tried so many things that haven’t worked.
But here’s something different: instead of chasing symptoms or relying on short-term fixes, this approach helps you understand the "why" behind your pain, and gives you tools to influence it from the inside out.
By looking at the full picture of how your nervous system, thoughts, emotions, and behaviors interact, we begin the real work of changing the pain experience.
This isn’t about false promises.
It’s about a steady, structured process guided by curiosity, compassion, and science.
Your new story begins now.
Sign up for The Pain Experience Newsletter™️
and Receive Link to Resource PDF: 🌿From Pain to Possibilities
You’ll receive two brief emails related to the PDF download, and then you’ll start receiving The Pain Experience Newsletter, a weekly email written by me, Cynthia Austin, NBC-HWC.
This newsletter is designed to support you with:
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Practical tips for changing the pain experience
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Insights into how your nervous system and brain influence symptoms
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Real-world tools you can begin using at your own pace
There are no high-pressure sales tactics; just clear, compassionate, and research-backed information to help you feel more in control of your pain experience.
My hope is that you’ll come to trust my approach, or at the very least, grow curious about how these methods might work for you.
📬 Be sure to add my email to your contacts and check your Promotions or Spam folder so you don’t miss a thing.
Let’s take the next step forward...together.
“I am invested in understanding everything there is to know about the science of pain so I can help frustrated people living with chronic pain who are tired of suffering discover their individualized "Pain-Free Formula" with the goal of changing the pain experience so they can finally participate fully in life again.”
~Cynthia Austin, NBC-HWC
Why Work with Cynthia Austin, NBC-HWC?
A leader in neuroplastic pain coaching, Cynthia brings lived experience, deep compassion, and advanced professional training to every session.
About Cynthia Austin & My Pain Coach, LLC
Cynthia Austin is not only a nationally board-certified health and wellness coach, she’s also someone who personally endured nearly five decades of chronic pain. Her journey from being 100lbs overweight, using a cane, and feeling hopeless to building a full life again without surgery or long-term medication is what makes her work truly transformational.
She founded My Pain Coach, LLC to help others change their pain experience using evidence-based tools, emotional support, and a personalized, whole-person, trauma-informed approach. Cynthia helps clients develop their own unique MPC method for changing the pain experience by changing how their brain and body respond.
Featured Work & Media
Cynthia’s pain experience journey has been featured on Podcasts: TMS Global Live, Fit News Podcast, The Be Well Now Podcast, and VoyageOhio.
She has contributed to various platforms, including Remedy, the US Pain Foundation’s blog, and The Mighty.
Her story was included in a 2024 NIH-funded study comparing the effects of CBT, ACT, and EAET on chronic pain and in a forthcoming book in 2026 by Howard Schubiner, MD.
Dr. Schubiner 2024 interview with Cynthia about changing her pain experience
Cynthia is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experiences, and she continues to create new programs and teach courses about changing the pain experience.
Education, Training & Certifications
Cynthia Austin’s extensive education and certifications include specialized training from leading pain researchers and health professionals:
Education, Training, Continuing Education, Certifications
September 2016 – Chronic Pain Legislative Advocate Certification, US Pain Foundation
June 2018 – Chronic Pain Support Group Leader Certification, Pain Connection
October 2019 - Dragontree Life Coach Certification
October 2020 - Certified Health & Wellness Coach with emphasis on chronic pain coaching
October 2020 - Motivational Interviewing Skills
March 2021 – Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach Certification
March 2021 – Neural Circuits Disorder, Howard Schubiner, MD, Continuing Education
April 2021 – Fundamentals of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion for Health Coaches, Dr. Cherie Kroh, Continuing Education
May 2021 - Positive Mental Health, Appleseed Mental Health Counseling, Continuing Education
September 2021 – Self-Compassion, Kristen Neff, PhD
December 2021 – Poly Vagal Theory, Deb Dana
January 2022 Somatic Tracking Training, Dr. Peter Levine & Dr. Diane Poole Heller
January 2022 – The DOC Journey, Dr. David Hanscom (one-on-one education)
February 2022 – Opening Up By Writing It Down Webinar, Dr. James Pennebaker & Dr. Joshua Smyth
March 2022 – Pain Reprocessing Therapy, Dr. Howard Schubiner (small group and one-on-one education)
March 2022 – Root Cause Health Coaching and Lifestyle Medicine based on Organ-Mind-Brain Anatomy, Lifestyle Prescriptions® University, Continuing Education
April 2022 – Certified Empowered Relief™️ Instructor Certificate Course, Stanford Medicine/Stanford University
April 2022 - discussions with Stanford Medicine/Stanford University pain science researcher Dr. Beth Darnall, PhD
August 2022 – Certified Reiki Practitioner, Biofield Energy Work (clinical research provided upon request about biofield work)
March 2023 - Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy Course, Mark A. Lumley, Ph.D. & Howard Schubiner, MD
May 2023 - Cynthia Austin was interviewed on video about her pain recovery story by Howard Schubiner, MD for his chronic pain course on Coursera
June 2023 - Pain Reprocessing Therapy Certificate Course with Yoni Ashar, PhD, Daniella Deutsch, ASW, Daniel G. Lyman, LCSW
June 2023 - Self-Compassion and Shame Certificate Course with Kristen Neff, PhD
February 2024 - Certified Emotion Code Practitioner
December 2024 - Polyvagal Certificate Course for Health & Wellness Coaches
Credentials & Certificates
National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach
National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coaches (NBC-HWC) are credentialed members of the healthcare industry who serve as behavior change agents and are trained to the highest standard in the profession. As partners with clients in the behavior change process,
NBC-HWC empower, support, and guide individuals looking to enhance their well-being through self-directed lasting changes that align with their values.
Empowered Relief™️
Instructor
Empowered Relief™ is an evidence-based, single-session pain class that rapidly equips patients with pain management skills. Developed at Stanford University.
Pain Coach Academy
(formally known as
Take Courage Coaching)
Take Courage Coaching is a health and wellness company, and training school focused on the science and skills of managing chronic pain and health and wellness coaching.
Chronic Pain Support Group Leader
Certified peer leader working with individuals with chronic pain in a group setting.
Dragontree Life Coach graduate
A Dragontree Life Coach is a guide and advocate who lights the way for their clients to find their own wisdom, inner knowing and truth.
Chronic Pain Legislative Advocate
Fighting for change for the chronic pain community at the state and federal levels of government.
At My Pain Coach, LLC, we are your trusted partner in Pain Coaching and Changing the Pain Experience.
Our practices are dedicated to providing quality care by offering the highest level of service based on client-centered care, which is why we have a well-deserved reputation for excellence.
"Cynthia gave me my life back. Not that I didn't have a life, it just wasn't a fun life. Probably the most positive and compassionate pain coach out there! I didn't recognize myself after learning my "Pain-Free Formula". Cynthia taught me how to practice self-care and take time for daily mindfulness so I could enjoy the life I deserve after 10+ years of chronic back pain.
Thanks for everything!"
P.B. from Ohio, Spring 2024
"I've been working with her for the past 2 months and her program is AMAZING. It narrowed down my pain-point issue and I've made amazing strides in changing how chronic pain affects my life. I feel like I can do something about it and lessen the pain and even strengthen the belief that I can overcome it! She is very affordable. She is an angel. Truly. Thank you Cynthia Austin!!!"
Rebbeca Wertz from Colorado, Summer 2023
"I recommend Cindy to anyone looking for a pain management partner.
She balances education, empathy, and jointly developed goal setting to make you feel like you're not facing your pain alone. I felt each session was well designed - a good balance of structured learning with enough flexibility to accommodate spontaneous topics / introspection. Over the course of our sessions, we discussed various tools / strategies and ran experiments together while monitoring their effectiveness.
I feel more confident and capable after having Cindy as my pain coach and I understand my pain a whole lot better, which amounts to a net reduction in pain and a better quality of life for me. Cindy was a pleasure to work with and I always found her accessible despite my busy work schedule and the different time zones. Highly recommend!"
A.R., Winter 2022
From San Francisco Bay Area, California
Spring 2023
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