What Is Pain Reprocessing Therapy, and How Can It Treat Stubborn, Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain affects millions, yet traditional approaches often leave people searching for relief (or seeking alternatives). Many treatments focus on symptoms rather than the deeper drivers of persistent pain.

Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) shifts the focus from damaged tissues to the brain’s role in producing pain. Instead of treating pain as a direct signal of injury, PRT recognizes that pain can also be learned. This concept is called neuroplastic pain.

Neuroplastic pain arises when the brain misinterprets harmless signals as threats. Over time, the nervous system becomes overly sensitive, producing pain even when no damage is present. I often call this the “broken fire alarm” — the body is sending off pain signals when the actual pain isn’t there (the fire alarm is going off even when there is no fire).

This doesn’t mean the pain is “imagined.” It means the brain has created a false alarm. By retraining how the brain processes these signals, pain can lessen and even disappear.

Origins of Pain Reprocessing Therapy

PRT was developed by Alan Gordon, LCSW, at the Pain Psychology Center in Los Angeles. His work built upon decades of research into the connection between the mind and pain.

Dr. John Sarno was an early voice in this field. He proposed that many forms of chronic pain stem from tension and repressed emotions. While Sarno’s ideas were considered controversial at first, advances in neuroscience now validate many of his insights.

Alan Gordon refined these concepts and tested them in structured therapeutic programs. He and his team focused on central sensitization—the process by which the nervous system becomes overly reactive. By teaching patients to respond differently to pain, they found consistent and lasting improvements.

In 2021, a randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Psychiatry confirmed the effectiveness of PRT. Two-thirds of participants were pain-free or nearly pain-free after four weeks. Nearly all reported improvement.

How PRT Works in Practice

PRT focuses on changing the way people relate to pain. Instead of reacting with fear, patients learn to approach sensations with safety and calm.

Key methods include:

• Somatic tracking: Noticing sensations without judgment, helping the brain reclassify them as safe.

• Safety reappraisal: Reframing pain signals as false alarms rather than signs of damage.

• Gentle self-talk: Shifting inner dialogue from fear to reassurance.

• Relaxation practices: Calming the nervous system to reduce sensitivity.

Over time, these practices weaken the pain-fear cycle. The brain stops misfiring danger signals, and the body feels freer to move without pain.

PRT does not dismiss the role of emotions. Stress, trauma, and unresolved feelings often amplify pain. But the core of PRT is teaching the brain to process pain differently. This retraining can occur even when emotional work is ongoing.

Conditions PRT Can Help

PRT is most effective for chronic pain conditions that are not explained by structural injury. These include:

• Back and neck pain

• Sciatica

• Fibromyalgia

• Tension headaches

• Repetitive strain injuries

• Unexplained body pain

Often, these conditions appear after stressful life periods or emotional strain. Traditional tests may show little to no damage, yet the pain persists. PRT gives patients a way forward by addressing how the brain has learned to produce pain.

Why We Believe in PRT

At NeuroPain Health, we have seen how life-changing PRT can be. Our team is certified in PRT and trained to guide patients through this process safely and effectively.

We believe PRT is a natural fit with our holistic approach to healing. Pain is rarely just physical. It involves the mind, emotions, and nervous system. By addressing these layers together, patients gain more than relief—they gain confidence and freedom in their bodies.

PRT empowers people to understand that pain does not always equal harm. That shift alone can restore hope and allow true healing to begin.

Taking the First Step

If you’ve tried multiple treatments without success, PRT may be the missing piece. The research is clear: retraining the brain changes the experience of pain.

Healing chronic pain requires both knowledge and practice. Our certified providers are here to guide you with expertise, compassion, and proven tools.

You don’t need to live trapped by pain. Relief is possible, and it begins by changing how your brain interprets it.

Call us today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about Pain Reprocessing Therapy.