A Physician’s Resource
Intractable Pain Centers welcomes the addition of Rebecca Curtis, CEG, and
“Take Courage Coaching™”
Our partner in assisting patients with chronic pain management.
Pain that doesn’t stop -- Patients who do
When chronic pain sufferers…
complain that pain controls their lives, but don’t learn coping strategies…
want answers and strategies, but don’t have the resources needed to take responsibility for pain management…
want to stop hurting, but lose motivation to use pain management techniques…
Coaching may provide the support and motivation patients need to take responsibility for managing pain that has controlled them.
Take Courage Coaching™ proves invaluable in the short term—helping patients maintain the motivation to utilize and improve techniques in pain management—and enables patients to establish life-long coping patterns.
Take Courage Coaching helps chronic pain patients take responsibility for their own pain management and learn coping techniques.
Patients will be more satisfied with their lives, as they learn better ways to cope and manage stress. TCC through IPC emphasizes the importance of functionality over elimination of pain.
TCC does not offer medical or psychological advice or treatment. Coaching and education focused on pain management techniques and healthy choices, consistent with the current body of research on pain management, behavioral changes, and life/health coaching practices.
How Coaching Works
Group coaching brings patients together for the purpose of learning and implementing coping strategies, and provides an environment where patients make commitments and gain motivation to practice new skills.
One-on-one coaching allows for individualized instruction, setting goals, and monitoring progress.
ICP through TCCs remote-coaching approach utilizes group and individual telephone sessions with written and on-line materials. Skills learned and practiced with the support of experienced coaches can be integrated into the patient’s daily pain management.
Individual sessions—weekly personalized goal setting and activity monitoring.
Group sessions—weekly conference call includes pain management skills, education, and motivation.
Support and coaching is also available during pain variations and flares to reduce the need for expensive emergency room visits and lower the incidence of regression.
The Story Behind Intractable Pain Center’s “Take Courage Coaching”
In the summer of 2005, a violent rollover accident in the remote Big Hole Valley of Montana resulted in a spinal cord injury that almost took my life--twice.
First, I fought to stay alive. As I recovered from the injuries, a second battle threatened to rob me of life—the excruciating and unbearable burn of central nerve pain. I'd developed an inoperable C-4 syrinx. Neither medications nor narcotics touched the pain. I felt hopelessly trapped by my body. Only my faith afforded courage sufficient to seek solutions.
Referral to a pain clinic gave me education and strategies for pain management. I returned home with the support of routine coaching by telephone. Both the intense on-site training and remote-service coaching pushed me past the frustration and fear of suffering and the limitations of modern medicine. Now, despite my chronic pain, I am effectively managing it.
Following the transforming experience of learning to manage my pain, I envisioned making tele-care services available to thousands of patients who live hopelessly with chronic pain. I founded Take Courage Coaching to make that dream come true.
Working collaboratively with Dr. Thomas Purtzer, TCC, through Intractable Pain Centers, teaches and reinforces healthy pain management behaviors. With this support, patients gain motivation for long-term success and improving functionality, rather than being obsessed with the elimination of pain. -Rebecca Curtis, CEG
Education & Coaching Topics
Goal setting & progress monitoring
Exercise
Stress
Sleep
Relaxing body & mind
Positive thought
Humor
Pacing
Nutrition & healthy choices
Using medications safely
Communication
Obstacles & motivation
Problem-solving & decision-making tools
Social & assertiveness skills
Occupational & vocational exploration
Coaching Staff
Rebecca Curtis, C.E.G. is a life coach and the Director of IPCs “Take Courage Coaching”. She is a Certified Life Coach and a 20-year partner in her husband’s pastoral ministry. She combines her abilities to listen, counsel and encourage with helping chronic pain patients achieve greater functionality and manage their pain.
Joel Obeso, PsyD is Program Director for the Auburn Pain Rehabilitation Medical Clinic (aurburnpainrehab.com), after directing the Health Education for Living with Pain (HELP) program for seven years. His passions include health psychology, telemedicine, health coaching, and cross-cultural issues. Since 1992, he has worked with Spanish and English-speaking patients; in TCC’s program, he coaches Spanish-speaking clients.
Netty Araiza, PsyD has over seven years experience in pain management coaching: five years as the Life Skills Coordinator and currently as a dedicated HELP-Remote pain management coach for Spanish-speaking clients at the HELP program in San Mateo, California (helppain.net). Prior to pain coaching, she spent six years as Assistant Professor of Psychology and Director of the high school vocational counseling department at Montemorelos University, in Mexico. She worked six years as a bilingual behavioral health therapist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Netty devotes her energy to helping patients, limited by pain and disability, regain fulfilling and productive lives.
Testimonies
My life was controlled by pain and fear…hope for an early death. Despair ruled my life. Rebecca taught me how to take my pain and channel it into positive and constructive directions. The education helped every area of my life—most notably, my physical and emotional well being—and Rebecca patiently…coached me as I turned my fears into facts and my despair into courage. -Jim, central pain sufferer
As a registered nurse, I thought I knew how to manage my pain. Turns out, the non-pharmaceutical pain management techniques I learned were just the tip of the ice berg. Rebecca helped uncover pain triggers…and coached me to make goals and lifestyle changes. Through daily pain prevention strategies, I am successfully controlling my pain. Her support, skills and knowledge have substantially decreased my need for pain medication. Pain no longer defines me. -Carol, migraine sufferer
Mission Statement
As a service to those with chronic pain, Take Courage Coaching works one-on-one to reduce suffering and increase living.