One of the cardinal rules of participating in this group is never discussing your pain or medical care – even if asked. 

The structured group format is a powerful force in creating change. We know that human connection is essential for health and that being socially isolated has detrimental effects on your health. The effects of loneliness are estimated to be equivalent to smoking 3/4 of a pack of cigarettes per day.

Much of the effectiveness of the DOC process is stimulating the formation of new circuits in your brain that bypass those that are creating pain. Your brain will develop wherever you place your attention and one of the reasons that any patient of mine was never allowed to EVER discuss his or her pain with ANYONE except their medical providers.

Please don’t offer advice to others

If someone is persistent in discussing their problems in the small group, please ask them to stop. If they continue, ask me to join the room and I will address it. A related request is not giving each other advice regardless of how helpful you feel it might be. It will prolong the conversation around his or her pain.

Other requests

· Ask yourself what you can do to be of help to others in the sessions.

Specifically, please be mindful that each person in the small group breakouts has a chance to share.

· Your mood has a direct effect on others. The term is called “co-regulation”.

I have personally found that a little expressive writing, active meditation, or breathing exercises before the session is a big help if I am a bit out of sorts.

· Although your participation with comments and questions is welcomed, please don’t feel obligated. We want you to feel comfortable with the group. · Both the DOC (Direct your Own Care) Journey course and app provide action plans in a planned sequence to keep you moving forward.

The course is based on my personal experience with chronic pain and also observing the journeys of hundreds of patients breaking out the grip of it.

· The app reflects what we learned from our workshops of which my wife, Babs, was a major factor bringing in rhythm and play. The flow was:

o Awareness

o Hope

o Forgiveness

o Play