In April 2026, I (Pippa) was lucky enough to spend two days at a Mind-Body Medicine Masterclass with Howard Schubiner.
For those who haven’t come across his work, Dr Schubiner is a physician, author, and internationally recognised leader in mind-body medicine. He directs the Mind Body Medicine Center at Ascension Providence Hospital and is a Clinical Professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. He is also a co-founder of the Association for Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms, an organisation dedicated to advancing understanding and treatment of neuroplastic symptoms.
The event, organised by SIRPA and Living Proof, brought together health professionals and individuals with lived experience of chronic or neuroplastic symptoms, including persistent pain and fatigue.
It was an inspiring couple of days — not only learning from Howard himself, but also being in a room with around 120 practitioners from across the UK and beyond, all committed to developing and sharing this work. There was a real sense of energy, collaboration, and hope.
A personal journey
I first came across Howard’s work back in 2017 at a SIRPA conference in London. That event marked the beginning of my own journey into mind-body medicine — and, importantly, my recovery from fibromyalgia.
At the time, shifting from a purely biomedical understanding of pain to a mind-body approach felt like a big leap. But it was a turning point. It changed not only my own health and life, but also the way we practise at Osteopathy For All.
Bringing mind and body together
Osteopathy has always taken a holistic view — considering the whole person and how different aspects of life can influence the body. What mind-body medicine and modern neuroscience now offer is a deeper understanding of why this matters.
We now know that the brain and nervous system play a central role in how pain and other symptoms are created and maintained. This understanding allows us to combine:
- gentle, hands-on osteopathic care
- individualised treatment
- and a mind-body approach
to support people more effectively, particularly those experiencing persistent or neuroplastic symptoms.
Learning and evolving
During the masterclass, Howard explored approaches such as Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) and Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET), both of which are important parts of this field. These approaches are also reflected within SIRPA training, which all of our osteopaths at Osteopathy For All have completed or are currently undertaking.
What stood out most over the two days was not just the research or the techniques, but the clarity, compassion, and simplicity with which this work can be shared. It brings a sense of possibility — both for practitioners and for patients.
Reflecting on the journey
It felt quite special to reflect on how far things have come over the past nine years.
Since first discovering this work, I have:
- completed further training
- experienced my own recovery from chronic pain
- met an incredible community of practitioners
- spoken at the SIRPA conference
- and, somewhat surreal to say, shared a meal with Howard himself
It’s a reminder of how powerful this approach can be — not just in theory, but in real lives.
Looking ahead
It’s an exciting time to be working in this field. As understanding of neuroplastic symptoms continues to grow, so too does the ability to support people in a more complete and meaningful way.
For us at Osteopathy For All, this continues to shape how we work — combining hands-on care with a deeper understanding of the nervous system, and always keeping the person at the centre of everything we do.
There is often more possibility for change than it might feel like right now.
If you’d like help understanding your symptoms and exploring a different approach, we’d be very happy to support you.
