Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Uschold
Hi Jen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Western NY as the youngest of nine kids and have been a Physical Therapist (PT) for over 3 decades. I have two older sisters who are also PTs (my 3rd sister is a retired nurse). I have owned a small private practice since 2007 in Indiana and now Alexandria, VA. Outside of PT and coaching, I am MOST passionate about my three (mostly grown) kids and I am so honored to be their mom.
I love learning (perhaps I am a serial learner). I have been fortunate to learn from many great PT educators over the years. Out of my love for PT and helping others to empower themselves, I was drawn to both Pain Science and Health Coaching. I am excited to have been in the 1st cohort to pass the National Board Certification for Health and Wellness Coaching in 2017. I also completed a Fellowship in Pain Science with Evidence in Motion in 2021. Shortly after this, I was asked to be the Program Director for an online Lifestyle Medicine program through Evidence in Motion where we educate health professionals in Lifestyle Medicine. Most recently, I have taken a deep dive into Positive Intelligence or Mental Fitness. I describe this as harnessing your brain to be your friend far more often than your foe. It is a beautiful complement to my other work. I describe it as the stitches that bring the quilt pieces of my decades of learning all together.
I desire to spread this ripple of knowledge and empowerment far and wide. I have been fortunate enough to be teaching since 1998 with companies in Chicago, Virginia, Colorado, and internationally. I combine all of these things to help people navigate chronic pain, divorce and significant life transitions.
My Coaching has expanded into a 6 month online program called Pain to Gain. It is a mix of 1:1 coaching, videos, participation in the world renowned Positive Intelligence Program, and worksheets to deepen the learning. Additionally, I offer in person retreats for Family Law professionals. The education is for themselves as well as their clients integrating Pain Science, Lifestyle Medicine, and Mental Fitness.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I have always been a passionate PT and lifelong learner. Every course I attended filled my mind with ways to help my clients. However, it wasn’t until 2021 that I truly understood the capacity of these strategies and this knowledge from a personal experience. Each of us has a unique pain story. Today, I am grateful for the gift of knowledge and the pain experiences I’ve had, which have brought me to this place. Does that sound weird? These challenges have actually been gifts!
Summer 2021 was a whirlwind. My second child was set to start college in Spain. Originally, his father was to take him, but work commitments prevented it, so I stepped in—with only six weeks before the trip.
Overwhelmed by the chaotic travel restrictions due to COVID, I was also dealing with a stressful divorce and knee pain that hindered my mobility. Despite these obstacles, I managed to navigate multiple setbacks, including a wrong COVID test, a lost credit card, and a minor car accident—all just two days before departure!
Determined, I planned the trip, and soon we were off. The flight was challenging, my knee pain worsened, and emotions ran high among my three children. In our third-floor Airbnb in Spain, stairs became a slow painful endeavor, and getting in and out of bed was excruciating.
However, I realized I had to make a choice: let stress and pain dictate our experience or embrace this precious time with my kids.
I didn’t rely on medications; instead, I drew on my expertise, experience, and support network. Navigating chronic pain and life transitions is not a solo journey. Amidst these challenges, the trip turned into a gift—a rare opportunity to be with my children together for the first time in 21 months. This experience reaffirmed the importance of resilience, support, and finding joy in the thick of stress. And the added bonus? These techniques also helped decrease my pain. By the end of the trip, I could lift my leg in and out of bed with ease, and stairs were no problem.
Honestly, what was I waiting for? I was with my kids. This was a tremendous gift.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Pain Science, Lifestyle Medicine, and Mental Fitness guide me with clients through the lens of science and art for the uniqueness of each person I see. What excites me professionally is comprehensive non pharmacological and non surgical evidence based approaches to chronic pain through Pain Science. I apply evidence to help people prevent/treat/reverse up to 80% lifestyle diseases through Lifestyle Medicine Coaching. Mental Fitness is as important if not more so than physical fitness and is a part of every client journey on some level. The evidence also supports laughter as a strategy for pain and health. As the saying goes, laughter is good medicine and I wholeheartedly agree. Laughter and connection are important aspects for clients struggling with pain-any kind of pain.
Pain is NOT a life sentence.
I tell my clients that the goal is for them to “fire me”….because they are doing well and have the strategies to overcome challenging circumstances. How? My clients learn about Pain Science, Lifestyle Medicine, and Mental Fitness. They choose what is the best approach for them.
We are our own best expert.
Clients learn the complexities of pain and mental fitness through stories and metaphors. I often use these stories in interviews and presentations as well. This makes it fun, lighthearted and more likely to be retained. The comprehensive nature of a biopsychosocial approach to pain is that it encompasses the entire human and not a diagnosis or “body part”. Pain Science is based on evidence. I use the evidence to help the unique individual in front of me. The client is the driver.
Lifestyle Medicine empowers the individual to use easily accessible lifestyle behaviors (sleep and nutrition as examples) to prevent, treat, and even reverse up to 80% of Lifestyle Related Disease. Lifestyle Medicine is also evidence based. It is a natural complement to Pain Science. What strategies we choose are up to the client and where they are in their health continuum or journey.
Mental Fitness (harnessing your brain to be your best friend rather than your enemy) seamlessly brings all of this together. I refer to the integration of Mental Fitness as stitching on a quilt. All of the beautiful individual pieces of fabric come together with the stitching. And I had the opportunity to put these skills to the test!
After two failed Meditations during a contentious divorce, I realized I already had the tools I needed to show up calm and confident. I completely shifted my preparation for the third Mediation. And the gift was- success! We had a signed agreement by the end of the day. It was then that I was inspired to coach those navigating challenging divorces and life transitions. The “tools” are similar. The ones we choose and in what way we use them are infinite and unique to each human. I have also created two self paced Divorce Mediation Prep courses with six expert videos- including a Retired Judge (who was the Judge for my third mediation)!
I continue to work with those experiencing chronic pain. About 1 in 4 people in our country suffers from chronic pain. We have learned so much about pain in recent decades and now we are able to offer many more strategies that are non surgical and non pharmacological. Pain Science and Lifestyle Medicine strategies work better than some medications!
I am most proud when I receive a text from a client who I haven’t seen in years sharing the new accomplishments they have had and that they are still using and integrating the work we did together. I love receiving photos from clients on worldly adventures when at the beginning, they could only walk two minutes before significant pain. I see my role as helping you help yourself. I am very passionate about these areas of health and empowerment. My desire is to create a ripple of kindness, self empowerment, connection, and health. This ripple is through my clients and through students I teach.
“A symptom is not a symptom. It is an invitation to someone’s story.” -Jen Uschold
Your story matters.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Books: The Brain that Heals Itself by Norman Doidge. The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton. Behave by Robert Sapolsky
Apps: Positive Intelligence (probably the only app I use daily). Lumosity (brain training)
Podcasts: This American Life on NPR, TED Radio Hour also NPR, Hidden Brain, Catalyst 360
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.180therapyandwellness.com (PT) https://www.iriseforme.com/ (Mental Fitness, Coaching, Divorce prep)
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/iriseforme
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iRiseForMe
