Online Certification Course in Chronic Pain Rehabilitation

A 4 month online learning experience for healthcare and wellness professionals. Accredited for CEUs.

Designed to boost confidence, creativity, and competence in delivering evidence-based care.

RetrainPain Content is Trusted By Clinicians at Leading Healthcare Organizations

“My practice was positively impacted from the first lesson and I feel as if I have so much more to offer the patients I work with. I felt well supported and encouraged throughout and highly recommend this course for anyone treating those experiencing chronic pain.”

- Nikki Dennehy-Block, Registered Nurse

Reinvigorate Your Clinical Work

Simplified Pain Science
Get up to speed on principles of modern pain science.

Focus On Practical Skills
Apply pain science principles through practical skills.

Overcome Obstacles
Boost your confidence and learn a framework for evidence based care that also leaves room for creativity.

Efficient

Weekly content modules are short and to the point

Certificate of Completion

Demonstrate your training to patients and colleagues

Convenience

Learn online, when you want, where you want

Reasonably Priced

Learning evidence-based-care shouldn't cost an arm-and-a-leg

Satisfaction Guaranteed

Full refund if a course doesn't meet your expectations (within 14 days of course start)

Supports Free Resources

A portion of proceeds goes to the RetrainPain.org project to offer free patient resources

For Healthcare & Wellness Professionals

Physical Therapists
Occupational Therapists
Massage Therapists
Chiropractors
Yoga Instructors
Physicians
Nurses
Psychologists
Health Coaches
Personal Trainers

Course Topics

Patient Expectations

In clinical practice, it’s common that some patients fail to improve or make progress even with the best treatment. In this section we explore how pain expectations (e.g. placebos and nocebos) influence pain symptoms. We will then show how to integrate these concepts into clinical practice to enhance patient outcomes.

Overcoming Fear

Many healthcare professionals acknowledge the role of pain related fear, but don't feel equipped to help patients overcome these fears. In this section you will learn new discoveries about pain related fear AND practical tools to help patients re-engage in meaningful physical activity.

Relationships & Pain

In this section of the we will explore the role of relationships in development and treatment of persistent pain. We will discuss early life experiences, social rejection, parent-child, partner , and patient - provider relationships. We will includes strategies for addressing these relationships as part of a pain rehabilitation treatment plan.

Simplifying Mindful Movement & Meditation

In this section of the course we will take a deep dive into the topic of body awareness and embodiment. We will explore mindful movement, meditation, and breath-work (pranayama). We'll focus on practical strategies for teaching pain specific techniques to patients, and address the common challenges in teaching "mind-body" techniques in the clinic.

Exercise for Chronic Pain

This section of the course takes a step away from the clinic to dive deeper into pain science concepts such as sensitization / habituation, pain vulnerability, maladaptive plasticity, and new perspectives on the neurobiology of the conscious lived experience of pain.

The New Science of Pain

This section of the course takes a step away from the clinic to dive deeper into pain science concepts such as sensitization / habituation, pain vulnerability, maladaptive plasticity, and new perspectives on the neurobiology of the conscious lived experience of pain.

Exercise for Chronic Pain

Exercise is the gold standard for chronic pain, yet it seems to make many patients feel worse. In this section of the course, we will explore the physiology underlying exercise induced pain, and strategies to make exercise more comfortable for patients. We will also learn an entirely new framework for exercise that utilizes therapeutic movement from a non-biomechanical pain science perspective.

A Fresh Approach For Manual Therapy

This section will explore the science of touch based therapies such as massage and manipulation.  We will present practical strategies for integrating these treatments into patient care without reinforcing harmful beliefs or unhealthy reliance on passive treatment. We will also explore pain science concepts that open up new doors for creative application of these therapies.

Taming Stress

In this section, we will explore the role of stress (including PTSD) in the development and treatment of persistent. We will learn novel strategies for enhancing stress resiliency that can be integrated into a pain rehabilitation program

Sleep & Pain

In this section, we will explore the role of sleep in the development and treatment of persistent pain. We will also cover strategies for sleep enhancement that can be used by clinicians.

Hundreds of Satisfied Health Care Professionals

What our students say

Click here to read more testimonials

"I loved the course and found it to be extremely thoughtful, comprehensive, and clinically useful.  I am really impressed by the depth and scope”

Physical Therapist

Teresa Gero

“Loved the course material, applicable, clear, and concise. Overall great experience!"

Physical Therapist

Jasmina Sidberry

“The course was awesome- applicable every day in the orthopedic setting where I work.”

Occupational Therapy

Elspeth French

This is one of the best courses on Pain Science . Extensive, detailed  and evidence based with superb content.

Physical Therapist

Murat Dalkilinc

"I now have much more inspiration for how I work with patients with chronic pain moving forward... I'm so pleased I took the course 🙂"

Occupational Therapy

Tamsin Chant

"This course vastly improved my understanding....it is the best value in pain science education.

Physical Therapist

Danield Bordt

"This course has changed the way I think about pain and how to treat it (not just chronic pain, but all stages of pain)."

Physiotherapist

Sally Pearman

Having completed the course, I feel much more confident about treating people with complicated and devastating chronic pain."

Acupuncturist

Juliet Forbes

"I so deeply appreciate the course...I recommend your course to all my colleagues.”

Galina Denzel

Personal trainer / Nutrition coach

“I have found the Retrain Pain course invaluable.  My practice was positively impacted from the first lesson and I feel as if I have so much more to offer the patients I work with.”

Registered Nurse

Nikki Dennehy-Block

"This course vastly improved my understanding....it is the best value in pain science education."

Physical Therapist

Danield Bordt

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Course Instructor: Dr. Elan Schneider, DPT

Dr. Elan Schneider DPT is the co-founder (and content creator) of the Retrain Pain Foundation.  He is a physical therapist and certified yoga instructor who has worked clinically in hospitals and private practice, and served as the director of the Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program at H&D Physical Therapy.  

Dr. Schneider has been a lecturer at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and has delivered professional training seminars to hundreds of health care providers.

Lectures & Seminars
- New York State Pain Conference
- Global Sickle Cell Disease Network Global Conference
- SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Mt Sinai Hospital
- Hospital of Special Surgery
- Cornell University Hospital
- Swedish Massage Institute
- Northeast Business Group on Health
- Con-Edison
- Innovation Summit at Cleveland Clinic Medical Center
- Private Medical & Physical Therapy Practices Throughout the United States

“Elan Schneider is a committed, kind, considerate, and competent teacher. I learned a lot and I highly recommend this course!” -Julia Sebba, Physical Therapist, Brazil

"
Elan Schneider is a dynamic speaker and a natural born educator. He has an infectious curiosity, quick wit, and mindful approach to teaching that helps keeps students actively engaged in the learning process.” - Professor Dr. Teresa Miller PT, PhD, Director of St John's University's Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

Physical Therapy - Continuing Education Credits

RetrainPain is an accredited continuing education sponsor by The Ohio Physical Therapy Association (OPTA) and The California Physical Therapy Association (CPTA), and is also an accepted sponsor for CE credit by the following state APTA chapters*:

Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

The course provides 40 Continuing Education Hours (or 4 CE Units)

*Approval for additional state APTA chapters is via reciprocity arrangement with an existing APTA branch approval. It is recommended to double check with your individual state chapter before beginning the course to confirm that this remains accurate and updated information. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

Health and Wellness Coaches - Continuing Education Credits

The RetrainPain online certification course provides 40 Continuing Education Hours, and is an accredited continuing education sponsor by the American Physical Therapy Association (California chapter).

The online course meets NBHWC requirements as an approved Continuing Education Provider. Health and Wellness coaches have the option of applying for continuing education credit directly with the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching for a nominal fee ($25) via a simple online petition and with the RetrainPain Certificate of Completion upon course completion.

For more information on the process, and a link to the petition, visit https://nbhwc.org/recertification-continuning-education/

Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

Yoga teachers - Continuing Education Credits

The RetrainPain course meets the criteria set by the Yoga Alliance for approved continuing education courses. Each instructor can individually petition for CE credit via their personal online portal.

Yoga Alliance criteria, met by the RetrainPain Certification Course:
-
The course is authored and taught by "A professional with significant experience and education in a subject related to at least one educational category.”
- The educational categories met are: Teaching Methods and Anatomy & Physiology

Educational categories can be seen in detail on this page.* For exact instructions on how to submit your hours, go to the Continuing Education FAQ section at the bottom of this page, to the question titled “How do I enter my Continuing Education hours?”

Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

Wound Care and Ostomy Professionals - Continuing Education Credits

The RetrainPain online certification course provides 40 Continuing Education Hours, and is an accredited continuing education sponsor by the American Physical Therapy Association (California chapter).

The APTA is an approved accrediting organization by The National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy (NAWCO) for continuing education credit for recertification of your license.*

For more information, visit: https://www.nawccb.org/continuing-education

*It is recommended to double check with NAWCO to confirm that this remains accurate and updated information. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

Learning objectives

At the conclusion of the course, students should be able to:

Neurobiology:
-
List several key physiological processes that are involved in acute and chronic pain perception
- Describe changes that occur throughout the nervous system during the transition from acute to chronic pain

Expectations & Emotions:
-
Analyze patient statements to identify the presence of expectations and emotions, and integrate these perspectives into the treatment plan

Body Awareness & Mindful Movement
-
Understand principles of interoception and body awareness
- Construct a chronic pain rehabilitation program incorporating mindful movement and stress reduction techniques based on these foundations

Sleep
- Classify common sleep problems and recognize the relationship between sleep function and fluctuations in pain
- Provide practical sleep-improvement strategies in clinical sessions

Pain & Exercise
-
Understand the underlying physiology that is responsible for patient complaints of pain during exercise
- Apply exercise therapy within a biopsychosocial framework to target fear, self-efficacy, pacing, health promotion and sensory desensitization
- Recommend strategies to reduce and manage post-exercise flare-ups

Social Function
-
Apply a “return to living” approach to chronic pain, recognizing the role of social function in pain management - such as social isolation, communication about pain, family involvement - and the importance of the therapeutic alliance

Manual Therapy
-
Incorporate the science of somatosensation to adapt manual therapy techniques to patients with hypersensitivity to touch, while facilitating active patient involvement and empowerment for self-care

How long is the course and how much does it cost?

The online course is designed to be completed gradually over a period of 4 months. There are 16 weekly lessons, and each lesson has an average time to complete of 2.5 hours. The cost is $500 USD.

Will I get to interact with the instructor?

Students can schedule a 1 hour (or 2 half hour) phone or video conference sessions with the instructor. These sessions are available during working hours (European time zone).

Will I have access to the content after I complete the course?

Yes. You will continue to have access to the content after you complete the course.

Can I try it out first?

We do not offer a free trial, but we do have a satisfaction guarantee with a no-questions-asked full refund policy. Requests for refund must be made within the first 14 days of starting the course

When do I get the certificate?

After you finish the coursework you will take a comprehensive quiz. Upon successful completion, you will be awarded a Certification in Principles of Biopsychosocial Chronic Pain Rehabilitation.

What if I get busy with life and fall behind?

While it is very helpful to stay with the pace of the course, you can slow down if you need to for any reason.

Can I stay up all night and complete the course over a weekend?

Not exactly. While much of the content could be "consumed" in a few weekends, the goal of the course is to enhance clinical practice. It takes time to think through and practice applying the concepts with your patients or clients. As such, the course is deliberately paced over a longer period of time.

What format is the content?

The lesson materials are a mix of several multimedia formats including text, images, slides, and video.

More questions? | Contact the Instructor

Feel free to email the instructor at Elan@RetrainPain.com with any questions.

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