Sage Groups & Courses
The new neuroscience of pain provides evidence-based strategies for improving pain & other chronic symptoms. You can harness the power of neuroplasticity and learn how to calm your nervous system and quiet your symptoms. This learning is therapeutic in itself, and your amygdala will send fewer danger signals (pain) once you understand what’s happening in your brain.
The best part is you don’t have to do this alone.
People need people, and hurt people especially do. The American myth of the “rugged individual” implies we can do it alone, but healing is most effective when it is a social process. Chronic pain is isolating, and groups help repair that fundamental alienation. Learning alongside others sparks insights, healing, and growth that can change your life.
At the deepest level — even beyond symptom improvement — Lara’s mission is to help you develop the skills, agency, self-trust, and connectedness to truly embrace your one wild and precious life.
Upcoming Sage Groups & Courses:
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SOLD OUT: Developing a S.A.G.E. Mindset
8 Tuesdays February 4 - March 25, 2025 1-2pm ET
The course is designed for individuals living with pain or other chronic symptoms, including those with a combination of both structural and neuroplastic pain/symptoms. In truth, the "S.A.G.E." methods we cover are also deeply applicable to anxiety & mental anguish, in addition to physical symptoms.
You will get 8 weekly one-hour live group sessions on Zoom, short video lessons, links to educational resources, frequent reflection prompts & “food for thought,” as well as suggested practices to help you integrate what you learn into your own day to day life. Moreover, you can rest assured you will find understanding, camaraderie, and support among your fellow participants (including your instructor), who will just "get" it because they too have lived it.
Group coaching is not only more cost-effective than 1-1 coaching, but it also provides unique opportunities for learning and growth from the perspectives and experiences of each of your fellow participants. To enable ample sharing, rich discussions, and actual practice, the course will be capped at 8 participants.
In pain reprocessing therapy, learning is therapeutic. And I believe that learning together is not only therapeutic, but also - according to previous participants - "fun," "supportive," "inspiring," "bonding," and "transformative. " Groups, especially when well-run, are a powerful catalyst for healing and transformation.
Cost: The 'early bird' price of $500 will be in effect until January 15th (the regular price is $600). Payments accepted via Venmo or Zelle (PayPal if you are outside of the US).
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Developing a S.A.G.E. Mindset
8 Tuesdays April 8 - May 27, 2025 1-2pm ET
The course is designed for individuals living with pain or other chronic symptoms, including those with a combination of both structural and neuroplastic pain/symptoms. In truth, the "S.A.G.E." methods we cover are also deeply applicable to anxiety & mental anguish, in addition to physical symptoms.
You will get 8 weekly one-hour live group sessions on Zoom, short video lessons, links to educational resources, frequent reflection prompts & “food for thought,” as well as suggested practices to help you integrate what you learn into your own day to day life. Moreover, you can rest assured you will find understanding, camaraderie, and support among your fellow participants (including your instructor), who will just "get" it because they too have lived it.
Group coaching is not only more cost-effective than 1-1 coaching, but it also provides unique opportunities for learning and growth from the perspectives and experiences of each of your fellow participants. To enable ample sharing, rich discussions, and actual practice, the course will be capped at 8 participants.
In pain reprocessing therapy, learning is therapeutic. And Lara believes that learning together is not only therapeutic, but can also be - according to previous participants - "fun," "supportive," "inspiring," "bonding," and "transformative. " Groups, especially when well-run, are a powerful catalyst for healing and transformation.
Cost: The Early Bird price of $500 will be in effect through February 15th (the Regular price is $600). Payments accepted via Venmo or Zelle (PayPal if you are outside of the US).
Course Reviews:
* "I learned so much about myself and really looked forward to each week because our discussions were so engaging and felt so healing."
* “The group has been a safe space to share insights with other people on a similar path as me. It made me feel stronger, and much less lonely.”
* “This [experience] turned out to be both deep and fun - I did not expect that! We bonded over our shared pain but we also laughed a lot together, which was very cathartic.”
More client testimonials & reviews are available on my website.
To Register:
If you would like to request a spot, please click the button below and share a few sentences about your current struggle, whether or not you believe you have 'structural' issues in addition to neuroplastic, and your familiarity with the concept of neuroplastic symptoms. In previous groups, those who have benefitted the most are those who come ready to actively engage and put in real effort.
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Living with Structural and Neuroplastic Pain
COMING SOON (March or April)
This discussion-based and practice-rich course will be capped at 10 people. This course is intended for those who have both structural (arising from physical tissue or nerve changes) and neuroplastic pain (mindbody or stress-induced pain in the absence of tissue damage.) There is a Spring 2025 offering for those without structural issues.
Group coaching is not only more cost-effective than 1-1 coaching, but it also provides unique opportunities for learning and growth from the perspectives and experiences of each of your fellow participants. Groups, especially when well-run, are a powerful catalyst for healing and transformation.
Details to Follow.
Mailing List for Upcoming Sage Groups & Classes
Dr. Birk’s Background
Education:
Ph.D. Boston College, Sociology (Areas: Medical Sociology & Sociology of Education)
M.A. Tufts University, Educational Studies (Areas: Race, Class, Gender & Disability)
B.A. Amherst College, Sociology (Phi Beta Kappa; Magna cum Laude)
Additional Trainings:
Advanced Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) Certifications, Health & Wellness Coaching Certification specializing in pain coaching), as well as trainings with Lorimer Moseley, Curable Health, Richard Schwartz, Jon Kabat-Zinn, among others.
Experience:
Over a decade as a professor of sociology (specializing in medical sociology), scholar, and author on the social experience of those with pain; five years as a pain reprocessing (PRT) and mindbody coach helping clients develop agency, self-trust, and skills for calming nervous system activation & related symptoms.
Reviews
Course Reviews:
"I learned so much about myself and really looked forward to each week because our discussions were so engaging and felt healing."
“Lara is the best teacher around. Hands down. She offered me the tools and with them, I transformed my life.”
“The group has been a safe space to share insights with other people on a similar path as me. It made me feel stronger, and much less lonely.”
“This [experience] turned out to be both deep and fun - I did not expect the fun part! We bonded over our shared pain but we also laughed a lot together, which was very cathartic.”
More client testimonials & reviews from former students are available.
