Vanessa Blackstone, ACSW

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Los Angeles, CA
Vanessa Blackstone, ACSW

Executive Director of the Pain Psychology Center
Co-Author of“The Pain Reprocessing Therapy Workbook”

08/03/2025

When the nervous system is slightly “on,” it doesn’t always announce itself with panic or pain. Sometimes it’s quieter.

It looks like rewatching something familiar because novelty feels like effort.
It sounds like a conversation you nod through, but don’t really absorb.
It feels like reaching for your phone, again, because stillness is too unsupervised.

These aren’t failures of focus or motivation.
They’re the brain doing what it learned to do…track, predict, stay ahead, stay safe.

The more practiced this protective mode becomes, the more it shows up in everyday patterns:
What you notice. What you tune out. How you use your time. What feels like “enough.”
And it’s not always dramatic. Sometimes the only real clue is that nothing quite lands.

Noticing is part of the work.
Not because every habit needs to be corrected
but because the act of noticing reminds your system:
“This moment is different. I’m allowed to be here.” 🫶🏽

07/29/2025

Let it be.

Not as a platitude.
Not as a surrender.
But as a practice.

Because after years of bracing, pushing, trying to get it right…
After cycling through treatment plans, diets, scans, experts, protocols
…it’s easy to forget that healing isn’t always about doing more.

Sometimes, it’s about loosening the grip.
Not needing the discomfort to disappear in order to feel safe.
Not proving anything to yourself, your body, or your past.

Just letting it be.

This moment. This feeling. This breath.
Not because it’s pleasant.
But because it’s here and meeting it without resistance is a kind of medicine.

Every time you soften around what is, rather than tighten your grip to force change,
you are showing your nervous system:
There is nothing to fear here.
We are allowed to pause.
We are allowed to live…even now.

You don’t have to chase healing.
Sometimes, it finds you in the stillness.

🕊️

07/14/2025

If peace feels unfamiliar, boredom can start to look like a problem to solve.
But maybe you’re not bored. Maybe your brain is just confused because nothing’s on fire. 🔥

When chaos has been the norm, calm can feel suspicious. Terrifying even. Like something must be wrong.

This is a totally normal part of recovery. It doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means your brain is adjusting.

Give it a moment. Or a snack. Or a nap. Let the quiet grow on you.

You’re allowed to feel safe and unsure about it.

Drop a 🧠 if this hit home.

05/21/2025

The PRT Recovery Workshop is here ✨ A 10-week live group for anyone ready to feel more supported, more structured, and more connected in their recovery journey.

Led by me and Olivia Sinaiko — co-authors of The Pain Reprocessing Therapy Workbook 📘 — this is a chance to show up just as you are, alongside others doing the work too.

You’ll join us weekly for 90-minute sessions on Zoom, where we’ll share tools, reflect together, and use the workbook as a guide to explore practices that actually stick.

Whether you’re brand new to PRT, deep into it, or currently working with a therapist and looking for a group space to complement your care — you’re welcome here 💛

Choose your group: 🗓 Wednesdays at 7 PM PT (starts June 18) 🗓 Fridays at 11 AM PT (starts June 20) 👥 Max 15 people per group 💵 $525 | $625 with optional 1:1 add-on 🎓 1 scholarship available per group

This is a structured, supportive group space — not therapy — but it can absolutely work alongside therapy if you’re currently in individual care.

Spots are limited. Fill out the interest form at the link in bio 🔗 We’d love to have you.

04/17/2025

There is no such thing as jinxing your healing by celebrating a good day.
Say it louder for the people in the back! 🔊

If the pain comes back tomorrow, it’s not because you got too excited or danced a little too hard in the kitchen. That’s not how healing works.

You didn’t mess it up. You didn’t fly too close to the sun. You had a good moment—and that moment counts.

You’re allowed to feel joy. You’re allowed to soak it up. You’re allowed to milk it.

Because healing isn’t about avoiding happiness just in case. It’s about welcoming those moments when they show up—and letting them be real.

So celebrate the crap out of your good days. Loudly. Shamelessly. You deserve that.

03/30/2025

📍Boulder, we’re coming your way!

I’m so excited to join my co-author, Olivia Sinaiko, for an in-person event at Boulder Bookstore on Wednesday, April 30th at 6:30pm 💫

We’ll be sharing the heart behind The Pain Reprocessing Therapy Workbook—how it helps people navigating chronic symptoms, why this work means so much to us personally, and what it really looks like to retrain the brain out of chronic pain.

If you’re local or nearby, we’d love to see you there and connect in person. 💛

🎟️ Tickets are $5 (and include a $5 coupon toward the book or any purchase that day)
✨ RSVP through my Linktree!

02/19/2025

Friendly reminder ✨

01/06/2025

Take a breath and say it out loud…”This sensation is not the whole story of what’s going on.”

I know it can feel overwhelming—like your body is sending an urgent signal that something is wrong. But what if this sensation isn’t a problem to solve? What if it’s just a habit your brain has practiced for a long time?

Here’s what you can do when it feels big: 🌿 Pause and notice—Pausing doesn’t mean fixing. It just means taking a beat to observe what’s happening without rushing to make it stop. Notice the sensation and remind yourself, “This is familiar. My brain is doing what it’s used to doing.”
🌿 Breathe and soften—Let yourself exhale a little longer. See if you can allow just 5% more softness—maybe by creating a bit of space between your teeth, unclenching your bottom, or simply softening your gaze.
🌿 Shift focus—When the internal feels like too much, try turning outward. Notice what’s around you—the colors, textures, or sounds nearby. Let your senses help ground you in the present moment.
🌿 Offer reassurance—Remind yourself, “My brain is trying to protect me. It might be overprotective—like an anxious helicopter parent—but it’s coming from a place of care, not harm. And I’m safe right now.”

This isn’t about ignoring how you feel—it’s about making room for the rest of the story. 💛

✨ Want this reminder close by? Download this as a free screen saver for your phone—head to the link in my bio to grab it and keep it with you whenever you need it. ✨

12/31/2024

🎧 It’s Giveaway Time! 📚
 We are not giving away one… not two… but FIVE free downloads of the audiobook version of The Pain Reprocessing Therapy Workbook! 🥳

To Enter:
✨Follow .therapist
✨Like this post
✨Tag your friends in the comments—each tag counts as an entry (no limit, tag away!)
✨Bonus Entry: Share this giveaway on your story and tag me!

✨ Winners Announced: Saturday, January 4th, 2025, at 12:00 PM (PST)

🚨 Important Reminder: Beware of scammers! I will only contact winners from .therapist and will never ask for payment info.

Good luck and happy listening! 🎧📖

12/30/2024

✨ Exciting News! ✨

I’m so excited to invite you to a FREE 8-week virtual book club starting Friday, February 7, 2025, at 12 PM (PST) to explore The Pain Reprocessing Therapy Workbook! 📖💛
Join me and my co-author, Olivia Sinaiko, as we guide you through tools to retrain your brain, calm your nervous system, and support your healing journey.

What to Expect:
✨Weekly virtual sessions (Fridays at noon PST)
✨Connection, insights, and support as we work through the workbook together
✨A welcoming space to learn and grow—no pressure, no cost!

💻 Register now at the link in my bio to claim your spot and receive the Zoom link! Space is limited—don’t wait!

Important Note: This group is not therapy and does not provide medical or mental health treatment. It’s for education, growth, and connection as we explore the workbook together. 💛

Tag a friend who might want to join, and let’s dive into this journey together. 💬💛

11/28/2024

Family gatherings can be special… and they can also be a lot. If you’re navigating boundaries or trying to stay grounded, here are some tools to help:

1️⃣ Step away: Taking a moment outside, in the bathroom, or with music can help you reset and regulate your nervous system.

2️⃣ You don’t owe anyone an answer: Some questions don’t need your energy. Disengaging or setting a boundary is perfectly okay.

3️⃣ Use your breath: Techniques like 4-7-8 breathing can calm your body and signal safety to your nervous system.

4️⃣ “No” is enough: You don’t need to justify your boundaries. Saying no is an act of self-respect.

5️⃣ Reconnect with your body: Loosen your shoulders, relax your jaw, and feel your feet on the floor to ground yourself.

6️⃣ Focus on what you can control: You can’t change others, but you can choose how you respond and protect your peace.

7️⃣ Protect your time: Set limits that honor your energy, whether it’s leaving at a certain time or taking a quiet moment to yourself.

8️⃣ Your well-being matters: Boundaries aren’t selfish—they’re essential for connection and self-care. Honor what you need today.

✨ Save this as a reminder: Taking care of you is always worth it.

11/19/2024

It’s okay to want to feel better—really, it is. I get it, it’s so human of you to want relief right now. But sometimes, trying too hard to ‘fix’ things can leave us feeling even more stuck.

What if, instead, you focused on the next small step? Maybe that’s taking a deep breath, noticing what feels steady, or just pausing for a moment. Progress isn’t about doing it all at once—it’s about showing up for yourself, gently and consistently.

You’re doing enough, even when it doesn’t feel like it. 🌿✨

Address

Los Angeles, CA

Website

http://painpsychologycenter.com/index.html

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