Pathways to Pain Relief

By Frances Sommer Anderson, PhD and Eric Sherman, PsyD
Published January 2013
Available at Amazon.com in Kindle format and paperback format

Overview

Pathways to Pain Relief was published in January 2013, and was written by TMS therapists Frances Sommer Anderson, PhD, SEP and Eric Sherman, PsyD. Anderson and Sherman are two of Dr. John E. Sarno's closest psychotherapists, and this book describes their experience treating patients with TMS. The forward of the book is by Dr. Sarno and provides the general overview of TMS. The authors provide a depiction of TMS through a series of case stories, which illustrate how chronic pain and other medically unexplained symptoms originate as a means to protect an individual from unbearable emotional distress.

About the Authors

Frances Sommer Anderson, PhD, SEP

Main Article: Frances Sommer Anderson, PhD, SEP

Dr. Anderson is a licensed psychologist (NY State 005532-1) and holds a Certificate of Specialization in Psychoanalysis from the New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. She is also a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), certified by the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute. Dr. Anderson has had a long career in helping people overcome chronic pain. She began treating patients who experience chronic pain in 1979 under the tutelage of Dr. John Sarno at the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine-NYU Medical Center. John Sarno taught Anderson about TMS and how to cure patients of chronic pain. She worked as part of the Psychology Staff at the Rusk Institute until 1987 when she began working in a private practice and also leading psychoanalytic training programs.

Eric Sherman, PsyD

Main Article: Eric Sherman, PsyD

Dr. Eric Sherman is a licensed psychologist practicing in New York City. He received a certificate of Specialization in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy from The New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. He completed his clinical internship at The Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine of New York University Langone Medical Center and served on the staff of Rusk's Psychophysiological Pain Program.While on staff at The Rusk Institute, he trained psychology interns in the evaluation and treatment of psychophysiological pain disorders. He regularly consults with physicians and other health care professionals struggling to understand and manage their own and their patients' psychological reactions to acute and chronic medical conditions, especially cancer and physical disabilities.

Recorded Discussions

From March 9th to June 1st, the PTPN's weekly call-in discussion group talked about the content and themes brought up in Pathways to Pain Relief. The following are recordings of these discussions.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in these recordings are those of the discussion group's participants, and do not represent the authors' personal opinions in any way.

March 9th: Perfectionism and Goodism
March 16th: All About Anger
March 30th: The Influence of the Past
April 6th: Understanding Our Reactions to Current Stress
April 13th: Ellen's Story
April 20th: Ellen's Story, Continued
April 27th: Sessions with Mrs. R
May 4th: Little Kate's Journey
May 11th: The Legacy of Harsh Parenting
May 18th: Self-Sufficient, Too Early
May 25th: Speaking Up for Myself
June 1st: Wrapping Up Pathways

DISCLAIMER: The TMS Wiki is for informational and support purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. See Full Disclaimer.