#757 Chronic Pain - Vanessa Blackstone

#757 Chronic Pain - Vanessa Blackstone

Author: Paul Gilmartin July 18, 2025 Duration: 1:37:40
Vanessa Blackstone is a therapist specializing in chronic pain and the Executive Director of the Pain Psychology Center. She outlines the success she’s found in the Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) modality. She also shares her personal journey to this work, growing up in foster care and learning to manage her chronic pain. Look for her book, The Pain Reprocessing Therapy Workbook. More about Vanessa: Instagram: @that.therapist Linktree: linktr.ee/that.therapist Website: www.blackstonewellness.com Center: www.painpsychologycenter.com If you’re interested in seeing or buying the furniture that Paul designs and makes follow his IG @ShapedFurniture or visit the website www.shapedfurniture.com WAYS TO HELP THE MIHH PODCAST Subscribe via Apple Podcasts (or whatever player you use). It costs nothing. It’s extremely helpful to have your subscription set to download all episodes automatically. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mental-illness-happy-hour/id427377900?mt=2 Spread the word via social media.  It costs nothing. Our website is www.mentalpod.com our FB is www.Facebook.com/mentalpod and our Twitter and Instagram are both @Mentalpod  Become a much-needed Patreon monthly-donor (with occasional rewards) for as little as $1/month at www.Patreon.com/mentalpod    Become a one-time or monthly donor via PayPal at https://mentalpod.com/donate You can also donate via Zelle (make payment to mentalpod@gmail.com)  To donate via Venmo make payment to @Mentalpod  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by comedian Paul Gilmartin, Mental Illness Happy Hour has become a unique and essential space for conversations many shy away from. This isn't a clinical program, but rather a series of raw, honest dialogues where Gilmartin and his guests share their personal experiences with mental health struggles, addiction, fear, and the lasting impacts of childhood trauma. The atmosphere is intentionally crafted to be a perversely safe place, a description noted by The New York Times, where vulnerability is met with compassion rather than judgment. Listeners will find a podcast that deliberately explores the grey areas of human experience, with Slate Magazine highlighting Gilmartin's conscious effort to share stories that aren't simply black and white. It’s this approach that has led publications like Psychology Today to call it "remarkable" and Esquire to deem it a vital gem addressing a deep need. Tuning in, you'll hear a blend of personal narrative, dark humor, and profound connection that has earned the show a global audience and recognition as a top health podcast. Each episode serves as a reminder that you're not alone in your struggles, creating a sense of community through shared, often unvarnished truth.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Mental Illness Happy Hour
Podcast Episodes
#755 When The Trauma Dam Breaks - Stevie G [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01:22
Listener (and MIHH Zoom hangout member) Stevie G opens up about her repressed childhood trauma memories and needing outpatient psychiatric care, learning new coping skills and walking thru the grief of the passing of her…
#754 Anorexia and OCD - Andrea Jones-Rooy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:09
Andrea Jones-Rooy is a data scientist, speaker, and stand-up comedian. They join Paul to share their struggles with anorexia and OCD, and how they have managed them over the years. For more about Andrea: Behind the Data…
#753 Myths About The Disabled Parent - Jessica Slice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:20
Author and speaker Jessica Slice joins the pod to share her parenting story as a disabled mother. She discusses misconceptions about disability and parenting, and how so many parents are underestimated. Look for her book…
#752 Pure O - Dillon Tucker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:49
Dillon Tucker is an actor and filmmaker who shares the challenges and advantages of his various iterations of OCD and shares his process for the movie, Pure O, which he wrote and directed. To find places to stream Pure O…
#751 Best Of: Counseling Predators - Dr David Hirohama [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:59:27
This “Best Of” episode originally aired in 2013 and was voted a listener favorite. David Hiroshima is a 3rd generation Japanese-American psychologist. He shares his experience and observations counseling sexual predators…
#750 Surviving A Shooting - Allen Strickland Williams [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:17
Allen Strickland Williams is a standup comedian who shares his struggles with the stress of perfectionism and ADHD tendencies. He also opens up about the trauma of surviving a random shooting. Check out his comedy specia…
#749 Murder, Grief & Activism - Abby Reyes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:30
Abby Reyes is an author, lawyer, and climate justice leader. She shares her story of activism, the tragic loss of her partner, and the mindfulness techniques she uses to manage her grief. Look for her new book, Truth Dem…
#748 Fundamental Emotional Intelligence - Rachel Kaplan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:54
Rachel Kaplan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who focuses deeply on moving through difficult feelings in order to heal–what she calls “emotional potty training”. She opens up about her personal tragedi…
#747 Bo V - Non Binary & Recovering People Pleaser [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:13
Bo V is a stand-up comedian, actor, and writer who attends Paul’s support group. They talk about the work they’re doing on self-judgment and shame, finding the perfect church after leaving Catholicism, and discovering th…
#746 Disillusionment - Rich Forer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:15
Rich Forer is a Jewish-American author and activist. He discusses his perspective of growing up Jewish, being a member of AIPAC, and how his perspective on Palestine shifted dramatically, shattering his entire worldview.…