Testimonials
I had come across mind-body work before, but no one ever connected with me like Gigi has. Her unique blend of scientific insight and gentle relatability made her the first person I could be receptive to after years of failed, invasive treatments. When I found her, I was completely bedbound and unable to even use a wheelchair due to the relentless, 24/7 pain. Now, I’ve run a 5k and live independently. Although my story feels miraculous, I know there are many others like me. I was diagnosed with dozens of conditions—over 30, including EDS—all thought to be structural. One of the first things that resonated deeply with me was Gigi's insight that non-structural pain is often more severe than structural pain, which gave me the validation I needed. Every conversation with Gigi brings new insights that feel obvious in retrospect, yet life-changing. For those with endless diagnoses, I want to say: give yourself the chance to work with someone who understands the science and has been through it all herself. May we all have the privilege to heal and support others on this journey.
- Amy (EDS)
Working with Gigi has been pivotal in my healing journey.
She remained streadfast in her confidence of my mindbody symptoms and patient even as I repeated my fears, worries and symptoms relentlessly. She never wavered in her belief that I would be completely symptom free. Her knowledge both of the brain and neuropathic pain and of the medical model allows working with her to be rooted in trust that what she is telling you is in your best interest.
- Heather (Interstitial Cystitis)
In 2021, during the height of Covid, my younger son, mental state started to deteriorate in a serious way. I was completely traumatized by this situation.
A couple of weeks later, I started to get the most breathtaking pelvic pain, I took many trips to the ER but they couldn’t find anything wrong with me. I also developed a condition called PGAD (persistent genital arousal disorder) in which you feel genital arousal without any sexual context. The guilt and isolation of this rare disorder was ruining my life. I spent a year pursuing the medical route, I had four major operations - two pelvic and two back operations in an effort to relieve the symptoms. I had nerve blocks, botox in my pelvic floor, a pelvic sling removed - and I still had PGAD. It was relentless.
I then discovered a book called “The Way Out” of chronic pain by Alan Gordon, and another called “Unlearn your pain” by Howard Schubiner, which I studied closely and did all the homework for. I then read and listened to every podcast and YouTube channel I could on mind/body pain (MBS) or TMS (tension Myositis Syndrome) I could find, and one day came across a video interview with Gigi. She had experienced EXACTLY the same problems as I had. I couldn’t believe it! I immediately wrote to her, and it turned out she had changed careers from becoming a biologist to a mind/body coach, trained by personally by Howard Schubiner and Nicole Sachs . We started weekly sessions together. I loved her immediately, she was incredibly warm, intelligent and empathetic. She understood my angst and from the first session had me practicing somatic tracking and other modalities to deal with my chronic pain problem. We have worked together for about two years now, we managed to get rid of my PGAD -
Gigi lifted the burden and the loneliness of living with this disorder. She is a wonderful person, a fantastic practitioner and she basically saved my life. I cannot recommend her highly enough, and she has become a very good friend too throughout all this.
Don’t waste a minute on anyone else! Gigi is literally the best!
- Lara (Interstitial Cystitis and PGAD)
I have read hundreds of testimonials and I never thought I’d be one of them.
When I found Gigi, I had just been discharged from hospital with no answers and even more fear. I felt like I was dying.
I had a very restricted diet, was severely underweight, had already tried brain rewiring programs and I couldn’t do any of the things I loved.
Every day felt like an emergency. Along with my diagnosis of PoTS, I had digestive issues, nose and throat sensations, difficulty swallowing, blurry vision… the list goes on. I was told they were incurable.
Gigi is incredible. From our first session I knew that I was going to be ok. Hearing ‘you are going to be 100% symptom free’ was all I needed. She has the answers to all of my questions and the science to back them up.
In 3 months, all of my symptoms have improved and some have gone completely. But most importantly, I do not fear them and I know that I will be 100% recovered. I am back to working, driving, eating whatever I want and my life is better than it was before I became ill.
Gigi supported me and showed me how to recover from an incredibly dark place and I will be forever grateful.
- Samantha (PoTS, Swallowing Difficulty, Digestive Troubles)
I found Gigi at a time in my life when I was desperate and didn't know how I was going to live with my Pelvic Pain. I had seen Doctors, and they could only offer medication which I didn't feel was a long-term solution.
Gigi completely understood what I was going through from the moment I spoke to her about my symptom's. She was calm, knowledgeable and reassuring, nothing I said surprised her , she had heard it before.
Gigi's approach is rooted in the most current research about how the brain operates when it comes to chronic conditions including pain, depression and anxiety. This isn't just about healing your condition, its about rethinking everything you thought you knew about how the brain and body works.
Please don't hesitate, Not only will you heal your chronic condition you will also feel better about life and yourself in the process.
- C (Pelvic Pain)
I cannot thank Gigi enough for the way she was able to communicate the information I needed to let go of my symptoms. Her approach has allowed me to relax, re-start my life and notice my symptoms disappear. Gigi has a true gift. I am forever grateful to have worked with her.
- E (Overactive Bladder)
Gigi is the single most important person I met during my recovery from chronic pain. Over the past several years I consulted 30+ doctors and received dozens of medical labels which completely altered my identity. Gigi helped me to embrace what was really going on, how to approach it, and what to focus on. She helped me to create a sense of empowerment and feel in control of my situation, which is exactly what I needed. We directed focus towards my quality of life, and as that returned to normal, the pain faded. Even on days when I doubted it would ever be possible, Gigi had the most positive attitude and conviction that this would fade over time. Her energy and positivity are contagious and she is the most knowledgeable person I’ve met on the subject. I cannot recommend Gigi highly enough for anyone who is struggling with chronic pain or other brain related symptoms.
- Anthony (Neck & Back Pain)
In 2022, I was diagnosed with 'Interstitial Cystitis,' I truly thought my life was over. The IC came with a ton of other symptoms that made no sense: eye floaters, bloating, all-over acne breakouts, hair loss, and so much more. My diagnosis kicked off a year of not only physical pain, but also depression, massive anxiety attacks, and hopelessness for the future - all at the ripe age of 27!
As a research-oriented person, I discovered the theory of Embedded UTI and thought that must be my answer. 10 months later when my body could no longer tolerate antibiotics, I was at a point of complete and total desperation. Luckily, at this point, I finally became open to understanding the role of the brain and nervous system in chronic illness. This kicked off a deep-dive and obsession with success stories of all kinds. It perfectly explained all of the non-IC symptoms I had experienced as well.
The moment I heard Gigi share her success story on a podcast, I knew I had to get in touch with her. She reminded me so much of myself in terms of thought process but she had that added background of education in Biology that I felt I needed. I wanted to jump through the screen and talk to her!
Getting in touch with her was the best decision I ever made. I had made progress on my own with just TMS education but my progress was greatly expedited from the extra 'umph' of confidence, scientific data, and personality analysis that Gigi provided. She almost immediately felt like a long-lost friend and I found myself spending my weeks looking forward to my next appointment. After a year of stressful and hopeless virtual doctors' appointments, seeing and hearing Gigi's excitement on our virtual appointments was such a breath of fresh air! I knew I was in the right place. I made leaps and bounds of progress after my first appointment alone, and by my third one I considered myself almost 100% physically recovered and 100% mentally recovered (no more fear).
Gigi has a magical gift of knowing exactly what to say and when. She's extremely emotionally intelligent and does an excellent job of providing the unwavering faith I needed to expedite my recovery. She knew exactly when to provide sympathy, reference studies, or laugh about a common experience we shared. She provides the comfort and the expertise of a doctor, therapist, and friend all in one person. There's not one situation or question I've brought up that Gigi didn't have a scientific answer or explanation for. She is extremely focused on teaching and it's become very easy to pick up her patterns of thought so that, even in the weeks between appointments, I can coach myself out of situations by knowing exactly what Gigi would say and just saying those to myself.
I am forever grateful for the opportunity to connect with Gigi and for the confidence and reassurance she has provided me. Thank you infinitely, Gigi!
- K (interstitial cystitis)
Gigi is an incredible therapist who listens with kindness and clarity. She took the time to help me understand the science behind my symptoms and assured me that recovery was possible, almost making me feel excited about the process of getting better. Drawing from her own experiences, she tailored our sessions to me rather than fitting me into a standard treatment program.
One thing that really comes across is Gigi’s enthusiasm for helping people along with an infectious confidence that everyone can get better, which after having previous negative experiences with doctors and other therapists was exactly what I needed.
- Luke (Tinnitus)
I came to Gigi with a long list of symptoms including brain fog, headaches, dizziness, palpitations, anxiety, skin rashes, and extreme food "sensitivities" (I was down to about 10-15 safe foods). Immediately we got to work on shifting my understanding of what was going on in my body -- or, rather, in my brain! She patiently and persistently explained TMS concepts and neuroscience to help me relax, release fear, and begin thinking in a way that would soothe and reassure my brain (to turn off symptoms naturally). We also tackled the issue of food sensitivities and I began to add MANY foods back into my diet! I don't organize my life around symptoms. I don't stop doing what I want to do -- or eating what I want to eat -- for fear of symptoms. This is an incredible change... and I'm creating a new life, one day at a time. Gigi is an incredible, non-judgmental, loving, very knowledgeable coach. I couldn't have gotten to this next stage without her. I am grateful forever!
- Josephine (Food Sensitivities)
I am so grateful for the support Gigi provided in our sessions together. She kept me motivated to keep doing the work and to believe, and my IC symptoms have resolved for a few months now.
Gigi, you don’t know how much your words meant to me in this dark times. Thank you for the powerful work that you do!
- Ashlyn (Interstitial Cystitis)
I am eternally grateful for Gigi. Her support through my darkest hours saved my life.
You will be happy to hear I am now totally healed and thriving!
Gigi guided me through high levels of physical and emotional pain that I had been suffering with for years.
Her loving encouragement and unwavering confidence in my ability to heal gave me the strength to do just that.
Explaining the science behind chronic pain beautifully, Gigi educated me on neuroscience, soothed my worries and empowered me to heal. This approach moved me from fear to freedom.
Gigi has taught me things that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Her wisdom, compassion and first hand experience make her the most incredible coach.
Gigi is the brightest light. I count my lucky stars that I met her and I cannot recommend her high enough!
- Alice (Migraines)
Gigi is amazing, I have made so much progress and continue to do so. I am not completely symptom free but the difference is phenomenal and I have complete faith I will get to that point!
I am a 55 year old, married mom of 3 adult children, and have suffered various TMS pains/symptoms all of my life. My latest TMS issue was by far the worst, and some days I did not know how I could make it another day and my future looked so bleak. The symptoms that led me to endless searching and finally stumbling upon TMS were horrific, genitourinary pain, and sensations.
Gigi’s knowledge base is mind blowing. She is able to relate scientific facts to every situation I present her with, and then come up with examples of how I can “maybe” feel safer, in the predicament I have managed to get myself into! She presents ideas and is so open about working with me, to help me feel safe, and she does this all in about 2 seconds. Gigi is so confident, yet humble, and non-judgmental. I am very set in my ways and Gigi somehow managed to do the impossible by opening my mind and teaching me how to put myself first, in an unselfish way! I am so grateful to Gigi; I am 100% better equipped to handle triggering situations than I was 6 months ago. Many of my issues were never as horrible as I believed them to be, and thankfully I am able to recognize that rather quickly as new situations present themselves!
Gigi has taught me the tools to cope and I am almost ready to take off my training wheels! The decision to make follow up appointments is always mine, with options, and the reassurance she is going to be there for as long as I might need her. Gigi is truly a beautiful person inside and out and I feel so blessed that our paths crossed.
— Jennifer (Urinary Symptoms)
At a time when I desperately needed one, Gigi was my beacon of hope, my supplementor of confidence, and my gifter of empathy. With a POTS diagnosis and the acute symptoms to match, I was in a place of frustration, anger, and so much sadness when I first met her. She was so sure I’d get better and I was, let’s just say, not as sure.
Through her gentle encouragement and thoughtful guidance, Gigi has helped give me my life back - and a better one at that. With more care, curiosity, and confidence. I feel so much better!! I cannot stress this enough… I went from my symptoms preventing me from leaving the apartment, socializing with others, etc. to being almost completely symptom-free (and I intend for that to read “completely symptom-free” in the near future).
Throughout our time together, I learned so much from Gigi’s scientific explanations of my symptoms (and her willingness to repeat them every time I asked for a reminder), her thoughtful and fun analogies as I practiced new tools, her persistent care and patience in the moments that felt so exhausting and helpless, and her insistence on celebrating the wins even when they felt small.
Gigi is an incredible teacher, coach, and friend. I am so grateful to have met her and worked with her! I cannot recommend her enough!!
— Courtney (PoTS)
In only two and a half months of working with Gigi my symptoms have reduced significantly to the point that I’ve had less frequency, no urgency and periods (up to ten days at a time) of complete and total symptom elimination.
This is utterly astounding after 15 years of daily struggle and no symptom relief at all.
I cannot over-emphasise how much her knowledge, guidance, support, empathy and encouragement have changed my life in an incredibly short period of time.
She is always there for me and when there are challenging times, because recovery is not linear, she explains what’s happening to me, shows me what I can learn from it, and reassures me that I’ll be stronger coming out of the other side of it. I always am.
I am seeing and feeling the results for myself. There is no mistaking it, I am getting better! I will never be able to adequately express my gratitude to Gigi for what she has given and continues to give me. I feel excited for my future for the first time in a very long time.
— Kate (Overactive Bladder)
Just a quick update from me to let you know that I’m still fine - and know that I always was fine, it’s just that my brain has switched off the signals for chronic symptoms now.
I really feel like I’ve got a new understanding of how my mind body works, and they are not separate!
I find that by using time as soon as I wake up, paying attention to how I am feeling, what’s planned for that day, how I feel about things in the morning, I can think about ABC : being authentic, being balanced/having boundaries, and being compassionate. And at the end of the day on my dog walk, I think about how the day has gone, and how the ABC has gone. And in the morning I make sure I factor in nice things to have just for me to feel good/relaxed.
This has absolutely changed my life.
If I do get any off symptoms I think about what’s going on in my life, and reassure myself I haven’t injured myself so it’s just some brain pathway that’s sparked but nothing to worry about.
I also know from all the sessions with you that trying all these mind body methodologies did not work, and just kept my poor nervous system in sustained fight or flight. I know now it’s so much about knowing that I’m safe. And it wasn’t about finding a trapped emotion from an old trauma and releasing it. That never worked and again made me feel less safe worrying that there were emotions trapped in my body and I needed to express them, but didn’t know what they were. And it wasn’t about yoga or breathing. All it was, was as you taught me in our sessions, was making my brain know I’m safe and that there is nothing to worry about, knowing that the pain was from my brain down and not from my body up, knowing that the pain was just like a phantom limb pain and nothing to worry about, and finally understanding that chronic pain is from an area of the brain involved in fear and memory and that’s all. Nothing physical. After trying everything, it was just the simplest thing - but the hardest thing, and I wouldn’t be recovered if it wasn’t for you.
As you know I was in a very dark place and you showed me the way out. I had read all the books, watched all the videos, listened to all the podcasts, joined all the groups, tried all the approaches, but yours/Dr Schubiner’s worked. And I am so very grateful.
I’m happy for you to use this as a testimonial and to forward it to Dr Schubiner, and share it with anyone else. I am just so grateful for your wisdom, your calm reassurance, your constant understanding and knowledge because you had come through this yourself. I had worked with 4 coaches from SIRPA in the 15 months til I met you last June, when your reply to my post rescued me. And they all had different emotional expression approaches (journaling, emotional expression, neurolingistic programming), but none of them worked and actually made my mental health worse because they didn’t work so I was stuck in the 4 Fs.
I can’t thank you enough for being the only pain coach that teaches the right stuff. The stuff that actually works!
Sarah (Plantar Fasciitis, Tendonitis and Leg Pain)
“Gigi is an amazing coach, great communicator and excellent listener! I will forever be grateful to her for helping me overcome symptoms I struggled with for 8 years! Her knowledge, techniques, personal experience and belief in me was so motivating and empowering! I can’t thank her enough for changing my life!”
— Patti (IBS)
"Working with Gigi on my TMS was a real pleasure. She is very knowledgeable, understands the topic and depth and is very empathic because she has been through the same thing herself. With just two sessions I already have a total different relationship with my symptoms to the point that they bother me way less then before. I can totally recommend anybody who suspects that his/ her symptoms are TMS to work with her."
— Tim (Neuropathy)
One session with Gigi, provided me with more benefit than I have ever had with another therapist. I’m just amazed.
- E (idiopathic facial pain)