Daniel Lyman, LCSW, MPA
Psychotherapist, Pain Reprocessing Therapy Trainer & Executive Director
Daniel Lyman, LCSW, MPA, is a psychotherapist, clinical trainer, and the Executive Director of Mind Body Therapy Center (MBTC), a specialized practice providing evidence-based treatment for chronic pain, neuroplastic symptoms, anxiety, and related conditions.
Based in Portland, Oregon, Daniel has dedicated his career to helping people understand the relationship between the brain, nervous system, emotions, and physical health. He specializes in treating chronic pain and other persistent physical symptoms using research-informed approaches, including Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET), and other evidence-based psychotherapeutic methods.
In addition to his clinical work, Daniel is an educator and trainer who teaches therapists and other healthcare professionals how to recognize and treat neuroplastic pain and chronic physical symptoms.
Specializing in Chronic Pain and Neuroplastic Symptoms
Chronic pain can be confusing, frightening, and profoundly disruptive. Many people spend years searching for answers, visiting specialists, undergoing medical procedures, and trying different treatments without finding lasting relief.
For some people, persistent pain and other physical symptoms are driven or maintained by changes in how the brain and nervous system process danger and generate protective responses. These symptoms are real, and understanding the mechanisms behind them can open up new possibilities for recovery.
Daniel specializes in helping people understand and address these processes through psychotherapy. His approach integrates education about the science of neuroplasticity with practical therapeutic techniques that help people change their relationship with pain, reduce fear and avoidance, process difficult emotions, and regain confidence in their bodies.
His clinical interests include:
Chronic back, neck, and joint pain
Neuroplastic pain and Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS)
Migraines and persistent headaches
Pelvic pain and other persistent physical symptoms
Chronic dizziness and other nervous-system-related symptoms
Anxiety and health anxiety
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Depression and emotional distress associated with chronic illness
Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) and Clinical Training
Daniel is a Presenter and Clinical Trainer for the Pain Reprocessing Therapy Center, where he teaches mental health professionals how to apply Pain Reprocessing Therapy in clinical practice.
Pain Reprocessing Therapy is an evidence-based approach designed to help people understand and change the brain's interpretation of pain signals. It incorporates techniques such as somatic tracking, pain education, and exposure to feared movements and activities to help reduce the brain's perception of threat.
Daniel's work as a trainer focuses not only on the fundamentals of PRT, but also on the complexities of treating chronic symptoms in real-world clinical settings. He is particularly interested in integrating behavioral approaches, exposure-based interventions, and emotional processing into neuroplastic pain treatment.
He is also a founding member of the Pain Psychology Center in Los Angeles, one of the pioneering practices in the field of mind-body medicine and psychotherapy for chronic pain.
Through his work at MBTC, Daniel continues to develop educational programs and advanced clinical training opportunities for therapists interested in treating neuroplastic symptoms.
A Research-Informed Approach to Mind-Body Therapy
Daniel believes that effective treatment should be grounded in scientific research while remaining responsive to the individual experiences of each client.
His clinical approach draws from several therapeutic traditions, including:
Helping clients change their brain's interpretation of pain and reduce fear-based responses to physical sensations.
Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)
Exploring the relationship between unresolved emotional experiences, stress, and chronic physical symptoms.
Emotional Awareness & Expression Therapy (EAET)
Working with underlying emotional patterns and experiences that may contribute to psychological and physical distress.
Intensive Short-Term Psychodynamic Therapy (ISTDP)
Addressing avoidance, fear, and compulsive behaviors that can maintain anxiety and chronic symptom cycles.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Helping clients develop psychological flexibility and reconnect with meaningful activities, even when symptoms are present.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Education, Professional Experience & Publications
Daniel earned his Master of Social Work (MSW) and Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Southern California, where he graduated cum laude. He also holds a bachelor's degree in Theatre Studies from Emerson College, where he graduated magna cum laude.
Over the course of his career, Daniel has worked with thousands of individuals experiencing chronic pain, anxiety, and other psychological and physical symptoms.
He has contributed chapters to two professional textbooks on mind-body disorders and psychophysiologic conditions, and regularly presents to clinicians and healthcare professionals on the treatment of neuroplastic symptoms.
His professional work includes clinical education, podcasting, public speaking, and the development of innovative treatment programs for people experiencing chronic pain.
Podcasts, Media & Public Education
Daniel is passionate about making the science of neuroplastic pain accessible to both healthcare professionals and the general public.
He has hosted the Pain Reprocessing Therapy Podcast for the Pain Reprocessing Therapy Center and co-hosts Healing Help, a program through Curable that explores the science and practice of recovering from chronic symptoms.
Through these platforms, Daniel discusses topics including the neuroscience of chronic pain, the mind-body connection, emotional processing, behavioral change, and practical strategies for recovery.
Helping clients change their brain's interpretation of pain and reduce fear-based responses to physical sensations.
Pain Reprocessing Therapy Podcast
Exploring the relationship between unresolved emotional experiences, stress, and chronic physical symptoms.
Curable
Mind Body Therapy Center
Daniel founded Mind Body Therapy Center to expand access to high-quality, research-informed treatment for people experiencing chronic pain and other persistent physical symptoms.
MBTC brings together a team of licensed psychotherapists and trained health coaches who specialize in neuroplastic pain, anxiety, OCD, and related conditions. The practice provides virtual therapy and coaching, allowing clients to access specialized care without needing to travel to an office.
Daniel continues to lead MBTC's clinical development, therapist education, and efforts to improve the quality and accessibility of neuroplastic symptom treatment.
Interested in working with Daniel or another MBTC therapist?
Mind Body Therapy Center offers free consultations to help prospective clients determine whether our approach may be a good fit.