Dr Adele Stewart

Pain Explained Program

What is the Pain Explained Program?

Pain Explained is an interactive online course run by Dr Adele Stewart. Dr Adele has been a GP for over 30 years and brings that experience – along with a background as a mindfulness teacher, an interest in modern pain neuroscience and her role as Chair of the Royal Australian College of GPs Pain Group – to her facilitation of this program.

Pain Explained is a structured education approach to help individuals understand the neuroscience behind chronic pain, reducing fear and promoting recovery. It teaches that pain is not a direct measure of tissue damage, but rather a protective response.

By shifting focus from a fixed “diagnosis” to a mind-body perspective—one that highly considers the level of safety and danger in our whole system—you’ll gain practical tools to navigate the pain-fear cycle. You’ll also learn how your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and even aspects of life that may seem unrelated to pain influence your experience.

Topics covered by the program include:

• Session 1: Rethinking Pain – From Damage to Protection
• Session 2: Pain – A Balancing Act of Danger and Safety
• Session 3: Towards Peace – A New Language for Living with Pain
• Session 4: Our Protective systems – The Astonishing Neuroimmune System
• Session 5: Neuroplasticity – How to Desensitise Your Pain System
• Session 6: Knowledge is Power – Your Plan for Moving Forward

Who is the program for?

The Pain Explained program is for people who are:

• 18 years and older
• Living in the SENSW region
• Experiencing pain for more than three months (even after being told by their specialist or GP that their injury has healed