About us
Our Mission
To create a global shift in perspective about pain. We believe that adopting an updated understanding of the complex nature of persisting pain through education and coaching can lead to lasting relief.
Meet Our Board
Jessica Kisiel
President
Jessica has personal and professional knowledge about chronic pain. For 16 years she used her background as a coach, educator, author, former professional athlete, and exercise physiologist to help numerous clients overcome pain and return to activity through her business, The Pain Free Athlete. Often starting her individual sessions with “tell me your story” she appreciates the importance of a person’s point of view and how treating the beliefs and mindset beneath the physical pain is essential for successful recovery. In 2024 she rode in the Pain Revolution Rural Outreach Tour with world renown pain science professor and researcher Lorimer Moseley and his team. This trip inspired her to start Pain Story Project to transform the pain experience in the US and beyond.
Education & Credentials
M.S. Exercise Science, U of Arizona
B.S. Biological Psychology, UCSB
Professional Certificate in Chronic Pain, UNiSA
Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)
Freedom from Chronic Pain Training
Health and Well-being Coach
Exercise, Strength & Conditioning, Health, and Posture certifications from NSCA, ACSM, ACE, Egoscue University®, Wellcoaches Corporation, and PRI®
Trista Winder
Vice President
Trista has been helping people connect with and heal their own body and mind for the last 20 years. She has seen the power of confronting one’s story and how that transforms a person’s healing process. She successfully changed her narrative around competitive cycling to develop a healthier and kinder relationship with herself. She believes in the potential of healing all types of pain through her profession as a massage therapist, yoga teacher, and trauma psychotherapist. Trista was inspired by how much the chronic pain research overlapped with her own work around trauma, spirituality, and the brain. She hopes to further help people and shift the global conversation around pain by working with the Pain Story Project.
Education & Credentials
M.S. Marriage and Family Therapy
B.S. Behavioral Science & Psychology
EMDR Trained
NueroAffective Relational Trauma Model L1
Licensed Massage Therapist
Rise Leadership Therapeutic Life Coach
Educator for Yoga Teachers: 500 hour
Meditation and Mantra Certification
Yoga Philosophy Immersion: 300 hour
Yoga Teacher Training: 800 hour
Seminary Teacher Training
Debbie Testa
Secretary
Debbie is passionate about health and wellness and brings her technical background to support organizations in this space. She leverages her expertise to develop and deliver clear, impactful communications that help health-focused initiatives reach their audience and amplify their mission.
Education & Credentials
B.S. Geographic Information Systems (GIS), University of Utah
Sasha MacSween
Treasurer
Sasha has always done some form of sport at a high level, but it is only since meeting Jessica in 2017 that she has properly understood her relationship with exercise and pain. Thanks to her, Sasha has become a true advocate for the awareness of the mind / body connection. Sasha is very excited to be able to support Pain Story Project as treasurer, using her global finance experience to ensure the organization’s resources are aligned with its mission.
Education & Credentials
BCom (Accounting, Tax, Finance, Audit), University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa
Associate Chartered Management Accountant, CIMA Global
Certified Fraud Examiner, ACFE
MA International Relations, Terrorism and Political Violence, University of St Andrews, United Kingdom
