Michael Flomenhaft, Esq. is the principal of the Flomenhaft Law Firm, PLLC in New York. He is a renowned trial lawyer specializing in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and severe chronic pain. With a unique, deep expertise in neurosciences—including neuroimaging, neurobiology, and the neuroanatomy of chronic pain—Michael bridges the gap between complex brain science and the courtroom. He serves on the Board of Advisors for the Center for Neuroscience and Law at Fordham Law School and was a director of Neurolaw for the Program for Imaging and Cognitive Sciences at Columbia University. A graduate of Boston University School of Law and the Trial Lawyers College, he is passionate about advocating for clients whose brain injuries are often unrecognized or minimized.

In this powerful episode, host Bethany Lewis (The Concussion Coach) sits down with attorney Michael Flomenhaft to uncover the challenging legal realities of living with a concussion. They discuss why standard ER scans (CAT scans, MRIs) often miss the white matter damage that causes persistent symptoms, and how this medical gap creates major hurdles in legal cases. Michael explains why a "normal" scan does not mean a normal brain, the progressive nature of brain atrophy, and the invisible emotional burdens of grief, shame, and fear that clients carry. He also introduces advanced imaging (DTI, NeuroQuant) and hopeful therapies like neurofeedback.

Resources Mentioned by Michael Flomenhaft

Contact for Legal Help (New York/New Jersey & Nationwide Referrals):

• Email: mflomenhaft@brainjusticeny.com

• Phone: 917-359-8023

• Website: www.brainjusticeny.com

Key Medical & Legal Concepts Discussed:

• DTI (Diffusion Tensor Imaging): Specialized MRI that evaluates white matter integrity (introduced into US jurisprudence by Mr. Flomenhaft in 2004).

• SWI (Susceptibility Weighted Imaging): MRI sequence sensitive to microscopic bleeds (hemosiderin).

• NeuroQuant: FDA-cleared computerized program to evaluate brain atrophy.

• Neurofeedback: Described as "going to the gym for your brain," a highly effective intervention for re-establishing white matter connectivity and recovering function.

Connect with Bethany:

• Website: https://theconcussioncoach.com/

• Free Guide: "5 Best Ways to Support Your Loved One Dealing with a Concussion" on the website

• Free Coaching Consultation: https://theconcussioncoach.com/free-consultation

Alyssa Chang is a neuroscience health coach and the creator of The Regulation Method, a framework designed to help people rewire the patterns behind chronic stress, anxiety, pain, and fatigue. Her work integrates applied neuroscience with a trauma-informed lens, shifting the focus from fixing symptoms to creating safety in the body. A former athlete who personally struggled with chronic fatigue, vertigo, and brain fog after extreme training, Alyssa now helps others move beyond temporary relief towards sustainable, nervous-system-driven results.

In this episode, Bethany Lewis interviews neuroscience coach Alyssa Chang about the critical link between the nervous system and concussion recovery. Alyssa shares her personal journey from competitive athletics and chronic illness to becoming a brain-based practitioner. They discuss why "foundational" elements like nutrition and hydration are essential for neuroplasticity, how to interpret symptoms (like pain and brain fog) as the brain’s attempt to protect you, and why setbacks are not failures but data points. Alyssa also offers practical, at-home strategies for regulating the nervous system and provides specific advice for loved ones and caregivers on how to offer support without increasing the patient's "threat bucket."

Resources Mentioned

• The Regulation Method: Alyssa’s framework for rewiring chronic patterns.

• Adrenal Mocktail Recipe: A combination of orange juice, cream of tartar, sea salt, coconut milk, and collagen/bone broth powder for hydration and blood sugar stabilization. https://open.substack.com/pub/coachalyssa/p/the-adrenal-mocktail?r=54h223&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

• Z-Health Education: The neuroscience-based training system Alyssa studied.

• Pinhole Glasses: A tool used to reduce light input and downshift a stressed nervous system.

• Palming Technique: Rubbing hands together and covering eyes to reduce visual stimulation.

• Podcast Episode about Grief: https://youtu.be/WydQqgU1mlU

• Books by Norman Doidge: The Brain That Changes Itself and The Brain's Way of Healing (recommended for understanding neuroplasticity).

• Spoon Theory / Threat Bucket Theory: Metaphors for understanding energy capacity and nervous system load.

Guest Contact & Resources

• Website: www.coachalyssachang.com

• Instagram: @coachalyssachang

• Free Masterclass: "Heal Stubborn Pain With Your Brain"

• • Link: https://www.coachalyssachang.com/masterclassoptin

Connect with Bethany:

• Website: https://theconcussioncoach.com/

• Free Guide: "5 Best Ways to Support Your Loved One Dealing with a Concussion" on the website

Good Mood Method is a nervous system therapy program designed for individuals recovering from physical and emotional trauma. The approach combines music, movement, and meaning to help clients rebuild biological safety in their nervous system and feel like themselves again after traumatic experiences.

Founded by Gilad Miller, a Polyvagal and Logotherapy Practitioner, Foundation Training Specialist, and Trauma-Informed Somatic Coach who recovered from a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), Good Mood Method leverages clinically-proven somatic practices to create sustainable healing. By emphasizing recovery at home between appointments, the program helps the nervous system anchor itself in safety and presence—the foundation for a meaningful recovery.

Summary of the Episode

In this episode, host Bethany Lewis (The Concussion Coach) speaks with Gilad Miller about his journey of recovery from a moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained in a skateboarding accident. Gilad shares his experience of being discharged from the hospital and later being told he was “medically fine,” despite battling debilitating symptoms like insomnia, sensory overload, and depression.

The conversation explores the critical gap between physical recovery and holistic healing, emphasizing the need to treat the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. Gilad introduces his integrative approach, the Good Mood Method, which is built on three pillars:

1. Music: Using the Safe and Sound Protocol (a Polyvagal Theory-based listening therapy) to retune the nervous system and reduce sensory sensitivity.

2. Movement: Utilizing a trauma-informed version of Foundation Training to restore the body’s structural integrity and teach the nervous system that it is safe.

3. Meaning: Employing Logotherapy (inspired by Viktor Frankl) to help individuals define what “getting better” truly means to them and anchor their recovery in a sense of purpose.

Gilad and Bethany discuss the importance of social connection for co-regulation, how to build a compassionate relationship with one’s own body, and the necessity of moving at a pace that feels safe to the nervous system.

Resources Mentioned

• Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP): A five-hour listening therapy based on Polyvagal Theory designed to reduce sound sensitivities and improve social engagement.

• Foundation Training: A bodyweight movement practice focused on restoring the posterior chain (spine, hips, and head carriage) to build structural stability.

• Logotherapy: A therapeutic approach developed by Viktor Frankl focused on finding meaning in all forms of existence, even suffering.

• Viktor Frankl’s Book: Man’s Search for Meaning

Guest Contact Information

• Website: http://goodmoodmethod.ca

• Social Media: @goodmoodmethod (Instagram)

• Free Class: https://www.goodmoodmethod.ca/no-cost-class

Connect with Bethany:

• Website: www.theconcussioncoach.com

• Free Guide: "5 Best Ways to Support Your Loved One Dealing with a Concussion" on the website