Tracey Chester, LMFT, founder and Clinical Director of the Pain Trauma Institute, has lived with chronic pain, complex illness, medical trauma, complex developmental trauma, and the deep ache of not being seen. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, surf therapist, and Certified Grief Counselor.

Her work and research explore the profound emotional impact of chronic illness, the link between early trauma and physical health, and why our fragmented medical system so often fails people living with pain.

Tracey has partnered with the Groundswell Clinic for nearly five years, facilitating surf therapy groups for individuals living with chronic pain.

In 2023, Tracey collaborated with Natalie and Dr. Jason Kutch (USC) on Project Stoke, a study measuring pain levels before and after surf therapy. The results were extraordinary.

Tracey has lived many lifetimes—first as an active athlete, then as a geologist—before a spinal cord injury limited her mobility for nearly 20 years, until life-changing surgery was finally offered. This experience shaped her mission to become a therapist and support others navigating complex diagnoses and the healthcare system.

Her recently published work, Medical Trauma and Gaslighting, serves as a guide for patients who have been gaslit, misdiagnosed, or sent from specialist to specialist without answers.