Karen Ash, ACC

Hi, I’m Karen.
I help people change their relationship with migraine and other chronic pain or symptoms, so real healing and lasting relief can take place. My goal is to empower you with knowledge and tools that will help you feel well in your body again and get back to living life on your own terms.

For 34 long years, I identified heavily as a migraine sufferer. Pain prevention and management consumed my days. I avoided many foods and alcohol, never wore perfume (if you know, you know), dreaded both sunshine and storms, spent a fortune on alternative treatments, and never ever left home without medication. I lacked any hope for a cure. I was told at the age of 17 that I had an incurable neurological disease and never thought to question the doctor. But still, somehow, I kept searching for help. I got my hopes up, and dashed, as I tried countless supplements, oils, gadgets, and devices promising relief. Nothing helped. I didn't realize it then, but none of those things addressed the root cause of the pain.

It wasn’t just chronic migraine. Over the years, I dealt with daily stomach aches as a child, food intolerances, allergies, a frozen shoulder, and unexplained rashes as a young adult, deep depression in my 30s, numbness and tingling in thigh, panic waking me at night, chest and heart pain, fatigue, burnout, pelvic and back pain later in life. Like so many, I thought these were separate issues—until I began to understand the common threads:  chronic nervous system dysregulation which caused my brain to perceive I was under threat, learned neural pathways, and the mindbody connection.

In 2020, everything changed. A health crash (and global pandemic) forced me to slow down and face the emotional and physical toll of a life lived in chronic stress, overdrive, and unfelt emotion. Five months of sick-leave was the turning point that led me to discover the world of mindbody healing, the latest in neuroscience, and how I could influence changing neural pathways in my brain to reverse pain.  It was an evidence-based approach - which was important to me. I was working at the time in Pharma-management, and understanding the science behind it was important to me. Everything started to make sense. It explained what was happening in my body and why I hadn’t been able to heal before. I finally had HOPE, as I saw others healing from migraine and many other "incurable" conditions. Any disbelief in this strange new approach vanished as my symptoms began to fade!

I learned that symptoms don’t mean you're broken, they’re protective responses from a brain that’s been living in overwhelm for too long. Once I understood most of this was operating out of my conscious awareness, that it wasn't my fault - but now within my control to HEAL instead of just manage the pain, everything shifted. I began working with my body rather than fighting against it, and symptoms reduced.

I’ve now healed from a wide range of neuroplastic symptoms and live free from chronic pain. I left behind the high-pressure corporate life to create Migraine Oasis—a supportive space dedicated to helping others understand the actual root cause of their pain and recover through a more holistic lens of mindbody medicine.

I specialize in the nuances of migraine pain and also support other chronic symptoms that don’t stem from structural damage or disease causation—things like burnout, chronic fatigue, back/knee/hip/pelvic pain, fibromyalgia, IBS and other digestive issues, TMJ, anxiety, and more.  At the moment, I split my time between Basel, Switzerland and Naples, Florida (USA) and enjoy a global clientele, working worldwide via Zoom.

I've trained with some of the greats in the field, including Dr. Howard Schubiner, Alan Gordon, LCSW, Nicole Sachs, LCSW, and Dr. Dan Ratner. I’m certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF-ACC), and a certified practitioner of Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) as well as Dr. Dan Ratner’s “Crushing Doubt” Columns Work system. I continue to deepen my knowledge through regularly attending international conferences (ATNS & SIRPA) and trainings in the latest mindbody science.

This work is personal. I’ve lived it, and now I’m honored to walk beside others as they find relief, clarity, and confidence in their ability to heal.

You are not alone. You are not broken. And healing is absolutely possible!

Mindbody Education, Training, Continuing Education, Certifications

Ongoing: ATNS (Association for Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms) Monthly Member's Q&A Call + Public Q&A Call
Coaching Meetup & Mentorship, Hive Logic (Basel, Switzerland)
An avid reader of the latest science, studies, and books on mindbody healing, neuroplasticity, pain science

Sept 2025: ATNS Annual Conference (Boulder, CO, USA) Attendee, Continuing Education
May 17, 2025: SIRPA Annual Conference, London, Attendee, Continuing Education
Mar-Apr 2025: Hypnotherapy Accelerator Course, Jacqie Nagy, Continuing Education
Nov ’24 - Apr ’25: Crushing Doubt Columns Work System Certified Practitioner Training, Dr. Dan Ratner
Dec 2024: Migraine Deep-Dive Workshop, Nicole Sachs, Continuing Education
Nov 2024: PRT (Pain Reprocessing Therapy) Practitioner Course, PRT Center - Certified PRT practitioner
Sept 2024: PPDA Conference (Boulder, CO USA) Attendee, Continuing Education
Apr-May 2024: Curable Group 1, 6-week course and group coaching
Feb 2024: Freedom from Chronic Pain Course, Nicole Sachs
Nov 2023: Duality: Healing Your Life (energy awareness and self-healing), Jeffrey Allen via Mindvalley
Sept 2023: Certified as ICF (International Coaching Federation)-ACC Coach
Mar-May 2023: ACC Coaching PRO, Solution Surfers (Luzern, Switzerland)
Oct 2022 - now: Curable App, ongoing continuing education on pain reduction, nervous system regulation, etc.
Sept 2022-2023: Mind-Body Program, Howard Schubiner, MD
Feb-Sept 2022: Coach Certification, Brief Coaching PURE, Solution Surfers (Luzern, Switzerland)
2021: Novartis Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland), Mindfullness/Stress Management/Diversity & Inclusion Dept.
2012-2021: Novartis Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland), Scientific Engagement Governance Director
2003-2012: 5 Star Plan, Owner, Meeting & Event Planning Company (Durham, NC, USA)